New company picked to run MBTA commuter rail ferries between Boston, Quincy and Hull
For the first time in more than a decade, a new company will operate the MBTA’s commuter rail ferry service between Boston, Quincy and Hull, officials said.
The state Transportation Department board on Wednesday awarded Nolan Associates LLC, doing business as Boston Harbor Cruises, a 3-year, 9-month contract for submitting the lowest bid of $15,793,105, T spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. The contract begins July 1.
The current holder of the contract, Water Transportation Alternatives, Inc., doing business as Boston's Best Cruises, lost out after submitting a bid that was $793,444 higher, Pesaturo said.
The company has held the contract with a subsidy since 2002, when the service became MBTA-owned, he said.
The website for Boston’s Best Cruises says the company has operated the ferry routes dating back to 1996.
At the state Transportation Department board meeting earlier Wednesday, William Walker, owner of Boston's Best Cruises, said he was upset and wanted more details about the process the state took in awarding the new contract.
He also said expressed concern that the contract change would lead to layoffs and that there would not be enough time for the new contract holder to take transition smoothly.
Officials from the Boston’s Best Cruises and Boston Harbor Cruises could not immediately be reached Wednesday night for further comment.
The contract is for the operation of two of the MBTA’s four commuter rail routes – the F2 and F2H.
The F2, also known as Harbor Express, runs between Quincy and Boston via Logan. Trips serving Hull are named F2H.
Ridership on the F2 and F2H routes combined was 284,937 during fiscal year 2009, according to the most-recent available statistics from the T.
E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com. Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JarretBencks.
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Orchard Gardens students learn how to waltz
(Patrick D. Rosso/Boston.com)
In Video: An introduction to Orchard Gardens' ballroom dancing program.
As fifth-graders at the Orchard Gardens School in Lower Roxbury learn math and history, they also are learning how to waltz.
The K-8 school for the past year has partnered with Dancing Classrooms New England, an offshoot of the New York based nonprofit, to help its students not only learn a little ballroom dancing but the manners, the skills, and the culture that goes along with the dance moves.
“It teaches kids to overcome a challenge,” said Andrew Bott, the principal of the school. “We believe that in the end there will be a lot of benefit and that the kids will have learned skills beyond the dance class that will benefit them down the road.”
FULL ENTRYMayor to meet with neighbors Friday at Martin Playground
(Image courtesy Google Maps)
The location of Friday’s event.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino will be making a stop in Dorchester Friday as part of his annual “Neighborhood Coffee Hour.”
He will be at the Martin Playground on Myrtlebank Avenue Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. to greet residents with coffee, pastries, and gifts from the city’s greenhouses.
The event is billed as an opportunity for residents to speak one-on-one with the mayor about city issues and in particular those concerning open and green spaces.
For more information contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505 or at www.cityofboston.gov/parks
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Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.
State OKs plan for 'Boston Landing' commuter rail station near New Balance project in Brighton
(MBTA)
The state Transportation Department's board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve plans for new commuter rail station in Brighton, which New Balance will pay to build and then operate for at least the first decade after the station opens.
The station will sit next to an area where the shoe company is building a massive, $500 million development project.
The station plan, unanimously recommended by the finance committee of the state Transportation Department's board of directors last week, was unanimously approved by the entire board on Wednesday.
The station will be called “Boston Landing.” New Balance officials have said previously they hope it will open in 2014, which would make it the first completed component of the company’s large development.
The station will include a single platform, centered between the eastbound and westbound tracks of the Framingham-Worcester line, said Mark Boyle, the MBTA’s assistant general manager for development.
The conceptual plan envisions that riders will be able to access the station directly from Guest Street and Everett Street, Boyle said. The station will feature elevators and ramps to comply with accessibility standards.
FULL ENTRYSeventh-grader from King Philip wins National Geographic Bee
Sathwik Karnik, a 7th grader who attends the King Philip Regional Middle School in Norfolk, is the first place winner of the National Geographic Bee competition in Washington D.C.
Twelve-year-old Karnik traveled to the nation’s capital with King Philip Middle School’s history teacher David Quinn.
The competition challenged 54 participants, ranging from grades 4th to 8th, to answer world geography questions, like naming island chains, bodies of water, global trade and culture.
Karnik, of Plainville, won a trip to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador as well as a $25,000 scholarship, and a lifetime membership to National Geographic.
This is the third year that a King Philip student has participated in this national competition, according to Principal Susan Gilson. In 2011 and 2012 Karnik’s 15-year-old brother, Karthik, competed at the national contest and ranked fifth in 2011 and sixth in 2012.
Gilson said that three years ago, when Karthik joined the middle school in the 7th grade, he noted the lack of a geography club, and his interest in creating one. The school followed his initiative and created the club under Quinn’s advising. A geography bee is held in December at King Phillip to select the participant for the Mass. State Geography Bee competition, said Gilson.
National Geographic developed the National Geographic Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States.
The winning question and answer were:
Q: “Because the Earth bulges at the Equator, the point that is farthest from Earth’s center is the summit of a peak in Ecuador. Name this peak.”
A: “Chimborazo,” a mountain in Equador.
After rash of vehicle break-ins, Quincy police say lock your cars
Quincy Police are warning residents to lock their cars, following several unlocked vehicles were broken into throughout this month.
According to Quincy police, on May 15, several unlocked cars parked in North Quincy had items stolen out of them, including cars on Carruth Street, Willow Street, and Newbury Avenue.
Items stolen included GPS units, a camera, and portable DVD player.
A car on Furnace Brook Parkway also had a window smashed in and had items stolen, though police don’t believe the incident is related, as it doesn’t fit the characteristics of the other breaks.
A week later, another rash of robberies took place in North Quincy on the evening of May 20 and the morning of May 21.
Police said cars on Wadsworth Street, Hollis Avenue, Webster Street, Commander Shea Boulevard, Billings Street, Botolph Street, and Newbury Avenue were all broken into.
Items stolen included a work bag, iPods, darts, a purse, GPS systems, and cassette tapes.
With the exception of the break-in on Furnace Brook, all the cars were unlocked at the time.
