Charges
dropped against Hill Resident - by Jacqueline
G. Harris
Charges against Walnut Street resident David Benton Bradley
for breaking and entering and threatening to commit a
crime have been dropped by Suffolk County District Attorney
Daniel Conley.
“We determined that the evidence initially cited
against Mr. Bradley was called into question by both the
subsequent identification of another possible suspect
and a close review of Mr. Bradley’s travel itinerary
on the day of the housebreak,” read a statement
issued by the DA’s office.
Bradley was charged in early December after a witness
identified him as the robber she had seen three months
earlier. Bradley’s lawyer, Peter B. Krupp, said
Bradley was on a flight back from Chicago at the time.
“Eyewitness identification is far from scientific,
and an identification made three months after an observation
is inherently unreliable,” said Krupp. “This
was a clear case of mistaken identity.”
At a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, February 2, before
Judge Dermot Meagher, the DA’s office filed a “nolle
prosequi.”
“The evidence as we now understand it does not
warrant a continued prosecution of Mr. Bradley, and in
the interest of justice this office terminated that prosecution
today,” said the DA’s statement.
Krupp filed a motion to have the complaint expunged from
Bradley’s record. Judge Meagher did not allow it,
but said Krupp could re-file. “I have every expectation
the judge will seal [Mr. Bradley’s record] the next
time we are in court,” said Krupp.
The Esplanade’s controversial cherry trees should
see new homes by mid-March, this time with the full blessing
of the same folks so irked when the trees were first planted
in single file along Storrow Lagoon.
At last week’s public hearing, state Representative
Marty Walz, Department of Conservation and Recreation
Commissioner Katherine F. Abbott and members of the ad
hoc cherry tree working group presented to the few members
of the public who attended their proposal for re-locating
the trees so that they no longer block river views. The
new plan calls for 80 of the 100 Yoshino Cherry Trees,
a gift from Citizen’s Bank President Larry Fish
and his wife Atsuko Fish to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the Japan Society in Boston, to be clustered in picturesque
locations between Storrow Lagoon and the Hatch Shell in
keeping with an historic plan created by landscape architect
Arthur Shurcliff in the 1930s.
DCR’s Patrice Kish said her department would follow
an accelerated time frame to make sure the trees are transplanted
while dormant. There is still time for public comment
on the new plan, she said, before both the Boston Conservation
Commission and Mass Historical Commission grant final
approval later this month.
If the public process goes well, DCR’s in-house
crew will begin moving 80 of the trees during the third
week of March. Pat Flynn, director of urban parks, said
he expected the job to be done within 5 to 8 days without
difficulty because the root balls of the dormant trees
have grown little. The trees will be planted about 12’
apart from each other in clusters of 2 to 5.
About 270 cherry trees already exist on the Esplanade,
60 percent of which are not in good condition, according
to Linda Cox of the Esplanade Association. Some of the
new trees will be transplanted to replace dead and dying
cherry trees.
“Then maintenance is the key,” said Flynn.
“We will water, water, water [from water trucks].
After the first year, a light, organic fertilizer will
be used but no pesticides,” said Flynn.
In a letter to Esplanade Association President Sharon
Malt and Director of Planning Herb Nolan, Larry Fish said
his gift was intended to make the community happy and
to mark a special occasion. “Knowing that these
beautiful trees, once safely relocated will be warmly
welcome makes our entire family feel very good…Be
assured we will care for them in the years ahead as they
bring happiness and friendship to our Boston community,”
he said.
Homeless show heart for cancer patientby Jennifer Justus
A group of men and women on Beacon Hill
have been emptying their pockets this week to help a young
girl recently diagnosed with cancer, but the philanthropists
might seem an unlikely group — they’re homeless.
The guests of Neighborhood Action Inc.,
a nonprofit shelter offering meals to the homeless and
impoverished at 35 Bowdoin Street, have been pooling what
little money they have and donating literally pennies
in an outpouring of compassion for a girl they will probably
never meet.
