post-gazette 6-11
Transcription
post-gazette 6-11
VOL. 114 - NO. 24 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE 11, 2010 FLAG DA Y DAY June14, 2010 Show your co lors, America! News Briefs by Sal Giarratani America Could Use a Little Civics 101 Badly American students, the next generation of leaders barely know enough history to pass a test with a C. Most didn’t seem to understand the importance of knowing history. Santanya once said “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” In both high school and college, I was a history fanatic. I loved all kinds of history. I saw it as the link between yesterday and today. In college, I majored in history and specialized in Eastern European History. When my college offered an Irish History elective, I signed up. The professor started telling other faculty members how he had an Italian- American in his Irish history class. I had to burst his bubble telling him that my maternal grandparents came from West Cork. History has often got lost when it comes to classroom education. It takes a back seat to other subjects like science and math. Recently, former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day-O’Connor said one of the “unintended consequences” of the No Child Left Behind initiative has been a decrease in civics knowledge. The federal government’s education program appropriates funds based on good test scores in math, science and reading but there’s no money for history or civics. O’Connor added, “Barely one-third of Americans can even name the three branches of government, much less say what they do ... Less than one-fifth of high school seniors can explain how civic participation benefits our government. Less than that can say what the Declaration of Independence is, and it’s right there in the title. I’m worried.” She’s worried? So should we all. How can we be a nation of citizens in a democratic republic without understanding what government is, what our role in it is and how we shape and control it. It is nice to be proficient in science, math and reading but if we are not reading our history and the history of the world, it won’t up add well for the future of America. (Continued on Page 13) $.30 A COPY COMMUNITY OUTRAGE Voiced at Neighborhood Haz Mat Meeting by Mario Alfano An estimated 180 residents and business leaders turned out to protest a recent ruling by the US Department of Transportation reversing Boston’s 4-year old daytime ban on haz mat trucks cutting through downtown Boston. The federal agency also specified that haz mat and other large trucks should be re-routed onto Commercial Street from their present Cross Street route. Today, permits for haz mat vehicles are sparsely given, and then only for vehicles picking up or delivering within the City limits; with these restrictions lifted, Tom Tinlin, Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department (BTD), estimates that up to 200 trucks may return to city streets as of July 1 when the US DOT’s ruling takes effect. Local elected officials unanimously supported the residents’ call to ban all hazardous vehicles from the North End and Waterfront. State Representative Aaron Michlewitz and State Senator Anthony Petruccelli were in attendance along with Tom Tinlin and representatives from the Police and Fire Departments. City Councilor Sal LaMattina was unable to attend as he was engaged at City Hall in meetings regarding the Firefighters’ pay increase proposal. The meeting, sponsored by NEWNC (North End Waterfront Neighborhood Council), was held last Wednesday evening at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel. NEWNC president, Steve Passacantilli, presided over the meeting. The US DOT agency handling the Haz Mat ruling is called Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) whose “primary mission” is “to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.” In her previous job, the head of this agency, Administrator Anne Ferro, effectively lobbied for the Trucking Industry in Maryland. According to their website: “MMTA has developed effective programs that keep our members’ operating costs down, influence legislative and regulatory decisions in Annapolis (Photo by Matt Conti) and Washington, … MMTA represents the entire trucking industry.” Ferro officially took the post on November 16, 2009, the same day the FMSCA ruled against the City of Boston. Residents are urged to contact their elected officials both in Massachusetts and in Washington, DC, expressing concern about the proposed reversal of trucking restrictions. As pointed out by vocal members of the community, the North End/Waterfront is a unique, vibrant and historical neighborhood. The haz mat vehicles are dirty, noisy and pose a clear safety threat: to seniors, children, residents and tourists. One just has to think about historic landmarks such as Old North Church and the Paul Revere House, Christopher Columbus Park, Waterfront