“Police are urging people: lock your car doors and take our your valuables. Become less of a target,” police Captain John Dougan said.
Quincy officer's First Amendment lawsuit against the city moves forward
A First Amendment lawsuit brought by a fired Quincy police officer will move to the next step in federal court proceedings, after a judge decided there wasn’t enough evidence to dismiss the lawsuit.
The case is one of several that Joseph McGunigle has pending against the city, including an appeal of the revocation of his gun permit in Norfolk Superior Court, after he was let go from the department following a history of clashes with higher ups.
The judge did throw out half of the lawsuit that alleged that McGunigle was treated differently than other citizens, but counsel for the Quincy officer said the primary issue still stands.
“The First Amendment count is the significant issue,” said Attorney Tim Burke, who is representing McGunigle. “What it says is the claim is that he was retaliated against because he spoke out about an issue that was of public concern. And they filed a motion to dismiss … and the judge denied their motion to dismiss saying it was a legitimate claim.”
The judge has allowed the city to file additional documents to rebut McGunigle’s claims. Those complaints, and McGunigle’s answers, will be reviewed before the court proceedings move forward.
“It’s clear to me this was done as a retaliation going way back from the exercise of his enforcement of the dog ordinances,” Burke said. “It became a political issue and the city, chief of police, obviously told not to enforce and tried to prevent him from enforcing and it escalated from there.”
The federal lawsuit claims that McGunigle was punished for speaking out to the media about a situation involving dog citations.
McGunigle had been ticketing people who weren’t picking up after their dogs were defecating on the beach. In the suit, McGunigle claims that he spoke to Channel 7 News about the incident and also spoke to the Boston Globe in a 2007 article.
“Plaintiff’s statements to news organizations angered Defendants,” the lawsuit alleges. “Defendants began a campaign of retaliation against Plaintiff for his speech.”
McGunigle said he was denied medical leave, was required to undergo a psychological evaluation, and most recently had his gun license revoked all due to the dog issue.
While the judge agreed to let the court process move forward on complaints from 2009 on – as the statutory period for filing is only three years - the judge noted that this doesn’t necessarily mean all the complaints in the lawsuit are valid.
According to the judge’s decision, in a motion to dismiss the judge must view the evidence in “the light most favorable to plaintiff." With this mindset, the judge denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
That factor has Quincy officials optimistic of the process moving forward.
“The judge said he didn’t have enough information to assume, this is what happens in a motion to dismiss, unless he sees something to contrary, he has to assume all the facts alleged by McGunigle are true, so he’s given the city the opportunity to indicate [otherwise]…he didn’t indicate McGunigle has an independent claim, only that he might or might not,” said Steve McGrath, HR Director for the city.
McGrath said because of this detail, and also because the first half of the lawsuit was dismissed, things are looking up.
“The case is going along very well,” he said. “I’m optimistic and I think this firm is doing a good job. I’m confident in them.”
One unavoidable consequence of the McGunigle claims has been the legal costs. To date, the city has spent $88,000 in litigation with McGunigle, bills that are only expected to go up with this most recent decision.
“I don’t know if we’re talking months or years, I just don’t know,” McGrath said.
Concord shop operator, stormchaser dies in Texas while tracking tornadoes
Christopher M. Curtis II, the manager of the West Concord 5&10 who was never happier than when he was chasing tornadoes, died in his sleep early Tuesday morning in a hotel room in Texas, family members said.
Curtis was traveling with a group tracking tornadoes in Oklahoma, his ninth annual tour, and had written a column for Boston.com's Your Town Concord site about the fatal storm in Moore, Ok., shortly before he died.
"Sunday afternoon I was looking at a very short-lived tornado out of my van window touch down perhaps 50 feet from me near Viola, Kansas,'' Curtis wrote. "It was thrilling, and as always profoundly affecting.''
Referring to the Moore, Ok. storm Monday, Curtis continued: "Nature humbles us, in ways both beautiful, and horrific. Today has been about horrific.''
Curtis, who graduated from Brookline High School and went to Cornell University, began working at the 5&10 in 1989. The store has been in the family of his stepfather, Maynard Getchell-Forbes, since 1951. Curtis had managed the store since the mid-1990s.
Even before he began chasing tornados nine years ago, he was fascinated by the weather.
“A thunderstorm was a big occasion for Chris,” Getchell-Forbes said. “If you wanted a weather forecast, you didn’t go to weather.com, you went to Chris because he could tell you for several different zip codes what the weather forecast would be.”
Friday, before Curtis left for Oklahoma, he stopped by Concord Outfitters to say goodbye to his friends.
"He saw that the weather was turning and he was really excited to get out there," said Andy Bonzagni, the store's owner. "You never know if you're going to intersect that storm. "
Some of Curtis's photos from previous storm-chasing trips are still for sale at the noa gallery on Commonwealth Avenue, down the street from the 5&10. One small photo from Medicine Lodge, Kansas is dated May 12, 2004. A stuffed version of Wally the Green Monster, the official Red Sox mascot, sits on a fence post with a funnel cloud in the distance.
“The first tornado I ever saw,” Curtis wrote. “Wally enjoyed the view.”
Another picture shows a brilliant orange sky against a rocky bluff. Curtis and his group were in south Texas and had chased a storm nearly to Mexico. As they returned north, they saw they sun set over an empty valley, and Curtis took some photos.
“This is Big Bend National Park, and the air was sweet from wildflowers,” he wrote. “Nature doesn’t need to be roiled up to be beautiful.”
After Curtis died, friends who knew him from chasing storms began posting messages about him on facebook. It brought comfort to his friends and family at home.
“In hindsight, it’s nice for me to think that he had this whole community,” said Miles McCloy, a good friend, and the fishing manager at Concord Outfitters. “He talked about it all the time.”
Green Line Extension moves toward key milestones
The Green Line Extension project is edging toward two key milestones in its long term development: Selecting a contract manager and general contractor, and submitting an application for over $500 million in federal funding, officials said Wednesday.
State project officials updated the MassDOT's board of directors on the project's progress Wednesday.