What started as a few prayers for the young
woman, a Wrentham teenager named Tory with a highly aggressive
cancer, has grown into a movement at the shelter with
homeless and low-income guests organizing a collection
that they hope will eventually fill a gallon jug with
change and bills. Although they don’t expect to
raise a large sum, they hope their efforts will help purchase
a CD or DVD to brighten the young woman’s day.
Rev. Ron Tibbetts, executive director of
Neighborhood Action Inc., said the impromptu fundraiser
has been a moving experience for him and the shelter’s
guests.
“One older homeless man — I
know exactly where he sleeps — was turning his little
change purse upside-down,” he said. “People
are anxious to help and be part of a community. It’s
empowered these folks to be a part of something.”
Tibbetts said the fundraiser began when
he asked a few guests at the shelter to pray with him
for the young woman, a friend of his granddaughter’s,
using a “pocket angel,” coin-shaped pieces
of metal stamped with an angel’s image that he regularly
passes to guests.
“I put (the pocket angel) on the table
and asked everyone to offer some prayers or hope or good
thoughts – whatever their faith or belief,”
he said. “I had about 15 people come to the table,
and I noticed there were black hands, white hands, old
hands, young hands, clean and dirty hands.”
Following the prayer, others in the room
became interested, stopping Tibbetts to pray or offer
a few words. Then, a homeless man came to him with a handful
of pennies. “Take this,” the man told Tibbetts.
“Put it in a jar. Each penny is a prayer for Tory.”
Tibbetts refused at first, concerned that
he shouldn’t be asking help from those he says already
live on the “margins of life.”
“But people wanted to give,” he said.
The guest started a collection bucket labeled,
“Pennies are Prayers for Tory.” Dollar bills
and change have been gathered over the past few days as
Tibbetts encourages those without anything monetary to
simply touch the jar and offer thoughts of hope.
“I’m surprised because I do
this work every day,” Tibbetts said. “A lot
of days when it’s really difficult, you see the
worst in people. I’m surprised by the generosity,
and people who leave here even wanting to keep Tory in
their thoughts.”
A low-income guest at the shelter arrived
with a stuffed doll she had purchased for the cancer patient.
Tibbetts held it up during a meal to recognize the woman’s
generosity and show others how she had sacrificed for
Tory. “It’s like she’d won a prize fight
when I held it up,” he said. “People applauded.
Her husband held her hand up, like in victory. It was
quite a surprise.”
“We just forget that these are people
with hearts even if finding the way to it is hard,”
Tibbetts said. “It’s amazing that these folks
live so close to poverty and day-after-day they’re
willing to give whatever in their pockets. An invitation
to care can be responded to by anyone.”
When the giant high-tech law firm Testa, Hurwitz and Thibeault
announced in mid-January that it would close its doors on
March 15, the jobs of about ten Beacon Hill residents were
doomed. But, at least two of those affected say the firm’s
overall mood is good and the employees optimistic.
Boston’s
fifth largest firm with nearly 600 lawyers and support people,
Testa Hurwitz fell victim to the collapse of the high-tech
industry and to the consolidation of other law firms reaching
out to grab the global market. Phillips Street resident
Anita Bapooja and Grove Street resident Bryon Martin said
the tension and uncertainty that prevailed among employees
several months ago has wound down since the final announcement
to dissolve was made.
“It’s
like part of a natural life cycle of a big business. You
get lots of lawyers together and go gangbusters for several
years, and then things change, leadership changes, and people
start to go their separate ways,” said Martin. “Because
of the firm’s proactive help, it is not a dark mood
at the firm. People meet in the halls and talk about what
each plans to do now.”
Several large
Boston law firms immediately grabbed up some of Testa’s
partners. Bapooja, 32, is one of those lucky ones. An associate
in the litigation department, she is one of about 40 attorneys
who have been picked up by Goodwin Proctor. “I feel
very fortunate,” she said. “Different groups
are going to different places, although we still are anxious
for attorneys and staff that don’t yet know where
they are going.”
