NE Revs sign 19 year-old Zachary Herivaux to pro contract

The New England Revolution have signed midfielder Zachary Herivaux to their team this week. The 19 year-old Brookline resident has Haitian roots and played on the Haiti national U-20 team in the 2015 CONCACAF Championship. He appeared in all five of Haiti’s games at the competition, starting games against El Salvador, Cuba and Honduras.

Interim head now in charge at Boston Consulate

There has been a change in leadership at the Boston office of the Haitian government. Marjorie Alexandre Brunache, who served as consul since 2011, has been re-assigned. Marie Weslyne Nicolas is presently serving as the interim consul until a new permanent consul is assigned to the post. Brunache ended her duties in the last week in February, according to Nicolas, who worked in the office under Brunache. A new appointment will come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti, said Nicolas. “Everything is the same” at the Back Bay offices, where Haitian nationals often frequent to apply for visas, update passports and conduct other official business.

Fritz Orvil and Mélanj headline free Saturday concert in Mattapan

Fritz Orvil: His band Mélanj, with guest vocalist Rebecca Zampa, perform in Mattapan on Saturday. This Saturday all eyes – and ears – will be on Mattapan as the jazz appreciation coalition JazzBoston winds up its 9th annual JazzWeek with its 2015 theme, “Jazz in the Neighborhoods.” The William E. Carter American Legion Post (1531 Blue Hill Avenue) will be the host of a free all-ages afternoon (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.) spotlighting some of Mattapan's most talented musicians and guest artist friends. On the bill will be Fritz Orvil and his band Mélanj, with guest vocalist Rebecca Zampa. They will play in two popular Haitian styles: “kompa” (a modern meringue musical genre with European and African roots) and “troubador” (“twoubadou” in Kreyol), another guitar-based méringue combined with Cuban guajiro traditions). Also, Frank Wilkins and WeJazzUp will perform with guest pianist Rollins Ross and vocalist Athene Wilson. Members of the audience can then take the mic during the WeJazzUp Vocal Showcase.

Haitian first lady Sophia Martelly registers for Senate run

PORT-AU-PRINCE— The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly registered to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office. First lady Sophia Martelly filed the required documents on April 23 to compete in a crowded field for one of 20 open seats in the Aug. 9 election, representing the party created by her husband. She would represent a Senate district that includes the capital.

Haiti to appeal kidnapping verdict that drew wide criticism

PORT-AU-PRINCE— The Haitian government will appeal a widely criticized decision by a judge to dismiss charges against two men in a high-profile kidnapping case, the justice minister said Wednesday. A notice of appeal was submitted to the Supreme Court within the required deadline to challenge the decision, Justice Minister Pierre-Richard Casimir said.

Haitian Heritage Month to include flag raising, parade on May 17

Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) will host a series events organized in celebration of the 2015 Haitian Heritage Month in Massachusetts. H.A.U. and its partners continue to focus on “Unity” as the central theme for this year, while evoking the spirit and the determination of the ancestors that led to Haiti’s independence on January 1st, 1804. The theme for this year is "United We Stand, Stronger!" As in past years, H.A.U. will coordinate several major events (one in collaboration with Haitian-American State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry) for the Haitian Heritage Month:

DotHouse Health to celebrate its new identity on April 28

DotHouse Health will celebrate the official dedication of its new name with a ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, April 28 at their Dorchester Avenue facility. Former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy will officiate at the 12 p.m. event. Formerly known as the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, the health center has long been dubbed the “DotHouse” by locals. The new identity— rolled out last fall and implemented with a new logo and signage in recent weeks— seeks to emphasize the health care service and values that are central to the center’s mission.

Official: Uptick of Haiti migrants in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas— The Bahamas says 178 Haitian migrants have been detained by local authorities over the last several days. In a Sunday statement, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said the archipelago off Florida's east coast has been "dealing with a deluge of illegal migrants who have breached our borders over the past week.''

Marathon killers already dead to us

Justice was served last week at the federal courthouse when the surviving Boston Marathon bomber was convicted of murdering our young neighbor, Martin Richard, and three other people — and maiming scores more— on Patriots Day in 2013. The outcome was never in doubt, but the punishment remains an open question for the jurors who sat through the harrowing weeks of testimony from survivors and law enforcement officers.

Northeastern hosts forum on Haitian experience at Guantanamo

Northeastern University hosts a conversation about the Haitian refugee crisis on 1991-94 and the decision made by the US government to detain thousands of Haitian-born migrants on Guantanamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. Free and open to the public. Sat., April 18, 2 p.m. Visit Confrontingguantanamo.com to register.

Northeastern University event From Mattapan to Somerville, Roxbury to Cambridge, Greater Boston is home to the third-largest Haitian community in the United States. Northeastern University welcomes Boston’s Haitian and Haitian-American residents in a dialogue about the community’s past, present, and future. The conversation will address the Haitian Refugee Crisis (1991–94) and the decision made by the U.S. government to detain thousands of Haitian-born refugees on Guantánamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. How has this wrongdoing been overcome? How should we—as a society and a city—remember and address such injustice? Speakers include Dumas Lafontant, Director of the Lower Roxbury Coalition, Ninaj Raoul, cofounder and community organizer at Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), and community-activist Jean-Claude Sanon. The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged. Space is limited.

Boston Haitian Reporter