Walk along a route already populated with Tour buses, School Buses, funeral processions, Fire Engines, and more. Help keep the neighborhood clean, vibrant and safe. Mayor’s Column by Thomas M. Menino, Summer jobs are an essential investment in the future leaders of our city, providing Boston youth with valuable life skills and long-term benefits. The City of Boston has level funded the summer jobs program in the FY 2011 budget with $4.3 million, but we are still almost $2 million short from last year, which is about 13 hundred fewer jobs, due to losses in state and federal funding. To make up the difference we have been working with government and private businesses to make sure that our young people have this important life experience, especially in this difficult economy. Mayor, City of Boston Our local government and business leaders have done a great job stepping up in the summer jobs effort. Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano and Senator John Kerry have offered tremendous leadership and continued support of summer jobs programming in Congress. This week, the Senate could approve a $1 billion summer jobs bill that would mean an extra $2 million — approximately 1,200 jobs — for Boston’s youth. We are also working with John Hancock, The Boston Globe, Boston University, State Street, (Continued on Page 15) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull “The Emblem of the Land I Love” THE ROMAN THEATERS The Roman Theater, adapted from the Greek design, was partly hollowed out of the ground and partly built up of masonry. Both Greek and Roman theaters were built in the half round or semicircular in plan. Some of the very early Greek theaters utilized built-up bleachers for the spectators. Many people were injured when one of these bleachers collapsed, consequently all future theaters were hollowed out of the hillside whenever possible. All were open to the air with no roofs and intended for daytime use. The stone seats were neatly arranged in tiers with aisles and cross aisles. The stage and backgrounds were permanently constructed. The Greeks called the background, the skene, the Romans called it the scena and here in the USA we call it the scene. The Greeks called the part of the stage in front of the curtain, the proskenion, the Romans called it the proscena and here in the USA we call it the proscenium. The section directly in front of the stage was called the orchestra and reserved for senators and other dignitaries. The general spectator section was called the auditorium. The Romans built long corridors under the auditorium to be used as a shelter in case of sudden showers. The Greeks had no shelters and this is probably the reason why they became such good runners. There were two Roman theaters that are worthy of mention at this time. The first is the Theater of Marcellus, the only ancient theater in Rome. It is said to have been started by Julius Caesar but completed by Augustus in 13 A.D. and named in honor of his nephew. The theater could accommodate twelve thousand spectators. It is now in a ruinous condition, but at one time its beauty and proportions were a source of inspiration to artists. The second is the Theater of Pompey, completed about 52 B.C. We remember Pompey as being a great Roman general, statesman and member of the First Triumvirate. Parts of the foundations are all that remain of the theater. It was used for over six hundred years and the outer walls remained unbroken up to the 16th century. It occupied an area of about three acres and had a seating capacity of twenty- five thousand. A theatrical performance often lasted all day long. At one performance, five hundred lions were presented. At other times they featured elephants, crocodiles and hippopotami. To compliment the theater, Pompey built a great porticus (covered walkway supported by beautiful columns). It consisted of several parallel colonnades with flower gardens, treelined walks, fountains, pictures, and statues of marble and bronze. The area was open on all sides to the public, and at once became a favorite spot for Roman idlers. In addition to these buildings, Pompey also built a building for the Roman Senate to use while awaiting the rebuilding of their own Curia, which was destroyed by fire. This new building was called “Pompey's Senate-House.” And now the bitter irony of fate. Pompey's buildings were built solid enough to last for twenty centuries, completed at the expense and for the enhancement of one man. Just four years later his army was defeated by Caesar, and Pompey died almost alone on a desolate Egyptian seacoast. Four years after Pompey's death, Caesar himself lay dead in Pompey's Senate-House, murdered by those 23 Roman citizens ... “Et tu Brute.” NEXT ISSUE: The Roman Amphitheaters Boston Water and Sewer Commission Informs Public of Lead Danger The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) is providing residents with information about what steps you can take in your home to reduce your risk of exposure to lead. Lead is a health concern and is commonly found in the environment; most commonly in lead based paint. Lead can also be found in water, though at much lower levels. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water. Health Effects of Lead Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child may receive lead from the mother’s bones, which may affect brain development. Sources of Lead Lead is a common metal found in the environment. INAS/USA/CISL Patronato Office – 9 Hull Street, Boston MA 02113 DANIEL LOFFREDA Aiuto per le pratiche seguenti: TEL: 617-600-5353 Assistance for the following: • Modulo INPS REDD 2009 • Domanda pensione INPS • Domanda di Social Security • Richiesta documenti dall’Italia • Servizi di Notaio/traduzioni • Procura, e altre • Form INPS REDD 2009 • INPS Pension Application • Social Security Application • Request of documents from Italy • Notary services/translations • Power of Attorney, and others Tutto gratis! Free of charge! Common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint, household dust, soil, and some plumbing materials including many faucets. Lead can also be found in other household items such as pottery, make-up, toys, and even food. Lead paint was outlawed in 1978, but dust from homes that still have lead paint is the most common source of exposure to lead. Therefore, make sure to wash your children’s hands and toys often as they can come into contact with dirt and dust containing lead. The water provided by the BWSC and the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) is lead-free when it leaves the reservoirs. MWRA and local distribution pipes of the BWSC that carry the water to your community are made mostly of iron and steel, and therefore do not add lead to water. However, lead can get into tap water through home service piping, lead solder used in plumbing, and some brass fixtures. Even though the use of lead solder was banned in the U.S. in 1986, it still might be present in older homes. (Continued on Page 15) Monday, June 14, is Flag Day. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. It’s a good time to reflect on the meaning of the flag and of the pledge of allegiance that many of us recited daily in school. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute (U.S. Code Title 4 Sec. 4.) The original Pledge of Al- legiance, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands — One nation indivisible — with liberty and justice for all,” was written in September of 1892 by Francis Bellamy for The Youth’s Companion magazine in Boston. The phrase was printed on leaflets and sent to schools throughout the United States. The first organized use of the Pledge of Allegiance came on October 12, 1892, when some 12 million American school children recited it to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. In 1923, the first National Flag Conference in Washington D.C. voted to change the words “my flag” to “the Flag of the United States of America.” Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance in 1942, but in 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that public school students could not be forced to recite it. The words “under God” were added in 1954 by then President Eisenhower, who stated at the time, “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.” David Trumbull is the chairman of the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee. Boston’s Ward Three includes the North End, West End, part of Beacon Hill, downtown, waterfront, Chinatown, and part of the South End. THE ITALIAN AMERICAN WAR VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES MEDFORD POST 8 Is asking for financial support to rebuild their residence which was destroyed by fire. Many members are present and former North Enders who served proudly in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. To support this effort, send your donation to: CITIZENS BANK c/o ITAM, Post 8 Building Fund 1314908879 Medford, MA 02155 NOBILE INSURANCE ALBANO F. PONTE, CEP Financial and Estate Planning Email afponte@msn.com Phone 617-320-0022 MICHAEL F. NOBILE, CPCU ARLINGTON 148A Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02474 (781) 646-1200 Fax (781) 646-1148 MEDFORD 39 Salem Street Medford, MA 02155 (781) 395-4200 Fax (781) 391-8493 BOSTON 251 Hanover Street Boston, MA 02113 (617) 523-6766 Fax (617) 523-0078 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Pamela Donnaruma, Publisher and Editor 5 Prince Street, P.O. Box 130135, Boston, MA 02113 617-227-8929 617-227-8928 FAX 617-227-5307 e-mail: Website: Phyllis F. Donnaruma 1971 to 1990 Friday, June 11, 2010 May She Rest in Peace postgazette@aol.com www.BostonPostGazette.com Published weekly by Post-Gazette, 5 Prince St., P.O. Box 130135, Boston, MA 02113 USPS 1538 – Second-Class Postage paid