Although federal funding remains up in the air, state Transportation Secretary Richard Davey has remained committed to fully funding the entire project, and continued to voice that stance Wednesday.
Funding has been set for the replacement of Lechmere Station, and the construction of new stations at Washington Street and Union Square in Somerville, Davey said. If the state loses out on a federal New Starts grant, then other projects will take a back seat in order to fund the extension of the Green Line, he said Wednesday.
"That probably means some other project doesn't get done, or gets pushed off," Davey said.
In March, the state requested proposals from three joint venture groups that had submitted letters of interest last year in overseeing the construction management and being general contractor for the project.
State officials used a computerized model that weighted the technical and cost elements of the three proposals, and are close to making a recommendation the the MassDOT board, Mary Ainsley, the state's director of design and construction for the project, said Wednesday.
Details of the the proposals and how they scored will be submitted to the MassDOT board next month, and a recommendation will be submitted in July, Ainsley said.
"Right now we're reviewing everything that's submitted to make sure it's all in line," she said.
The project will extend the Green Line about 4.5 miles from its current northbound terminal station at Lechmere in Cambridge through Somerville to College Avenue in Medford. The line will follow the rail bed of the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line, along with a spur to Somerville's Union Square.
Six new stops will be created and the current Lechmere stop replaced. Mandated through a legal settlement stemming from the environmental impace of the Big Dig project, the extension is expected to cost about $1.3 billion, and the state is hoping it can secure $557 million through the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program.
The state has been working its way through the application process since 2011, and aims to formally submit a grant application in the first half of 2014, said Andrew Brennan, the MBTA's environmental affairs director. New Starts funds major transit projects that are locally planned and implemented.
The funding pool for New Starts projects has dwindled in recent years, and it is now funded as part of the general budget, which makes it subject to sequestration, Brennan said.
Despite these issues, Brennan said the Green Line project appears to meet many of the goals set out by the FTA.
"We think we can really have a project that is investment grade for the FTA," he said.
There are four other projects in the country in similar position in the application process for New Starts grant money, Brennan said. One in Houston, one in Orlando, one in Portland, Ore., and one in Los Angeles, he said.
Preliminary work for the project on two bridges in Somerville and Medford for the project broke ground in December. New stations at Washington Street and Union Square are expected to open in 2017. The project is expected to be completed in 2019 or 2020.
Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.
Dedham's NewBridge to host memoir writing workshop for seniors
Hebrew Senior Life will be hosting a memoir-writing workshop Thursday, featuring two published authors.
The event, which will be held at NewBridge on the Charles, will be open to the public and cost $25.
Instruction is tailored toward older adults, many of whom have stories to tell and a natural story-telling ability, according to Jamie Berman, an event spokesperson.
Leading the event will be Michelle Seaton, author and memoir writing coach at Grub Street Writers Workshop, and Sharon Bially, a self-published author and founder of Book Savvy Public Relations.
The event is the final one in a three-session “Celebrating of Aging in Words and Images” series that also took place at Canton’s Orchard Cove.
Thursday’s event will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tickets are available at www.hslindependentliving.org.
Legal C Bar opens Thursday in Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes
Heath Robbins
One of the entrees, the New England Lobster Bake (38.95), features lite clam chowder , steamed clams and mussels, grilled chouriço, corn on the cob, and a steamed 1-1.25 lb. lobster
The much-awaited Legal C Bar planned for Derby Street Shoppes will open this Thursday for a "soft opening" meant to introduce customers to the Legal Sea Foods bar-centric chain.
The bar has been preparing to enter the Hingham market since Jan. 1, when Jasper White’s Summer Shack closed up shop.
Renovations to the building have been ongoing since then, and the contemporary venue is preparing to fling open the doors to the 6,5000-square-foot space Thursday evening.
According to a company spokesperson, the bar is a similar concept to the well-known Legal Sea Foods chain, but is a more casual.
Even with the focus on the bar, company officials say the restaurant is still family-friendly.
“They have a great kids program and have won awards for their kids menu,” a spokeswoman said. “Everything they do is catered to family friendly. This just has a bit more of a bar scene.”
This will be the third Legal C Bar for the region, following outposts at Legacy Place in Dedham, and Terminal B of Logan International Airport.
Hingham’s location will be fairly consistent with other Legal C locations, all with the same menu. Manned by chefs Rich Vellante and Steve Ernst, dining options feature items that can be shared, but still feature favorites from the Legal menu as well as traditional dining choices.
However, there will be some signature drinks exclusive to Hingham. In total, 19 signature cocktails, based on classic libations, will be available for guests.
Unlike the usual Legal Sea Foods, which feature individual tables in different sections of the restaurant, the Legal C concept will feature a more open floor plan. While separated into a bar room and a dining room, some tables lie between the two.
“[Customers] can have a formal dining or causal bar experience,” a spokeswoman said.
In total, the restaurant will have 195 seats – approximately 34 at the bar, four at the raw bar, 60 at low tables, 80 at high tables, and 18 at three community tables.
Once completely up and running, the restaurant will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight on Saturdays and 10 p.m. on Sunday. However, the soft opening on Thursday and Friday, will only feature dinner service.
Lunch service will begin Saturday.
Several menus, including those for gluten free, lunch, and take-out are offered. To view the dinner menu, click here
For more information, call 781.556.0010 or visit www.legalseafoods.com.
Braintree meals tax expected to raise $1M a year
Braintree’s Town Council on Tuesday approved a 0.75 percent local meals tax, a measure that is estimated to rake in nearly $1 million a year for the town.
The issue has been a controversial one here, with members of the business community initially up in arms about the proposal. Yet debate was largely absent from the Tuesday meeting, where councilors voted 6-to-1 for the tax, which takes effect July 1.
“We decided this year that we felt this was an appropriate revenue stream that could truly enhance the town of Braintree in terms of capital dollars, tangible benefits, and an enlarged comprehensive plan for capital improvements we hope to make in the town,” said Mayor Joseph Sullivan to the council prior to the vote.
The mayor’s proposal would allocate the money to capital projects, such as a new security system in all of the town’s schools, capital upgrades at the East Braintree Fire Station, continued upgrades to the Police Station, projects at Thayer Public Library, and a series of upgrades at Daughraty Gym to enable the space to be used as an Emergency Center.
