A chemist at the state’s drug evidence testing lab in Amherst, who formerly did similar work in Jamaica Plain, is facing charges of stealing cocaine and heroin and replacing them with fake substances, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office. Sonja Farak, 35, of Northampton formerly worked at JP’s drug lab alongside Annie Dookhan,...
Monthly Archives: February 2013
No State Lab response on critical report
It is unclear what, if any, actions have been taken to correct management issues a report from a lab oversight agency found at the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Jamaica Plain. The state Department of Public Health (DPH), which oversees the Hinton Institute, did not respond to a request for comment. Local...
MEPA on Casey: No further study needed
The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) determined Jan. 18 that the Casey Arborway project does not require further study in the form of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and that the project may proceed as planned. A MassDOT public hearing will update the community on the current 25-percent-complete state of the design. It...
Key issues in Casey design
Following the state Environmental Policy Act Office’s (MEPA) determination that the Casey Arborway project does not require further study, the project is free to proceed. The Gazette asked state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for updates on outstanding issues at this point in the project. Timeline The next step for the project will be a...
Status of Casey historic review unclear
The current status of a historical impact review of Casey Arborway’s Shea Circle redesign is unclear. The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) requested in a Jan. 8 letter that the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reconsider discarded alternatives for the plan to turn Shea Circle into a signalized intersection. It is unclear if that could...
Ex-mayoral candidate makes movie
Kevin McCrea, who ran for mayor in 2009 and once successfully sued the Boston City Council for Open Meeting Law violations, is making a documentary movie about “inequality in America,” he told the Gazette. “America: Tom & Me” is about “how the rich get richer and the poor get screwed,” said McCrea, himself a...
Nazareth to host new K1 classes
Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol Johnson recently announced an expansion of early education opportunities in the city, including in Jamaica Plain. Grant funds will be funneled to several community-based organizations, including the Nazareth Child Care Center in Jamaica Plain, to create new kindergarten classes for four-year-olds, which are called...
Concrete falls from Forest Hills Station
Small pieces of concrete fell from the ceiling Jan. 29 at the commuter rail platform at the Forest Hills Station, but no one was injured and there were no delays, according to MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo. Pesaturo said in an email to the Gazette that the MBTA Engineering & Maintenance Department is inspecting the...
225 Centre developers report on minority hiring
JACKSON SQ.—Following protests and setbacks, developers for the housing and retail tower going up at 225 Centre St., the first major piece of the massive Jackson Square redevelopment plan, presented what steps they are taking to improve minority hiring practices at a Jan. 16 Jackson Square Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting. The developers, The...