at Boston, MA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the POST-GAZETTE - P.O. Box 130135, Boston, MA 02113 Caesar L. Donnaruma 1953 to 1971 Vol. 114 - No. 24 Mary T. Imbergamo Mary T. Imbergamo, 79, of Boston’s North End, on Friday, June 4, 2010. Loyal wife of the late Guy J. Imbergamo. Devoted mother of Josephine Puopolo and her husband Dan of Saugus, Frank and his wife Maureen Imbergamo of Medford, Skip and his wife Linda Imbergamo of Saugus, and Rosemarie and her husband Tom Greeley of Medford. Cherished grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of two. Funeral was held at the Boston Harborside Home, 580 Commercial Street Boston MA, on Tuesday, June 8 followed by a funeral Mass at St. Stephen Church on the corner of Hanover and Clark Streets. Interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Subscriptions in the United States $30.00 yearly James V. Donnaruma 1896 to 1953 Page 3 GUEST EDITORIAL SOCIETA SANTA MARIA DIANZANO 105TH ANNIVERSARY THE PRESIDENT TAKES VACATION FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND? by Sal Giarratani Our Commander-in-Chief missed the wreath-Laying ceremony at Arlington Nation Cemetery on Memorial Day to go on vacation. President Obama isn’t the first to have missed it but he is the first during wartime. Presidents deserve a vacation but American men and women are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq and Arlington has an American Significance on Memorial Day when the Nation pauses to honor and remember the sacrifices made by our military. If President Bush was still president today and went home for Crawford, Texas missing the Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington, the news media would have been all over him. However, one liberal political columnist David Corn speaking of President Obama taking a Chicago vacation on Memorial Day weekend missing the Arlington Memorial Day ceremony penned, “Does it really matter if Obama throws some leaves on a tomb?” Does it matter? Yes, it does. Memorial Day is about honoring and remembering all those living and dead who made so many sacrifices to keep our nation free. President George W. Bush missed the Arlington National Cemetery ceremony because he had traveled to a service at an American cemetery in Normandy, France honoring all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day. The president had planned to speak at Memorial Day ceremonies at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL but heavy rains cancelled that event. As Investors Business Daily editorialized (June 1) “Yes, it’s a day of hot dogs, hamburgers and family fun. It’s also a day to honor those who died to give us the freedom to enjoy all that. We hoped President Obama would go to Arlington.” The Saint Maria DiAnzano Society recently celebrated their 105th anniversary with a procession in the streets of the North End. A scholarship was awarded to Andrea Bruno (center). Presenting the award are Society members, (left) Elio LoRusso and John L. Norris III. (Photo by Ross Scabin of Ross Photography) MILITARY FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE TICKETS TO Mother Goose ... The Musical Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma USA Tour 2010 Francesco LaVecchia Conductor The Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma is pleased to offer the Italian Community a 50% reduction on tickets for its concert at the Shubert Theater, Boston on June 13, 2010 at 8:00PM. Thanks to Fondazione Roma for making this tour possible. The North Shore Musical Children’s Theatre in Saugus is happy to announce that all Military families will be free this Sunday, June 13th at 2pm for Kaleidoscope Theatre’s Mother Goose ... The Musical! Military Families can reserve their free tickets by emailing grouptixne@aol.com or by calling the Box Office at 1-781-230-3976. Tickets will also be available at the door. The theatre is located at 466 Central Street, Saugus, MA. Kaleidoscope has been presenting this monthly series of Fairy Tale Classic Musicals since December 2008. For almost thirty years Kaleidoscope has been performing at both the Cape Cod Melody Tent and the South Shore Music Circus. Last week they performed Snow White at Boston’s Historic Wilbur Theatre. In Saugus, all patrons receive a free ice cream and a cast meet and greet after the show. For more information please visit www.kaleidoscopechildrenstheatre.com. Coming soon to Saugus will be Pocahontas and Little Red Riding Hood! The North End Historical Society and Nazzaro Community Center Present: The North End as Sociological Story: WILLIAM FOOTE WHYTE’S STREET CORNER SOCIETY REVISITED A talk by Oscar Andersson, Ph.D. , Malmoe University, Sweden Street Corner Society, by William Foote Whyte’s written in 1943, has become a world renowned classic of sociology and anthropology. Whyte lived in the North End from 1936 to 1940. Street Corner Society has been