“A number of projects we feel can be supported with this capital program. The foundation for that is incorporation of the meals tax,” Sullivan said.
The tax would be on top of the state’s 6.25 percent tax on meals, which was increased from 5 percent in fiscal 2010. The tax applies to meals served at restaurants and such places as taverns, theater snack bars, takeout counters, and food trucks.
While a number of South Shore communities have installed the meals tax, Braintree has long held off.
The wait was much to the chagrin of Councilor John Mullaney, who has pressed the town to approve the meals tax two times previously.
With final approval on Tuesday night, Mullaney was congratulated on his success, yet the councilor said this wasn’t a personal victory for him.
“I don’t consider tonight to be a victory for me, but for the town. It will be used to make Braintree a better place,” Mullaney said. “My theme is working together for a better Braintree, everyone contributes and makes it a better place. This is not my victory tonight.”
Mullaney said that even the approval of the tax came with some compromises. The councilor would rather have liked to see the money used to cut back property taxes, or eliminate the trash fees – a $1.5 million cost to the town.
In subsequent years, the council should also look to use the meals tax revenue towards unfunded retirement liabilities or health care costs.
“I work to compromise, I would have been happy for the meals tax to go into the general budget, but the Braintree Chamber [of Commerce] said they’d support me if it went to capital planning,” Mullaney said.
Mullaney said he might not be here in subsequent years to push for these types of changes.
“I leave it to the council,” he said.
While Mullaney disagreed about how the money should be spent, Councilor Sean Powers, the sole dissenting vote, wished the tax had not passed at all.
“I applaud the mayor for what he’s trying to do, but this is a matter of Beacon Hill not making local aid a priority and shifting the burden onto local towns,” Powers said.
Powers said Braintree’s capital plan was already aggressive, with a focus on roads, public safety, and education.
“It’s supposed to be a needs list, not a wish list,” he said.
South Boston to host two fewer road races this year
As spring comes to South Boston, so do the charity road races along Day Boulevard and the parking woes associated with them.
But not all residents in the seaside neighborhood are keen on the races, especially when they have to move their cars or face towing.
Last year, local politicians raised concerns about the number of races along Day Boulevard, saying they cause hardship for residents.
In 2012, there were 10 races in South Boston that required road closures and parking restrictions, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which permits the races and manages Day Boulevard and the surrounding beaches.
“The races last year had a negative impact on the community,” said South Boston Representative Nick Collins, who helped lead the charge against the races last year. “They cause a significant amount of disruption with the towing and closures.”
For 2013, seven races, with another race pending approval, have been scheduled for the roadway, and no new applications are being accepted by DCR for the year.
“DCR continues to work with the community and its leaders to strike the right balance between public access to these state properties and respect for the neighborhoods in which they fall,” said SJ Port, a spokeswoman for DCR.
Collins said the reduction is a start, but added he will be pushing to get the number of races down to four.
Legislation has been filed by Collins and the former state senator Jack Hart to curb the number of races in the neighborhood.
“The commissioner shall not authorize the issuance of special use permits more than four times in a calendar year to an individual, group or entity that would result in the closure of all or a portion of Columbia road or Day Boulevard in the South Boston section of the city of Boston,” reads the legislation. “The four permits authorized in this paragraph shall only be issued to individuals, groups or entities whose purposes have a direct impact on the South Boston community.”
Even with the legislation, which is currently awaiting a hearing, Collins said one of the best solutions to the problem is more parking.
“That’s [towing and parking restrictions] what is driving this,” he said. “Parking will always be a top issue in this community.”
DCR has tried to eliminate some of the headache surrounding parking, allowing residents prior to the races to park overnight in the angular parking spots in between Shore Road and Castle Island.
“We have to find the right balance,” said Collins. “We’re starting, but it’s always up for discussion.”
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Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.
Former state representative Stephen Doran arrested for allegedly receiving meth package at JP school
Former state representative Stephen W. Doran was held Wednesday on $10,000 bail after being charged with drug trafficking for allegedly receiving a package containing more than 400 grams of methamphetamine at a Jamaica Plain charter school where he worked as a tutor, authorities said.
The package was mailed to Doran at 215 Forest Hills St., the address of the Match Charter Public Middle School, according to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. It had been sent as Express Mail via the United States Postal Service.
At about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, State Police pulled over the Jeep Cherokee that Doran was driving just after he left the school, the district attorney's office said.
State Police had received "information that [Doran] might receive a package with a large amount of methamphetamine," and had obtained a warrant to search the package, said district attorney office spokesman Jake Wark.
Wark, citing an ongoing investigation, declined to say where the package was sent from.
Inside the package, police found two heat-sealed baggies containing 480 grams of a crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine, a highly-addictive stimulant, authorities said.
Doran, 57, was arrested.
Authorities said they found another 38 grams of the same substance, about $10,000 in cash, a digital scale and "other items consistent with drug distribution" inside his home on Dix Street in Dorchester, after they obtained a warrant to search there.
Altogether, prosecutors estimated the total street value of the seized drugs to be about $50,000.
At his arraignment Wednesday in West Roxbury District Court, Doran was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and with violating the state's drug laws in a school zone, officials said.
A plea of not-guilty was automatically entered on Doran's behalf, said Wark.
Assistant District Attorney Rakhi Lahiri recommended Doran be held on $500,000 cash bail.
Instead, Judge Michael Coyne instead ordered Doran to be held on $10,000 cash bail, Wark said. If Doran posts bail, he will be required to wear a GPS device and remain confined to his home, except if he needs to leave for medical appointments.
During the arraignment, Doran's lawyers said that Doran has been receiving treatment for cancer, according to Wark.
Doran is due back in court on those charges June 24.
He will be charged with a second count of methamphetamine trafficking in Dorchester District Court for the methamphetamine allegedly found in his home, Wark said. A date for that arraignment has not been set.
If convicted, Doran would serve at least eight and up to 20 years in prison, Wark said.