Both Bapooja and
Bryon Martin, 31, agreed that the employees’ overall
upbeat mood is a testimony to the way Testa Hurwitz has
managed the dissolution. Martin, an attorney from Detroit
who joined the firm in an administrative role a year ago,
said he was not hit hard either. He had already planned
to leave the firm in mid-March to start up his own practice
where he will contract legal services as a public defender
with the commonwealth.
“Those with
history [with the firm] had seen this coming. Some left
and some were ready to move on anyway. Some people are just
going across the street [to another firm] and will still
park in the same space,” he said. “For the rest,
the firm has put a lot of effort into outplacement. There
is only so much they can do, but they’re doing their
best,” he said.
At least two Beacon
Hill residents are still looking for placement, according
to Bapooja. One, who hopes to remain in Boston, has lined
up several job interviews. The other is planning a wedding
soon which may take her permanently out of the area.
Depending on their
arrangements with their new firms, some partners will take
their associates and secretaries with them, but unfortunately,
others cannot, Bapooja said.
Besides the help
offered by the firm’s management, both Martin and
Bapooja said employees were helping each other by sharing
job leads and posting job information on the in-house website.
“The legal community is now on an upswing after a
roller coaster. It’s a good economy and we are optimistic
everyone will find jobs,” said Bapooja.
“It’s
a strange environment now [in the office],” said Bapooja.
“Things are winding down. People are coming and going,
packing up their stuff. The offices are emptying. It’s
just a matter of time for it all to shake out.”
Turning the snow into some serious dough
Local entrepreneurs cash in on the Blizzard of '05
by Ed Dombroski, Jr.
How can a record snowfall translate into
some serious cash? Just ask Bobby Dias and Suchyo Sife.
You may not recognize their names or faces, but they could
be a Beacon Hill resident’s best friend when extreme
winter weather hits. The two men, both of Boston, have
become a fixture in the neighborhood in the days and weeks
following the Blizzard of 2005. Armed with shovels, these
men are on a crusade to help local folks dig out from
the snow piled several feet high after days of accumulation.
They are a full-service operation, offering to shovel
out doorsteps or walkways, and even the occasional driveway.
The real heart of their business, though, lies in digging
out plowed-in cars parked on the neighborhood streets.
On this day the pair is working their way
down West Cedar Street, perhaps one of the hardest hit
areas, with snow banks standing upwards of five feet tall.
As the young entrepreneurs explain, their business approach
is actually quite simple – ring a doorbell and ask
if the resident wants their sidewalk or car shoveled out.
And forget about those gas or electric snow blowers, nope,
these men earn their money the old fashioned way. I follow
the pair as they master their technique, a combination
of half salesman, half laborer, with a little perseverance
mixed in.
To demonstrate, Suchyo runs from the street towards a
nearby home, hurdling a snow bank on his way. (Clearly,
this guy knows how to make his way around a little snow.)
He rings the doorbell, but as he awaits a response you
see his eyes quickly scanning the area around the entrance.
To his obvious dismay, the doorstep and sidewalk appear
to have only recently been cleared. (Snow removal, after
all, is a very competitive business.) Refusing to be deterred,
when a voice from an intercom asks what he wants, Suchyo
explains that he’s looking to help dig out neighborhood
cars – “Do you have one?” he asks, excited
anticipation in his voice. Unfortunately for Suchyo, this
particular resident doesn’t even own a car. We quickly
move on to the next address. No answer. Then Suchyo spots
a middle-aged man walking his golden retriever down the
street and runs over to solicit more business, again to
no avail. But…don’t start to feel too sorry
for our new friends just yet.
Crusaders to some, perhaps, but these men’s
good deeds do come at a price (and a hefty one at that).
As Bobby explains the prices for their services, shoveling
out vehicles is the “cash cow.” No matter
the size of your vehicle, or how deeply snow packed in
it might be, there are only two prices the pair charges:
$125 or $150. The policy is simple, “If there’s
glass showing, it’s $125, if not, it’s $150,
Bobby explains.” Bobby uses two nearby vehicles
as examples. The first, a blue mid-sized car is covered
in snow, but has some of its windshield and passenger
side window exposed. “$125, no question,”
Bobby says. The other, a comparatively less snow-packed
two-door sedan (and presumably a lot less work) has the
misfortune of a layer of snow covering all of its glass.