translated into many languages, including, most recently, Swedish. Dr. Andersson will discuss the book, its author, and its impact. Send letter to: Pamela Donnaruma, Editor, The Post-Gazette, P.O. Box 130135, Boston, MA 02113 June 16, 2010, 7:00PM The opinions expressed by our columnists and contributors are not necessarily the same as those of The Post-Gazette, its publisher or editor. Photo submissions are accepted by the Post-Gazette provided they are clear, original photos. There is a $5 charge for each photo submitted. Photos can be submitted via e-mail: postgazette@aol.com. If you want your photos returned, include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Nazzaro Community Center 30 N. Bennet Street Boston, MA 617-635-5166 Page 4 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Financially Speaking OUT LOUD with Ben Doherty by Sal Giarratani JOBS AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY ROCK THE MARKET Nonfarm payroll swelled by 430,000, thanks to temporary workers hired by the Labor Department for the census, which will cool soon. Factory workers and private payroll rose by 41,000, down from April’s 281,000. Both missed forecast as 322,000 people left the labor pool. The % unemployed dropped to 9.7%. Service firms added 37,000 with gains in business services, education, health care, retailers, gains in business services, outweighing cuts by retailers and financial firms. Many companies are loath to hire due to uncertainty due to the economy from ObamaCare and other policy changes. The recovery is expected to be bumpy as private payrolls have grown for five straight months. Things never go in a straight line and this report is stronger by the day. The economic cycle’s index cooled to .4%. It was 13% four weeks earlier. It now shows slow growth going forward. Fifteen million people are jobless, a record 4.5% for 27 weeks, with employment including discouraged workers and part-timers. Payrolls are 5.4% below their 2007 high, the biggest drop of the post war slump. The economy will have to stand on its own two feet. However, it will have to do it slowly if this report is accurate. Hungary’s government warned that its economy is in a crisis and spiraling out of control. A default on the government’s debt could be a real possibility. Hungary’s central bank tried to stop the rumors but fear prevailed. The euro fell 2.7% and 4% against the dollar. Hungary is not a member of the euro zone but is a member of the Euro Union. The Hungarian crisis is partly to blame for the sell off on U.S. stocks on Friday. The trouble started on Thursday when the new ruling party’s vice chairman was quoted on the news website as saying that the country’s finances was in worse shape than he previously had thought. The budget deficit could climb this year to 7.5% of GDP. This is about twice the 3.8% cap under an agreement with IMF after a similar crisis last year. Unlike Greece, Hungary was already in a cost cutting mode before the IMF stepped in. This sparked concern and made other investors more nervous. With Hungary’s Center Right Party getting a win in an election, the new leaders promised tax cuts and other pro growth moves. With Greece in the limelight it didn’t take much to spread rumors. Learn to Speak Italian at the Dante Alighieri Society OF MASSACHUSETTS Now Accepting Registration for Summer Session 2010 Adult Italian Language Classes 41 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts www.dantealighieri.net/cambridge or 617-876-5160 LAW OFFICES OF FRANK J. CIANO GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW DIVORCE • WILLS • ESTATE PLANNING • TRUSTS CRIMINAL • PERSONAL INJURY • WORKERS COMP. 617-354-9400 C’mon, You Gotta Admit it is Funny, isn’t it? U.S. car sales climbed in May. U.S. trucks and SUVs gained shares, GM, Ford and Chrysler rebounded and saw big gains, but Toyota fell behind. For the 7th month in a row, sales of cars and light trucks jumped 11%. Toyota Motor Corp., hobbled by its recall for sudden acceleration was one of the few laggards. Its sales grew just 6.7% after it passed on some incentives, but it’s going to continue incentives this month. The price of gasoline’s big drop helped the light truck market as Fords F-Series pickups showed slow but steady improvements. There are a lot of people waiting for things to get better before buying a new vehicle. Ford sales rose 22% to 196,671 vehicles. For the third quarter Ford plans on making 640,000 vehicles boosting its target for the second quarter by 15,000. For the third quarter Ford plans to make 570,000 vehicles up 10% from last year. It estimates the new demand from rental car companies and demand across the board will help its entire product line. Retirement community operator Classic Residence by Hyatt, a business that runs upscale retirement communities is battling the IRS on the tax treatment of upfront entrance fees. It’s setup to provide