Latest news with #Lizotte
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Renowned Boston restaurant considers closing after manager is detained by ICE
The family behind a celebrated West African restaurant in Boston is considering shuttering the eatery as they continue to deal with the detainment of their restaurant manager by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Paul Dama — who works at Suya Joint restaurant in both Roxbury and Providence — was arrested by ICE on his way to church, his family member, Vanessa Lizotte, wrote on a GoFundMe campaign page that's raising money to help pay for his legal fees. Dama, 46, 'has not been given a clear explanation for his detention' and does not know what charges he is facing, according to a pop-up message on the restaurant's website. ICE did not respond to a request for comment on his case Thursday afternoon, but its detainment records show that he is being held at the Strafford County jail in New Hampshire, which contracts with ICE to hold detainees. 'This sudden and painful event has shaken our family to the core, and we are currently navigating both emotional and legal challenges surrounding his detention,' Lizotte wrote. 'Because of this, we are taking time to reflect and reassess what comes next for Suya Joint. While we are not closing at this time, we are seriously considering what's best for our team, our mission, and our family.' Dama's sister, Cecelia Lizotte, is the genius behind Suya Joint, The Boston Globe reported. Born and raised in Nigeria, she opened the first iteration of the restaurant in 2012 in Roslindale and has worked as both its owner and head chef ever since. Suya Joint, whose cuisine and culture were inspired by Lizotte's grandmother's restaurant in Nigeria, relocated to Roxbury four years later and opened a second location in Providence last year, the Globe reported. The restaurant has seen significant success in the more than a dozen years it's been in business. Last year, Lizotte was nominated for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast category. This year, Suya Joint won Boston Magazine's Best Neighborhood Restaurant for Roxbury and was one of the few dozen restaurants to make Eater's list of best Boston restaurants. Dama immigrated to the U.S. to be with his sister and her family in 2019, the Globe reported. He is normally responsible for overseeing operations at the restaurant's Nubian Square location. 'Paul has been a vital part of the restaurant, serving in both Boston and Providence whenever and wherever he is needed. His work ethic, calm nature, and strong moral compass help define the culture of our business,' Vanessa Lizotte wrote on the campaign page. Dama previously applied for asylum in the U.S., and his case is still making its way through the court system, his sister told the Globe. He has legal authorization to work in the country, she said. Despite this, ICE officers pulled Dama over as he drove to church in Brockton on Father's Day and ultimately arrested him, his sister told the Globe. He had his first hearing in front of an immigration judge Thursday morning, and his lawyer instructed him to reapply for asylum before his next court date on July 3, Vanessa Lizotte wrote on the campaign page. 'The trauma of this separation is unbearable. Paul is experiencing deep emotional distress in detention, and our Suya Joint family is suffering beyond words,' the message on Suya Joint's website reads. 'As a tight-knit team and family business, we've always leaned on each other through every challenge. Now, being forced apart like this is tearing through the heart of our home and community.' In addition to working at Suya Joint, Dama was also employed at a local care home, the Globe reported. His job there entailed attending to five men with developmental disabilities. 'Paul treats the men he serves with full respect and dignity,' his supervisor at the home, Catherine Conrade, wrote in a testimonial for the campaign page. 'He offers patience and kindness when he needs to assist in personal care and activities of daily living, but he also engages the men around their preferences in all aspects of life and is instrumental in ensuring their participation in the social/recreational activities of their choosing.' Dama is college educated, fluent in English and is active in his local Catholic church, his brother-in-law, Jeffery Lizotte, wrote in another testimonial. Lizotte described his brother-in-law as being 'proud to be a contributing member' of society and someone who 'has done his proper due diligence in the process of trying to become a U.S. citizen.' 'He tries his best every day to build a better future for himself and is a positive influence on everyone he knows,' Lizotte wrote of Dama. City auditor gives financial overview at public hearing on FY26 budget Proposed self-storage facility on College Highway gets favorable response from Planning Board $50K cut during City Council budget reconciliation Massachusetts' rural school districts are in a 'death spiral.' They have a plan to stop it Historic Springfield home added to endangered buildings list after fire Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Boston Globe
Celebrated Roxbury restaurant may close after manager detained by ICE on Father's Day