Doran's attorneys, Vincent A. Murray Jr. and Joseph Daniel Eisenstadt, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Between 1980 and 1994, Doran, a Democrat, served seven terms as the state representative for the 15th Middlesex House District, which includes Lexington, where he lived while in office and was also involved in town government.
Doran was born in Boston, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1978 and went on to study at the London School of Economics and Political Science, according to records from the State Library of Massachusetts.
His time in the State House included serving as chair of committees on ethics, education committee and taxation, the state's library records show. He also served as vice-chair of the government regulations committee.
"During his 14 years in office, Doran focused on budgetary issues, consumer protection, drug/alcohol abuse, economic development, education, elderly affairs, employment, environmental issues, housing, local aid, social services, and women's issues," the state records say. "Doran sponsored and co-sponsored a considerable body of legislation during his time in office, including legislation for tax reform, the prevailing wage law, and the greenhouse bill."
He retired from politics in 1994.
Doran will no longer tutor at the school in JP, according to Michael Larsson, chief operating officer of Match.
"We have no knowledge, nor any reason to believe, that any staff, teachers, or students are involved in this matter or in danger in any way," Larsson said in an e-mailed statement. "We are cooperating completely with the police investigation, and we are conducting our own internally."
"We will share all appropriate information with our staff, students and families to assure them of the safety of our school," he added.
Doran had tutored there since Sept. 2012, Larsson said in an e-mailed statement.
Larsson emphasized that Doran was not a teacher and that Doran, "like all tutors at Match was subject to a Criminal Offender Registry check before he began his service with us. Mr. Doran passed that check."
The district attorney office spokesman said Doran had been arrested twice before. The first was in 1979 for driving while under the influence of alcohol in Framingham; that was "continued without a finding" resulting in its eventual dismissal. In 2001, Doran was arrested in Haverhill for marijuana possession; that case was dismissed at Doran's first court appearance, Wark said.
E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com.
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Concord-Carlisle girls lacrosse: Patriots hand one to Colonials
Information in this report was provided on behalf of the CCHS girls lacrosse program.
In a must win game to continue their quest for the Division 1 North playoffs, the Patriots allowed a 4 goal half time lead to slip away losing 15-14 to the Shrewsbury Colonials on Tuesday. It was a tale of two halves for the Patriots who took control for the first half of the game.
CC midfielder Becca Olsen dominated in the Shrewsbury end tallying 4 goals within the first 15 minutes of play including a beautiful stick check on the Colonial, scooping the ball and firing it to the back of the net.
Allie Barrett, Emma Mahoney, Jenna Carlton, and Cassidy Hale all provided additional tallies for CC as Johanna O’Neil provided them with 6 draw controls and 2 ground balls. Meanwhile CC defenders Lucy Fell, Madeline Leahy, and Brianna Stout coupled with senior Captain and goalie Maddie Holmes played a staunch, resilient defensive game making the Colonials work hard for every goal they could muster.
A Patriot yellow card allowed the Colonials to take an early lead of 3-2; however, once the teams regained balance, CC managed the ball better and went into half with a solid 9-5 lead.
The second half was all Shrewsbury; however, the Colonials made adjustments in their game plan, gaining more draw controls and modifying to a fast break game which stymied the Patriots.
The Colonials went on a 7 goal run to take a 12-9 lead as Coach Morrison called for a time out. Following the stop in play, the Patriots resumed play with a goal each by Mahoney and Hale to bring the game within one.
Shrewsbury responded with three straight fast breaks to push out to a 15-11 lead. With just over 4 minutes remaining and a second time out, the Patriots began to gain momentum again as Hale, O’Neil, and Mahoney all fought to win crucial draw controls. Kate Wyeth, Olsen, and Hale then followed through with needed tallies to bring the Patriots within back one a goal.
At 15-14 and just over a minute remaining, CC had to win the draw control for any chance to tie the game. And they did as Hale won the ball and raced down field toward goal spotting Barrett to her right.
Barrett-- seeking a must needed goal-- then drove to goal cutting between two Colonial defenders and firing a perfect bounce shot to tie the game. Unfortunately a questionable charging call was announced by an official negating the goal and giving Shrewsbury possession.
The Colonials then effectively went into stall mode for the remaining minute to win the game as time ran out.
"It was a tough way to lose," said Coach Morrison. "We had two goals called back in the second half with our season on the line. The kids never gave up, and like they have all season they fought and competed to the bitter end."
Rose F. Kennedy Greenway recognized by national urban park group
Boston’s Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway has been named a “Frontline Park” by the national urban park advocacy organization City Parks Alliance.
City Parks Alliance recognizes “Frontline Park” each month to highlight examples of what it considers “urban park excellence, innovation, and stewardship” as well as the challenges city parks such as shrinking budgets, land use pressures, and urban decay.
The organization praised the public-private partnership development to maintain improve the Greenway and the work done to face “some unique maintenance challenges due to the fact that it is essentially a very long, large roof garden covering an interstate highway.”
“We selected the Kennedy Greenway for recognition because it exemplifies the power of partnerships to create and maintain urban parks that build community and make our cities sustainable and vibrant,” Catherine Nagel, executive director of City Parks Alliance, said in a statement.
The non-profit Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy handles the operation, programming and maintenance for the Greenway with funding from private donations, grants, earned income, and public funding for maintenance and operation.
“We hope that, by shining the spotlight on this park, we can raise awareness about both the necessity and the promise of these kinds of partnerships to spur investment in our nation’s urban parks,” she said.
“We are honored to be recognized as a Frontline Park by the City Parks Alliance,” Jesse Brackenbury, chief operating officer and acting executive director of the conservancy, said in a statement. “2013 marks our fifth year of operation and the highlight will be the opening of our new one-of-a-kind carousel on Labor Day weekend.”
E-mail Kaiser at Johanna.yourtown@gmail.com. For more news about your city, town, neighborhood, or campus, visit boston.com’s Your Town homepage.
Concord-Carlisle girls lacrosse: Patriots end season on high note
Information in this report was provided on behalf of the CCHS girls lacrosse program.
