LAWRENCE — In one year, former Chelsea resident Maria Ortiz lost four friends to gang-related murders. Struggling to care for herself and her son, Roberto, 4, the single mom and unemployed nursing assistant found herself in a temporary homeless shelter in Lawrence.
Then in March, Ortiz became one of the first residents of the Saunders School, a former city school on South Broadway that was redeveloped into apartments for homeless parents and their children. Residents are also offered access to counseling, educational and employment assistance and daycare.
This Christmas, Ortiz, 25, is among 16 families and 24 children who call the Saunders School home.
Despite many reservations in the beginning, area neighbors say the arrival of the new residents in South Lawrence has been wonderful and the school's developer, Peabody Properties, has "more than exceeded" their expectations.
Peabody Properties purchased the Saunders School, an elementary school that was closed in 2006, for $450,000 in March 2009. At that time, area residents were concerned about the size of the housing project and its impact in the already-congested neighborhood. In response, Peabody scaled back the project.
"They told us what they were going to do there and they kept to their word," said Susan Rios, treasurer of the Sacred Heart Neighborhood Association, the area neighborhood group.
Monday night, the neighborhood association threw a Christmas party for the Saunders school parents and their children at Carleen's restaurant nearby on South Broadway.
Right after Thanksgiving, the neighborhood association decided to start planning and fundraising for the Saunders School party. City councilors, state Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover, and Lawrence police offered donations. John Farrington, Carleen's owner, offered the use of the restaurant and donated all the party food.
"It just took off," said Brenda Rozzi, president of the Sacred Heart Neighborhood Association.
Monday night, as they kids dined on grilled cheese and french fries, and the adults were served sandwiches, Lawrence Police Det. Thomas Cuddy and police Chief John Romero worked the room, handing out a police badge stickers to all the kids. At-large city councilor Dan Rivera gave away candy canes while Councilor Roger Twomey, a fellow at-large councilor, high-fived the young boys and girls. Eileen O'Connor Bernal, District F councilor, also attended with her own two children, Andrew and Maggie.
And because no Christmas party is complete without him, Santa Claus also made a grand entrance, emerging in his bright red velvet suit from Carleen's kitchen at 7:30 p.m. He greeted each child individually and handed them individual gifts that were arranged by the neighborhood association. He told them to behave and keep doing well in school.
Most of the children asked Santa for trucks and dolls. Warms hats and gloves were laid out on a table for anyone who needed them.
Among all the camera flashes, there was plenty of laughter and smiles. Afterward, everybody got a Santa Claus cupcake.
"We thought this was important ... With all the negatives in the city, we wanted to show there is good that happens here in Lawrence," Rios said.
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