Now, Lizotte said she's thinking about closing the restaurant, at least temporarily, while she deals with her brother's immigration case. 'I'm running back and forth, trying to get the information that the [immigration] attorneys need, and then my establishment also needs me,' she said. 'So I'm on the verge of either feeling defeated on a daily basis or just breaking down. ... It's a lot for one person to navigate.' Dama, 46, is being held in Dover, N.H., according to a public ICE database. Lizotte said a bond hearing scheduled for July 3 will determine whether he can walk free. His lawyer could not be reached for comment. Advertisement A 'This sudden and painful event has shaken our family to the core, and we are currently navigating both emotional and legal challenges surrounding his detention,' the post reads. 'Because of this, we are taking time to reflect and reassess what comes next for Suya Joint.' Advertisement 'While we are not closing at this time, we are seriously considering what's best for our team, our mission, and our family,' it continued. Lizotte, who emigrated from Nigeria in 1999, inspired by an establishment run by Lizotte's grandmother, in her native village of Qua'an Pan. The restaurant has been recognized as Suya Joint Chef Cecelia Lizotte opened her second Suya Joint location in downtown Providence, focusing on Nigerian spices, stews, and fufu. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Dama immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2019 to join his sister and her family. He has an ongoing asylum case and has authorization to work legally in the country, his sister said. Aside from working as a manager, Dama also helps out in the kitchen. 'He's a jack of all trades,' Lizotte said. 'When Paul walks in to the establishment, if a printer is broken, he fixes it. 'Oh, the sink is not going down.' He finds a way to fix it.' Dama is also trained as a social worker. Alongside his duties at the restaurant, he most recently worked at a care home, attending to five elderly men with developmental disabilities. 'He's kind, intelligent, hard working, one of our best employees,' said Cathy Conrade, a social worker who worked with Dama until earlier this year. 'I've been around so long, I've met lots of wonderful people, but he really stands out as one of the one of the best.' Advertisement Conrade said Dama and many immigrants like him come from highly qualified professional backgrounds, but settle for work in the US that is seen as menial and unglamorous. Chef Cecelia Lizotte opened her second Suya Joint location in downtown Providence. The original Suya Joint is in Nubian Square. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'They'll take roles that, quite frankly, in our country, are devalued,' she said. 'Dealing with human beings has not become an elevated position yet. So they will take work that other people won't do, and do it well, and do three jobs all at the same time.' Agnes Hodge, of Dorchester, described Dama as her adopted son. Hodge, 84, said in a phone interview she knew him from their time living in Nigeria. Dama acted as a caregiver for her in the US, helping Hodge buy groceries and other items — until he was abruptly detained. Since then, she hasn't been eating or sleeping — partly out of concern, and partly out of necessity, she said. 'Nobody else has come by,' Hodge said. 'My life is on hold.' Lizotte said the news of her brother's detention was 'really devastating' for the rest of the close-knit family. 'My daughter works at Shaw's, and it's almost like each time she has a five minute break, she'd call me in tears,' she said. 'And I have to find a way to just be like, 'Please be strong. I know you're at work. I'm so sorry that I gave this type of news to you. But wipe your tears and pray and be hopeful.'' Lizotte said her brother is scared because of the conditions, adding that several migrants in the same facility have been held there for months. Advertisement Dama faced two separate charges of operating under the influence last year, according to court records. On both instances, he was allegedly found asleep in his car, which was stopped on a public road with the engine running. The charges were disposed after Dama paid $1,200 in fines, had his license temporarily suspended, and was placed on year-long probation through December 2025, per court records. Despite his legal issues, several friends and family members submitted letters to support his immigration case. Jeffrey Lizotte, Cecelia's husband, said in a letter that Dama had been kidnapped and held for ransom in Nigeria before coming to the US. He added that his brother-in-law is college-educated, a practicing Catholic, and a fluent English speaker, whose moral character is 'beyond reproach.' Dama's misdemeanor offenses, he added, do 'not merit detainment and deportation, in my view.' 'I fully understand the need to keep our borders secure from those who wish to harm our people or destroy our culture,' he wrote. 'But I can tell you in all sincerity that is not who Paul is. He is a good person who always puts the needs of others first. He does not deserve to be going through this harrowing experience.' Massachusetts State Senator Liz Miranda, a Boston Democrat who represents Roxbury, also wrote a letter of support for Dama, as did Rhode Island State Representative David Morales, who described Dama as an 'exemplary individual' who has 'built a life for himself and his family.' 'Even with all the challenges he's had to face, he's continued being a positive member of our community,' Morales wrote. 'Paul poses no threat to our community, and I'm concerned that he is currently detained at a detention facility in New Hampshire as if he does.' Advertisement Jeremiah Manion of the Globe Staff contributed reporting. Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