After losing to Shrewsbury Monday by one goal thus dashing any hopes for a Division 1 playoff run, the Patriots (8-9-1) rebounded in a strong fashion Tuesday by defeating #10th ranked Framingham (14-4) with a score of 15-13 at Doug White Field.
CC looked both strong and confident in their final game as they competed at the highest level against an athletic and stealthy Flyer team. Once again junior captain Allie Barrett led the charge wracking up 5 goals and 2 assists while Becca Olsen and Emma Mahoney both added 3 goals each.
Back in the lineup for CC were starters center Hannah Dudley who collected 1 goal, 5 draw controls, and 3 ground balls and sophomore Lexi Goodhue who had 3 tallies of her own with her distinct crease roll from around the net.
The Patriots battled the high powered Framingham offense matching them goal for goal through the first fifteen minutes of play but with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half and CC up by one, they managed the first notable lead as a Framingham shot hit the CC cross pipe.
The Patriots grabbed the ensuing ground ball then quickly transitioned down field for a tally. Moments later, Johanna O’ Neil would win the draw control and pass off to Kate Wyeth speeding down the right side of the field who’s perfect pass assist to Becca Olsen split the seam of two Framingham defenders.
Olsen found the back of the net giving the Patriots a bit of breathing room and a 3 goal lead. Both teams battled for goals through the following minutes but CC continued to chip away at extending their lead.
With confidence growing, the Patriots went into the half up by five at 14- 9.
As expected, Framingham came out fast and furious to begin the second half. CC Goalie Conley Ernst made several early key stops to help keep the Patriot lead. Though unsuccessful, the Patriots continued to create scoring opportunities of their own including a breakaway shot, three free positions, and a high pipe shot.
Both teams then buckled down and a defensive battle ensued as each offense could only muster one goal before the ten minute mark of the half. Once again CC defenders Lucy Fell, Johanna O Neil, and Madeline Leahy played smart resilient defense awhile freshmen defender Brianna Stout continued her aggressive prowess.
Down 15-10 with 11 minutes remaining, the battle tested Flyers were determined to not give up and continued to grind out plays while going on a 3 goal run to bring the game within two.
But CC would again match them goal for goal as Patriot’s Mahoney and Barrett each notched scores to help stave off any remaining Flyer attack.
The Patriots maintained the ball for the final seconds as the clock ran out thus ending their 2013 season.
Coach Morrison looked back on the season, "We had some very close losses over the year, none more bitter than the one goal loss to Shrewsbury yesterday. Yet this team was always resilient and battled to the end, and today they were rewarded for that effort by beating one of the top ten teams in the state. Kate Wyeth, Maddie Holmes, Lucy Fell, Halle Burns and Miranda Gaehde are terrific athletes and wonderful people. The Class of 2013 has laid the foundation for CCHS Girls Lacrosse to reach greater heights in the near future."
- Based on the win-loss record of their opponents, laxpower.com determined that the Patriots ended their season with the fifth most difficult Division 1 Girls Lacrosse schedule in the state only behind Andover, Westwood, Notre Dame, and Lincoln Sudbury.
- In spite of significant injuries to several starters, the Patriots lost 2 games by only 2 goals and 3 games by only 1 goal.
- The Patriots will be returning 16 of their 21 Varsity players in 2014.
- The Junior Varsity team under Co-Coaches Amy Carlton and Helen Lyons completed a very successful season with a 14-4-1 record.
- The Freshmen team under Head Coach Jenn Frizzelle and Asst. Coach Nancy Campbell had a perfect undefeated season with a 12-0 record.
Charlestown drug court opens to offer treatment as alternative to prison
A new drug court designed to assist individuals on probation who suffer with chronic substance abuse is now up and running in Charlestown.
The Charlestown Addiction Recovery Treatment Program, or CHART, was established by Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court and its Probation Department, in partnership with the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition.
The program offers specialized court sessions that allow people on probation who struggle with substance abuse to participate in drug treatment instead of going to prison.
CHART, modeled after the drug court in Chelsea, sentences those who choose to participate to intensive court supervision, mandatory drug testing, substance-abuse treatment, and other social services. It is one of 19 operating drug courts throughout the state.
“It is a proactive response to the needs and desires of the community at large. Encouraging pro social behavior and the reduction of recidivism are the heart of probation’s goals. CHART will aid in this endeavor,” Chief Probation Officer Michelle Williams said in a statement.
A US Department of Justice drug court study found that, when appropriately
implemented, drug courts can reduce recidivism, decrease the chances of future drug use, and promote positive cost-saving outcomes.
The Charlestown program receives referrals from defendants, their attorneys, the district attorney, and the probation department. A third party screens and evaluates the candidates before they are enrolled in the highly structured program that lasts for a minimum of 18 months.
Individuals convicted of arson, sex offenses or violent crimes within the past five years are not eligible.
Williams coordinated with community substance abuse providers, the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition to establish CHART after a review of Charlestown Court House's probation caseload found that 90 percent of offenders were on probation for substance abuse-related crimes.
Williams said the drug court program is not a diversion program. It is, she said, an extension of the community's support of substance abuse treatment.
Summer concerts return to BPL courtyard
Boston Public Library’s Concert in the Courtyard series will start again next month with a summer of free, lunchtime performances.
The lunchtime concert series will begin on June 7 in the courtyard of the Central Library in Copley Square and will be held every Friday at 12:30 p.m. through August 30.
The series will feature a variety of music including jazz, classical, blues and Broadway.
The following is a list of performers and the dates they are scheduled to perform:
Dismissed Ashland police chief loses selectman race
Dismissed Ashland police chief Scott C. Rohmer failed in his bid to win a seat on the Board of Selectmen, according to unofficial results posted by the town.
Incumbent selectman Joseph J. Magnani and school board member Mark D. Juitt were elected Tuesday to the Board of Selectmen with 1,609 votes and 1,292 votes, respectively. Rohmer trailed with 1,156 votes.
Rohmer is on administrative leave from his job as chief, and his contract that expires in June won't be renewed by the new town manager, Anthony Schiavi. Rohmer decided to run for one of the two open seats on the board.