residents with more care as they need more services. The IRS is seeking $21 million in penalties related to these monies. About 90% is refundable when a patient either leaves or dies and the refundable portion should be treated as interest free loans and shouldn’t be taxable as income. Given the Federal government’s huge revenue needs, the IRS is interpreting tax law more aggressively says David Rice, a tax attorney. It’s time to call your financial advisor or call met at 617-261-7777. Vazza Funeral Homes Si Parla Italiano The Agency for all your Insurance Coverages 262 Beach St., Revere 781-284-1127 11 Henry St., E. Boston 617-567-0955 Richard Settipane Louis R. Vazza - Mark A. Tauro Funeral Directors www.vazzafunerals.com 230 MSGR. O’BRIEN HIGHWAY • CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02141 Insurance Services AUTO HOMEOWNERS COMMERCIAL TENANTS Experience makes the difference SPECIALIST in RESTAURANT and BUSINESS POLICIES CALL TODAY FOR YOUR QUOTE 617-523-3456 - Fax 617-723-9212 1 Longfellow - Place Suite 2322 - Boston, MA 02114 Conveniently located with Free Parking THINKING ST. JUDE AND ST. ANTHONY NOVENA May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. St. Anthony, most loving protector and wonder worker, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day and by the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. My prayers have been answered. Favor received. . ATP When I first read those new stories concerning a drunken illegal whacking into state Representative Michael Moran’s car, I did laugh. After all, when a legislator up on Beacon Hill who seems to champion the rights of illegal immigrants who flaunt the law meets one of those “undocumented” as liberals like to call them after getting hit by him, it is poetic justice to me. Representative Moran is upset with the guy because he’s drunk but his immigration status still seems no concern to him. Moran’s views on illegals is wellknown. Moran seemingly likes to talk about being the son of Irish immigrants. I guess, saying that he can talk about immigrants and issues concerning illegal immigrants. I am the grandson of legal immigrants from both Bere Island in West Cork and Agrigento on the Island of Sicily. I am proud of my immigrant roots. However, the idea that folks have the right to sneak into this country and then get rewarded for doing so by Representative Moran and his ilk doesn’t play with this writer. As I read the editorial (Hit Democrats?, May 28), I wondered don’t liberals have a sense of humor? You have to admit it is kind of funny that at 2:48am, on an uneventful May 20, one of the best advocates illegals have up on Beacon Hill gets smashed in the rear by a drunk driver who apparently is an illegal. Not only that but he’s dressed up in a Mexican Merengue costume. I have no idea what that means but I have an idea we’re talking Guy Williams dressed up like Don Diego, aka Zorro. He ended up getting arrested and getting charged with according to the editorial with operating under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and also personal injury. However, the editorial failed to mention if he had also been operating without a driver’s license, registration and insurance. After all, he did flee the scene and Immigration is now checking on his status in this country, I do agree with the editor on talk radio yukking it up over Moran’s accidental meeting with as quite possible illegal behind the wheel drunk as a skunk. C’mon, who could make this stuff up. Drunk, probably illegal, dressed like Don Diego and his victim, good ole Representative Michael Moran. I am not writing to defend Michael Graham, Jay Severin or conservative talk radio. People shouldn’t be calling Representative Moran “Representative Moron.” People shouldn’t be sprouting hateful comments but this whole incident isn’t about attack conservative on the air waves, it is about condoning illegals in our midst. What part of “illegal” don’t liberals get? There’s nothing hateful or unfunny about poking fun at a Beacon Hill representative who got struck with irony, is there? As Barbara Anderson wrote on the RedMassGroup blog (@RedMassGroup) recently about Mike Moran being rear-ended by a Mexican man authorities believe is in this country illegally. Red Mass Tweeted her headline: Sometimes the universe makes a statement.” Once again, the real story got lost. A suspected illegal was driving drunk caused both personal injury and property damage and fled the scene. Perhaps, because he was drunk. Perhaps, because he’s illegal. Joking about driving into cars operated by Democratic politicians is in blame bad taste. It is almost as stupid as an illegal driving around looking like he’s ready for the Merengue. NORTH END PRINTING 5 PRINCE STREET • NORTH END • BOSTON, MA 02113 Owned and operated by Pamela Donnaruma, Publisher, Post-Gazette Quality Printing for all your Commercial and Personal Needs