Eater
24-06-2025
- Eater
Acclaimed West African Restaurant Considers Closing After Manager Detained by ICE
An award-winning West African restaurant in Roxbury is on the brink of closing after a visit from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend scooped up an essential employee — and a family member of the owner. Restaurant manager Paul Dama of Suya Joint — the brother of chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte — was detained by ICE on Sunday, June 15. The county has no criminal charges on file for Dama because he is being detained by national immigration authorities, according to an officer at the Stafford County Department of Corrections, in Dover, New Hampshire, where he's being held in jail. Lizotte, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1999 and is a legal citizen, says that her brother joined her in 2019. She told Eater that Dama has applied for asylum and the case is pending. He has not been approved or denied. The family has not been given an explanation for his detention, and is not aware of any official charges against him, according to Lizotte. Dama's family has worked to find him legal representation in the state of New Hampshire, which Lizotte says was difficult because immigration lawyers have many current cases. A hearing is currently set for Thursday, June 26. Dama can call his family daily, and told his sister that he is 'shaking and scared' because he said other detainees have been transferred at night, and he is not sure where they are being taken. The ordeal has forced Lizotte to consider closing the restaurants (possibly temporarily, Lizotte says) to focus on getting Dama back home, but her staff is encouraging her to keep going. 'What am I working for, you know?' she says. But 'the tears just keep coming when I talk about it because, no, I do not want to close.' It's also 'extremely scary' to be running a restaurant right now, Lizotte says. 'Like, could I be the next person?' The West African restaurant has been a mainstay in Roxbury since 2016, nabbing local honors along the way, including a spot on Eater Boston's 38 essential restaurants and a Best of Boston award from Boston Magazine three years in a row. A Providence location opened in early 2025. The Nubian Square restaurant is known for its jollof rice, a one-pot rice dish prepared with a savory pepper sauce; tender beef suya, a spicy beef skewer popular throughout West Africa for which the restaurant is named after; and egusi, a staple stew made with ground pumpkin seeds, spinach, chicken, and fish. The restaurant is currently donating 20 percent of all jollof rice sales directly toward Dama's legal expenses. The restaurant has posted a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees and to help Dama's family make ends meet while he is detained. The Trump administration has taken an unyielding stance on immigration since coming into power, wreaking havoc on restaurants across the country. Fears of ICE raids have closed markets in Las Vegas, and massive crackdowns have hit restaurants in Washington, DC. CBS News reported earlier this year that local restaurants in East Boston have seen a drop in immigrant customers due to increased concerns about ICE raids. Immigrants of all statuses make up the backbone of the food service industry, and ICE agents are conducting raids on many businesses. Eater has compiled a guide to dealing with them if they come to your restaurant. See More:
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
Fiddling and jigging: 2 inseparable Indigenous traditions that run in families
This story is part of Resonate: Songs of Resilience in recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day. CBC Indigenous with CBC Unreserved celebrates communities and families through music. When Brianna Lizotte was growing up, she would watch home movies recorded by her grandfather of 1970s kitchen parties. In them, she'd see family members playing the fiddle and guitar and dancing to the music. There was a huge era of kitchen parties and music in our family for lots and lots of generations, said Lizotte. Lizotte is Métis and grew up in Sylvan Lake, Alta., about 140 kilometres south of Edmonton. But the last fiddle player in her family died when she was about 10, and then there was a drift. That was like a huge culture shock, I'd say, to not have any music anymore, said Lizotte. Then Lizotte had a dream where she was playing the fiddle at a kitchen party like the ones she would see in the home movies. I woke up the next day and told my mom, 'Hey, can I get a fiddle?' Fiddling is synonymous with Métis music, and has been part of Métis, First Nations and Inuit culture since the Europeans brought the instrument to North America. Fiddling and jigging go together, and many people say you can't have one without the other. The thing that makes fiddle music in the Métis music world different from bluegrass or Irish or Scottish is that horse gallop rhythm, said Lizotte. You could hear that rhythm pretty much in every tune that you play. She started getting paying gigs at