In the other contested races, Gina A. Donovan and Mark Bennet Larson won seats on the school board with 1,523 and 1,028 votes, respectively. Adam J. Elbirt came up short with 909 votes. The three were running for two seats.
Michael J. Mokey defeated Vanessa Allison Charles for a seat on the planning board, 1,094-808.
Total voter turnout was 24 percent.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Native American flutist Joseph Firecrow brings his music to Malden May 31
Joseph Firecrow plays at the Annual Genundowa Festival in Hammondsport, N.Y.
Grammy Award-winning flutist, singer, and storyteller Joseph Firecrow returns to Malden May 31 for a full-length performance at St Paul's Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., at 8 p.m. Firecrow will offer more of what enthralled audiences at the Opening Celebration for Malden Reads in February, a web of stories and songs that energize and nourish the mind and heart. Firecrow is a sought-after recording artist, composer, flutist, storyteller, and performer. He has earned awards, accolades, and artistic opportunities for his work. In addition to releasing seven albums, Firecrow’s musical talents have been tapped by Ken Burns for the director’s documentary “Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery.” Firecrow has also won numerous awards, including songwriter of the year, best instrumental recording, and flutist of the year from the Native American Music Awards. His fourth album, “Cheyenne Nation,” earned him a Grammy nomination in 2001. Most recently, Firecrow was awarded Best Flute Recording for “Night Walk” by NAMA. He was also given the honor of opening the ceremony with a statement, prayer, and song, a fact that reflects the respect he has earned from within the Native American artists’ community. These awards are a credit to Firecrow’s musical achievements. They reflect his musical skill and reputation amongst fellow entertainers. And yet at the heart of his performances is a role that goes beyond music. This role, as a Cheyenne flute man, is what shapes his life and work. It is the heart of what he does and is, as he explained in a recent interview. As a child, Firecrow heard the song of flute in the evenings on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana that was his home until age 9. The soulful emotion of this evening sound, delivered by then flute man Grover Wolfvoice, stayed with him even after he had left the reservation as part of the Mormon Indian Placement Program, from which he only returned during the summers. In college at Brigham Young University, he enrolled in a flute-making class taught by John Rainer Jr., instructor of Native American music. In the class, Firecrow made his first Native American flute and learned how to play. This experience, along with his reading of "Cheyenne Memories," a book of the legends and history of his people written by his grandfather, John Stands in Timber, moved Firecrow to reconnect with his Cheyenne identity. At this time in his life, however, he was still unsure if music was to be the driving passion of his life. After college, Firecrow pursued a variety of opportunities, “sowing his oats,” as he puts it. Working at a number of hard labor jobs and as a tree planter and sawyer for the Forestry Department, he then moved on to oil rig and power plant work. But Firecrow became concerned about the ways in which these jobs were destructive to the planet. He returned to the reservation in his 30s with the flute he had made in college and starting making and playing the native instrument with newfound eagerness. At that time, many people on the reservation were keen on ceremony, for which the drum was the most important instrument. They mocked his choice of flute over drums, claiming it as a female-oriented instrument. Firecrow rejected this notion completely, because the flute according to tradition had always been for males only. Used in social contexts – often played at night – it was to be used to express love for others, for family, for wife and children, and for spirituality. Women, according to the Cheyenne beliefs, did not need this catalyst for expression. Men did. Remembering the influence of John Rainer Jr. and inspired by Native American flutists such as Carlos Nakai, Jonathan Maracle, flutemaker Hawk Littlejohn, and many other talented musicians, Firecrow continued to pursue flute with growing intensity. He says, “I loved playing it. I would make flutes by the fire. I would play into the night.” As if the flute had always been with him – just quiet – Firecrow mastered all that was connected to the beautiful wooden instrument so traditionally intertwined with the identity of his people. It was from the tribal elders that Firecrow learned the art of the flute man. They taught him that, “To be a storyteller has to come with a flute man’s role,” he says. And this also means “doing right, being clear about the intent of playing, and knowing where the flute comes from. For music, for the Cheyenne people, is not a distinct practice, it is part of everything else.” Playing flute then also means learning the stories chants, and songs of the people. It means “walking with deliberateness,” doing right, embodying what it means to be Cheyenne. All of this, Firecrow gained through guidance from the elders and in community with the people. The elders have given Firecrow their blessings as flute man. But they continue to watch him and test his knowledge and accurate representation of the songs, stories, and flutemaking. “Often,” he says, “when I least expect it – like at the grocery store in the checkout lane – I’ll have to recite a story or sing a song. Other times, they’ll throw me a piece of wood, and I have to construct a flute on the spot.” Firecrow is happy for this ongoing relationship. He always gives the elders credit. He remembers them. And he wants to make them smile. When he leaves the reservation, Firecrow brings this spirit of humility and respect for elders and for people in general with him. Whether he is composing, performing, or fusing versions of his Native strains with classical, jazz, rock, or contemporary music, he works hard and shows reverence for the complete experience of playing. The nature of the music, the audience, and his companion performers may change, but he always knows where the flute comes from, where it is going, and the reasons he plays it. And those reasons – the desire to connect, to express his love and appreciation, to inspire wonder for everything that connects us as humans, is what drives Firecrow to share much more than music with those who hear him. The Malden community and Malden Reads invite you and children aged 10 and older to join us as we share the wonder of Firecrow’s pure and compelling performance on the evening of May 31. Tickets are available at the door for $15. Students and seniors are $10. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds of the concert benefits Malden Reads. For more information about the event, visit maldenreads.org. For more information about Joseph Firecrow, visit josephfirecrow.com.Manhunt, bombing response cost Watertown police $250k; state, federal aid sought
Watertown Chief Ed Deveau said Tuesday that the events that unfolded during the week of the Boston Marathon bombings will cost the police department upwards of $250,000 – but he hopes the town won’t have to bear the cost.
Deveau said he expects over $250,000 in overtime and equipment charges stemming from the incident, though he cautioned the final numbers “are not even close to being completed yet.”
Deveau said the department is working with the federal and Massachusetts emergency management agencies for reimbursement.