“Now that’s $150 right there,” Bobby
says.
As for business, well, by most accounts,
it has been quite good. The day prior the pair earned
$875 for just four hours of work. (For those of you not
doing the math, that would translate into approximately
$455,000 a year, assuming a forty-hour work-week, and
year-round snow.) In the interest of full disclosure,
though, Bobby and Suchyo admit that a good portion of
that money was earned through a combination of shoveling
out cars and a “really, really long driveway,”
as they described it.
As they hurry off together, shovels grasped
firmly in their hands, I hear an exchange of words that
only men in their business could be regretfully uttering
in late January, “Damn. Look, the sun’s coming
out – we gotta hurry before it all melts!”
COMPLETE CLEANING SERVICES. Please call
Rosane Spindola 617-387-9519 or 617-899-9328.
WE WAX AND BUFF WOOD FLOORS. We buy and
arrange fresh flowers for your home. Beacon Hill Housecleaners,
18 years on Beacon Hill. Call Dan or Marguerite, 617-739-1306.
EMPLOYMENT
Part-Time Associate. Established Beacon
Hill invitations business needs part time associate. Fun,
fast paced environment. Provide general office support,
“Mother’s hours” available. 617-227-2127.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HANDYMAN-PAINTING/TILING/WALLPAPERING works
evenings and weekends. Ernie, 617-515-3785.
PERSONAL ORGANIZERS
TOO MUCH CLUTTER? Home, offices, mail/filing,
closets, basements, kitchens, toys, moves, charity deliveries
and fall cleanouts. Call Katrina. 617-723-8877.
SORT ORDER-organizing for offices and living
spaces, professional quality results. Call Linda 617-723-7765.
SERVICES
CHEF CURREY-provide your next special occasion
with the professional touch of an experienced chef. 617-820-3439,
chefcurrey@yahoo.com.
TUTOR-Do you need to improve your Spanish
or French? I can help you. Call 617-259-6844.
Box Header
TUTOR-Wesleyan alum with 10 years tutoring
experience seeking to expand client base. Specialties
include math, writing, and standardized test preparation.
Contact Brian (617-228-4385 or brianjphelan@hotmail.com).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK needs volunteers
to inspect and sort donated food at the Food Bank's headquarters
at 99 Atkinson Street in Boston. Call Laraine Kohler at
617-427-5200, ext. 5030 or visit www.gbfb.org.
UNITED SOUTH END SETTLEMENTS needs computer
tutors at its Timothy Smith Computer Learning Center for
one three-to-four hour shift each week. Call 617-375-8108.
AFC MENTORING needs volunteers over 18 experienced
with adoption/foster care to mentor adopted children.
One-year commitment desired. Karlee, 617-695-2441 or karlee@afcmentoring.org.
BLIND AND DYSLEXIC in East Cambridge needs
volunteers with liberal arts, scientific and/or technical
backgrounds to record textbooks. Call Peggy at 617-577-1111,
ext 17 for more info. www.rfbd.org/bostonhome.htm.
GENERATIONS INCORPORATED needs older adults
to volunteer as reading coaches and mentors to children
in Dorchester, S. Boston and Roxbury. Training provided.
Call 617-423-0408 or see www.generationsinc.org.
WGBH needs volunteers to assist with computer
projects and office support during weekday business hours,
Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. Call Liz Hagyard at 617-300-5715.
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS. Help
an adult learn English. Call 617-367-1313 for information.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS needed for The American
Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. Work
from home or in our Weston office. For further information
call 1800-ACS-2345.
SPAULDING REHABILITATION HOSPITAL in Boston
has opportunities for volunteers and matches volunteers'
skills and talents with the needs of the hospital's patients
and staff. Training provided. For more information contact
volunteer services at 617-573-2740 or jburke11@partners.org.
BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION needs volunteers
to tutor students grades K-12 in both math and literacy.
Training and placement will be provided. Join this proven
program and be a vital part of a student’s success
story. Contact Martha Redding at 617-451-6145 x 621, or
apply online at www.bostonpartners.org.
WALKBOSTON needs volunteers for its advisory board, special
events and occasional help in preparing membership mailings
and help with general office support. 617-367-9255,www.walkboston.org
MASS SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE seeks volunteers
for phone service to help people affected by alcoholism
and substance abuse. Must have computer experience. Call
617-536-0501 ext. 201 or see www.helpline-online.com
BEACON HOSPICE needs volunteers to provide
support and companionship to patients and their families.
Call Robin Hansen at 617-242-4872.
THE HORIZONS INITIATIVE needs volunteers
to play with children living in family homeless and domestic
violence shelters. Day and evening hours available. Must
commit 2 hours per week for 6 months. Training sessions
held monthly. 617-287-1900 or www.horizonsinitiative.org.
COMPUTER TUTORS NEEDED for coaching senior
and disabled citizens at the Blackstone Apartments. Daytime
and evening hours needed. Call Al at 617-557-9121 or email
xAlbert3259@aol.com.
RECORDING FOR THE BLIND AND DYSLEXIC in
E. Cambridge seeks volunteers for days and evenings to
read and record textbooks in digital format for students
of all ages. Call 617-577-1111 ext. 17.
BEACON HOUSE, housing for elderly, needs
volunteers for front reception desk, a few flexible hours
per week. Training provided. Please apply in person at
19 Myrtle St. to fill out an application.
THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS needs volunteers
for its parental stress hotline that offers parents and
caregivers in Massachusetts help in coping with the challenges
of parenting. Training, supervision and weekly shifts
available. New training begins April 8. Call 617-267-3700
or visit www.thehome.org.
ANIMAL SHELTER needs donations: dog and
cat toys and treats, blankets and towels for the cages,
paper towels, clay cat litter, postage stamps, animal
nail clippers, dog and cat collars and leashes. 617-522-5055.
DR. SOLOMON CARTER FULLER Mental Health
Center in the South End needs volunteers for several committees.
Call C. Curtiss Carter at 617-626-8726.
BECOME A BIG BROTHER OR A BIG SISTER. Volunteer
and spend a little time with one great kid, just like
someone once did for you. Call 1-888-412-BIGS or log on
at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
COMMUNITY SERVINGS needs people to deliver
meals to individuals and families with HIV and AIDS. Flexible
shifts from 7 am to 8 pm Mon-Fri. Call Betsey 617-445-7777.
MA ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND needs volunteers
to read or shop with a blind neighbor. 2-3 hours per week,
flexible hours. Training provided. Call Donna Bailey 800-852-3029
or see www.mablind.org.
SAMARITANS OF BOSTON needs volunteers to
provide telephone counseling to lonely and suicidal callers.
Training provided. 617-536-2460.
MATCH-UP INTERFAITH VOLUNTEERS seeks dog
owners to visit nursing home residents 2-4 hours per month.
6-month minimum required, training provided. 617-536-3557,
www.matchelder.org.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION in Cambridge
needs volunteers for its telephone Helpline service to
answer caregiver calls. Training provided. Call 617-868-6718.
ADBAR ETHIOPIAN WOMEN'S ALLIANCE needs volunteers
to help with its newsletter, website, grant writing, special
events and fund raising. Near Harvard Square. 617-234-8981.
THE BOSTON HOME in Dorchester seeks volunteers
of all kinds in this long term care facility for adults
with physical disabilities. Pet visits welcome. Call Sally
Gorman 617-825-3905 ext. 299 or gormansally@aol.com.
PEACE GAMES, a violence prevention program
is seeking committed individuals to volunteer a few hours
a week to teach in Boston-area elementary schools. Visit
www.peacegames.org or call Kori at 617-464-2600 ext. 29.