about 13 years old with the Métis Nation of Alberta (now called the Otipemisiwak Métis Government), and by the age of 16 she had won the rising star award from the Alberta Men and Women of Country Music in 2016. It just came very naturally, said Lizotte. Looking back at it now, it definitely feels like some maybe ancestors and some blood memory kind of flowed in there while I was learning. WATCH | Brianna Lizotte and Ethan Graves play a tune: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Lizotte and her husband teach workshops on Métis music, dance and history and this year, her second album Winston and I was nominated for a Juno award in the traditional Indigenous artist or group of the year category. Being able to bring forward Métis music in that traditional category, it's really important to highlight that because that is a form of traditional Indigenous music, said Lizotte. On the walls of Lizotte's home in Sherwood Park, just outside of Edmonton, hangs her grandfather's fiddle alongside one made by one of Canada's most decorated fiddle players, John Arcand. Runs in families Arcand, known as the master of the Métis fiddle, is from near Debden, Sask., and now lives in Saskatoon. He founded the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp in 1988, teaching children and youth to fiddle, and started the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in 1998, which ran for 22 years. Arcand comes from nine generations of fiddle players and learned playing by ear from his uncles using fiddles around the house. Music runs in families; everybody that's got music in them will eventually show up and pass it on without them knowing it a lot of times, said Arcand. John Arcand is known as the 'master of the Métis fiddle' and is decorated in awards for his dedication to the craft and teaching others. Photo: Gracieuseté John Arcand / Gracieuseté de l'artiste Arcand said he's likely taught more than 10,000 fiddle players over the years between the Emma Lake camp and his fiddle festival. He helped revitalize the tradition after a period when the instrument became less popular, which he attributes to the rise of rock and roll and people learning to play guitar instead of fiddle. Prior to [the camp and festival], fiddling were just about non-existent in Saskatchewan, said Arcand. He's received the Order of Canada, a Queen's Jubilee Medal and two lifetime achievement awards: one for Outstanding Contribution to Old Time Fiddling from the Canadian Grand Masters, and one from the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Saskatchewan Arts Awards. Now 83, he plays the fiddle every day saying, If you don't play, you'll lose it. He also says when it comes to fiddle playing, you can't separate it from dancing. You've got to learn to dance to be a good fiddle player, said Arcand. You learn to play fiddle while watching people dance. You've got to follow the people taking their steps and play along with them kind of thing. Arcand said once at a Back to Batoche festival in the 1970s he played the fiddle for 18 hours straight while people danced. Without the two components, one of them will die off and people won't know what they're playing for, said Arcand. The joy of jigging "The way to drive a Métis crazy is to nail his moccasins to the floor and play the Red River Jig ," is a folk saying recorded by musicologist Lynn Whidden. This saying might be true for the members of United Thunder, a square dance and jigging group in Manitoba. The eight-member group formed in 2017 and has had great success winning competitions like the Norway House Cree Nation Treaty and York Boat Days competition for a $20,000 prize. When I'm dancing, I forget about absolutely everything, and I'm just in that moment, and it's a very pure feeling for me, said Brandon Courchene, a member of United Thunder from Sagkeeng First Nation. Brandon Courchene, a member of United Thunder from Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. Photo: CBC / Jackie McKay Courchene was formerly part of the jigging group Sagkeeng's Finest that won Canada's Got Talent in 2012. Now he dances for United Thunder when he isn't working as a school bus driver and educational assistant and teaching kids how to jig for a dance group called Sagkeeng Anicinabe Dancers. I'll dance till the wheels fall off, said Courchene. According to the Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis jigging was created in the Red River area around Winnipeg in the mid-1800s and the most famous dance is the Red River Jig . Stories differ about exactly how the tune came to be but there are three main stories. Some say it came from a fiddler imitating a Scottish bagpiper playing by the Forks, where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet in Winnipeg, according to an account from the Winnipeg Free Press published in Drops of Brandy: An Anthology of Metis Music . Bagpipers would play on the west bank and Métis and French would listen on the east bank. One evening a Métis fiddler imitated a bagpiper across the river and played a melody that became the Red River Jig . Enlarge image (new window) United Thunder and their fiddle player Kieran Maytwayashing from Lake Manitoba First Nation. Photo: CBC / Jackie McKay Another story is that the Red River Jig came from Québec in the early 1800s and was originally called La Jig du Bas Canada or La Grande Gigue Simple . The most widely accepted