“Based on our involvement in the Boston bombings and then with everything coming out to Watertown, we’ve created a credible amount of increased monies in overtime and equipment,” Deveau said. “We’re working with FEMA and MEMA to try and get those costs covered.”
He also said that “it is our hope” to make sure the town would not have to pay any additional expenses related to the Boston Marathon events.
Late on the night of April 18, the two Boston Marathon bombing suspects came to Watertown after hijacking a car, and engaged in a shootout with police. As events unfolded, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was shot fatally and run over by his younger brother, Dzhokhar, 19, who was attempting to escape. Dzhokhar was captured the next evening in a boat parked behind a house on Franklin Street in Watertown, after a massive manhunt.
Communities around the region are beginning to tally the costs of the huge police response during the week of the bombings. In Milton, police estimated they spent $23,000 on officers related to the marathon bombings and manhunt.
In Watertown, officials hope that federal and state money could help alleviate the town’s financial responsibilities: Watertown’s police budget has been continually shrinking over the past decade, leading the now 65-person department to cut eight officers in as many years, Deveau said.
And as the town’s police budget hearing scheduled for Tuesday, June 4 looms, Deveau said he hopes the town-wide support shown since the events will be reflected in the accounting books.
“I think it’s a dialogue we need to have moving forward,” Deveau said of the events affecting budget decisions. “We all recognize the bombing in Boston has changed the landscape. Boston, Cambridge, and Watertown need to look at their police services, and see if they need more staffing.”
Next fiscal year’s public safety budget in Watertown is proposed at $15.9 million, compared to last fiscal year’s $15.5 million, according to town documents.
Deveau also noted that the creation of the Watertown Police Foundation, which takes contributions and also profits from the police-specific "Watertown Strong" shirts, will help the department fund much-needed police training sessions and community outreach programs.
“I’m hoping the foundation will be able to give us a shot in the arm, and help get our officers back into the specialized training that we’ve missed in the last five to seven years after state cuts,” he said.
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Follow us on Twitter: @yourwatertown, @jaclynreiss
Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com
This week's 'Greater Somerville:' Talking tolerance
On this week's "Greater Somerville," host Joe Lynch responds to a recent letter issued by Mayor Joe Curtatone regarding the alleged homophobic slurs against a sitting alderman.
Lynch, an openly gay man who ran for Somerville alderman in Ward 5 in 2007, earlier this week wrote an open letter to the mayor and the public addressing homophobia in Somerville and related issues.
Tornado damage is 'horrific,' Concord storm chaser says after Oklahoma twister
Chris Curtis, who ran the West Concord Five and Ten in Concord, was in Oklahoma as part of a storm-chasing group. Shortly after he wrote this column about the Oklahoma tornado Monday night, Mr. Curtis died in his sleep, family members said.
From the road in northern Texas. May 20, 2013.
I’m in our chase van driving south on I-35 toward Dallas. We have rooms booked for the night just north of the city and will be pursuing yet another system of severe weather tomorrow (Tuesday) in that area. Today we woke up in Shawnee OK, perhaps a mile or so from where a powerful tornado destroyed dozens of homes and killed two people. Our group leader lives in Shawnee, and his wife was at home and evacuated to a local shelter during the storm. Their home was spared, but tonight in Moore OK many others were not so fortunate.
Moore is next door to Norman OK, which is our ‘base camp’ when we assemble together to chase storms each spring. We have friends there who work in hotels and restaurants we frequent, and others who live in the area. While on the road today we were shocked by the reports that we could only observe in glimpses. We went south, driving right through Moore, this morning; along with hundreds of other storm chasers who all saw the same data and felt that the unpopulated areas well south of Oklahoma City was the smart bet today. A few did decide to stay north, and last we heard many were aiding in search and rescue efforts.
Sunday afternoon I was looking at a very short lived tornado out of my van window touch down perhaps 50 feet from me near Viola, Kansas. It was thrilling, and as always profoundly affecting. Nature humbles us, in ways both beautiful, and horrific.
Today has been about horrific.
It is hard to put into words how we all feel right now; maybe our experience last month in Boston gives me a unique perspective. The first bomb that Monday went off in front of the building where my father used to work, and a few doors down from Old South Church, where my mom was ordained and on many Sundays gave sermons. The car chase that Thursday night ended about a block from the house where I lived as a young boy in Watertown. It was a week of horror, and a week where Boston stood up tall and strong, and showed good in the face of evil.
Tornadoes aren’t evil, they are random acts of nature, but the literal effects can easily be far worse. Moore will now become the only town to ever be hit twice by an EF-5 tornado, and an EF-4 as well, in 1999 and 2003.
As chasers we do more than observe and record some of the extremes of nature. The internet has allowed us to collectively create a large network of trained and experienced people who are available to the National Weather Service both in reporting what we see, and also at times being available to answer questions from them directly. We all use GPS and radar to show our locations and contact information in real time. And even on a day like today, when most of us saw the same data and all made the same wrong guess, a few saw things differently and were there on the ground when this worst possible scenario unfolded. I have no idea tonight if chasers helped report the initial funnel cloud faster than it may have been otherwise, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Even an extra minute can save scores of lives in a situation like that. May of 2012 saw the fewest tornado-related deaths in the US in recorded history. Calm weather had much to do with that, but tornadoes did happen, and chasers were out there on their own dime doing their best to pitch in.
I wish we could do more. Maybe tomorrow we will be in the wrong place at the right time, and have the chance to do our part. I know that any of my many chaser friends feel exactly the same way.
Tuesday night on 'Greater Somerville'
Tuesday night on "Greater Somerville," host Joe Lynch responds to a recent letter issued by Mayor Joe Curtatone regarding the alleged homophobic slurs against a sitting alderman.
Lynch, an openly gay man who ran for Somerville alderman in Ward 5 in 2007, earlier this week wrote an open letter to the mayor and the public addressing homophobia in Somerville and related issues.
Watch "Greater Somerville" live tonight on SCATV, channel 3, at 7:30 p.m. For a repeat of the show, go to greatersomerville.wordpress.com or watch this site for the replay later in the week.
Greater Somerville airs live every Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m., from the Union Square studios of Somerville Community Access Television.