account of the origin of the Red River Jig is that it was played as a wedding dance for a Métis couple at Red River in 1860. The fiddler composed a new tune for the wedding and the priest at the wedding called it the Red River Jig . Ashley Harris, a member of United Thunder from Ebb and Flow First Nation, comes from a family of champion jiggers, and taught herself to dance after years of watching her family perform. Ashley Harris, a member of United Thunder from Ebb and Flow First Nation, comes from a family of champion jiggers. Photo: CBC / Jackie McKay Her favourite dance is the Red River Jig . It just comes naturally, said Harris. I just think it's the Métis anthem. Harris said jigging is an important part of celebrating Métis and First Nations culture, and is part of who she is. I feel like the Métis dance is just a powerful, powerful dance and it brings people together, said Harris. Watch Resonate: Songs of Resilience starting National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21 on CBC News streaming channels, CBC Ge (new window) m (new window) , and YouTube. (new window) Jackie McKay (new window) · CBC News · Reporter Jackie McKay is a Métis journalist working for CBC Indigenous covering B.C., and winner of a 2025 Canadian Screen Award for best local reporter. She was a reporter for CBC North for more than five years spending the majority of her time in Nunavut. McKay has also worked in Whitehorse, Thunder Bay, and Yellowknife.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BOLD Laser Automation Launches Cost-Effective Precision Measurement Systems
BEDFORD, N.H., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bold Laser Automation, Inc., a developer of advanced laser processing and metrology systems, today announced the launch of two precision measurement systems engineered to deliver fast, accurate, and repeatable non-contact measurements for sensitive materials in cleanroom and high-tech manufacturing environments. The new LJS1820S Manual 3D Static Measurement System and CDM1820S Confocal Differential Static Measurement System provide manufacturers with cost-effective, operator-friendly tools for critical quality control and contamination detection applications. "Many manufacturers struggle to achieve high-accuracy thickness and surface measurements without resorting to overly complex or costly systems," said Todd Lizotte, CEO and co-founder of Bold Laser Automation. "At BOLD, we believe in delivering high performance without overengineering—systems that are designed to solve real problems without turning into million-dollar solutions." The LJS1820S system is purpose-built for precision 3D contamination detection and surface analysis. Equipped with dual Keyence LJ-S series snapshot sensors, the system performs full-area 3D inspections that reveal particulate contamination, surface defects, and embedded residues—ideal for cleanroom and advanced materials manufacturing. A static, ESD-safe platform with an optional footswitch for hands-free data capture enhances ease of use and repeatability. Complementing this, the CDM1820S system is optimized for precision thickness measurement of thin films, foils, glass, fabrics, and sensitive materials (from 10 microns up to 35 mm, based on the sensor). Integrated with dual Keyence CL Series confocal sensors, the CDM1820S enables non-contact, high-resolution measurements with real-time display and configurable reporting. Like the LJS1820S, it features a customizable user interface and an optional footswitch-activated acquisition system. "These systems were designed with practicality in mind—manual positioning, intuitive interfaces, and data exports for QA/QC reporting are all standard," added Lizotte. "The CDM1820S system sets a new benchmark for manual thickness measurement systems where traceability, accuracy, and operator safety are top priorities." Key uses include: The ability to verify thickness for applications involving carbon fiber composites, plastic films, ultra-thin glass (250+ microns), web, textiles, food packaging, and aerospace and automotive components. The ability to randomly take witness samples or punch coupons for offline measurements, a critical task for both quality assurance and material savings. Both platforms are U.S.-built and meet cleanroom electrical and safety standards. They feature ergonomic designs, robust mechanical enclosures, integrated computer systems, and clear documentation to support installation, operation, and compliance workflows. UI and reporting tools allow for seamless integration into existing QA/QC processes. These new systems underscore Bold Laser Automation's commitment to delivering economical, high-performance solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern manufacturers. About Bold Laser AutomationBold Laser Automation, Inc., specializes in precision laser and metrology systems for industries ranging from biomedical device manufacturing to precision glass and optics processing. The company delivers custom and standard automation solutions that help manufacturers meet demanding quality, speed, and regulatory requirements—without unnecessary complexity or cost. Explore "Laser Beam Shaping Applications, Second Edition, 2017" CEO Todd E. Lizotte: Visit: +1 (603) 413-5601Email: 396642@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bold Laser Automation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