Stationery • Business Cards • Menus • Flyers Program Books • Wedding and Party Invitations Announcements • Business Forms and Documents — COMPETITIVE PRICES — 617-227-8929 617-227-8929 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Returning to the North End 2010 NORTH END FESTIVAL DIRECTORY JUNE ST. ANTHONY’S of PADULA June 13 Procession Only – Hanover – Prince Sts. 2 pm PADRE PIO PROCESSION TBA June 27 JULY MADONNA DEL GRAZIE Procession Only - North Sq. July 11 2 pm ST. ROCCO Procession Only - Prince St. July 18 1 pm ST. JOSEPH Hanover & Battery Sts. Sunday Procession ST. AGRIPPINA Hanover & Battery Sts. Sunday Procession July 23, 24, 25 1 pm July 30, 31 - August 1 1 pm AUGUST MADONNA DELLA CAVA Hanover & Battery Sts. Sunday Procession August 6, 7, 8 1 pm MADONNA del SOCCORSO August 12, 13, 14,15 North, Fleet & Lewis Sts. (Fisherman’s) Sunday Procession 1 pm ST. DOMENIC Procession Only - North Square ST. ANTHONY Endicott & Thacher Sts. Sunday Procession August 22 2 pm August 27, 28, 29 12 pm ST. LUCY Monday Procession - Endicott St. August 30 5 pm SEPTEMBER ST. ROSALIE Procession Only - North Square September 12 1 pm MORE ITALIAN FEASTIVALS Malden, MA SAINT ROCCO FESTIVAL Pearl Street Sunday Procession Page 5 August 6 - 8 1 pm Lawrence, MA FEAST OF THE THREE SAINTS September 3 - 5 Saints Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino Common & Union St., Lawrence Sunday Procession 3 pm Cambridge Festival September 11 - 12 SS COSMAS AND DAMIAN Warren and Cambridge St., Cambridge Info: Call 617-354-7992 All the glory that was Rome ..... Pompei by Michael Graffeo As I strolled down the streets of the North End with my cousin, Louie Graffeo, I felt some envy of all the greetings he would receive from people we passed on the narrow sidewalks. This was my hometown and yet I did not know anyone. On the other hand, it appeared Louie would greet everyone with his infectious smile and warm comments. Much has changed since 1957 when I left the area and yet the buildings look the same. Where there were groups of old men shouting numbers in Italian and extending their hands with the corresponding number? In fact, I heard very little Italian and was disappointed that the pace of life had noticeably quickened. Cousin Louie took me to Moon Street where my family once lived and I was pulled into the Sacred Heart Church with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I reflected over the weddings, baptisms and holy communions that were the center of our family life and now the church was idle. Fifty-three years had not changed the physical appearance of the neighborhood, yet something was missing. Where were the family-owned grocery stores, fruit vendors, butcher shops and bakeries? I did find the park where as children we climbed on top of the tall statue of Paul Revere. My wife, Linda, was introduced to slush and I had forgotten how delicious that treat could be. I would have to bring her back in August to experience the feast celebrating Madonna Del Soccorso. I remember the year my cousin Anna Graffeo was the angel who gave the blessing in Italian. My grandfather, Michele Graffeo, was instrumental in the formation of the Fisherman’s Club in the heart of the North End. Most Sicilians from Sciacca were fishermen as was my father, Colagero, and all my uncles: Alphonso, Luciano, Anthony and Joseph. The North End of Boston is not the same place, however it is still vibrant, stimulating and full of Italian culture. I now realize how fortunate I was to have had the experience of living there. MY FAVORITE Poems and Quotes by Attorney David Saliba RICHARD “Richie” COHEN (Retirement Poem) Richie Cohen the time is near You’re leaving assessing sometime this year You started here in seventy four To the Board of Review in eighty-four For 36 years you valued the City, At times it was easy and other times gritty But always honest and fair to decide Each case on its merits with nothing to hide. You decided each case with thought and good reasons Like Sir Thomas More the man for all seasons Now that it is over, you’ll be leaving your friends Susan Fleming loyal and right to the end And your right hand analyst Connie Holmes what is her fame She searches for facts and that is her game Her lawyers Caltenco and sharp Ariniello To rhyme this line I came up with jello. The valuation gurus John Taglilatela, and Fred McAnulty, Leo Sullivan and Gerry Murray, Hughes and James and Darlene Hall With this group all’s well in City Hall Gracie Walsh and Ronald Rakow To the commish Ritchie will bow And Ellen McLauglin asked me to write This poem for Cohen because it’s right Richie did not want a retirement show. DIAMONDS ROLEX ESTATE JEWELRY Bought & Sold Jewelers Exch. Bldg. Jim (617) 263-7766 Bistro • Beer • Wine Thirsty? Hungry? Be sure to experience the tradition of these fine establishments. FOR RENT - REVERE BREAKERS CONDOMINIUM 2 bdrm, 2 bath Condo on Revere Beach Blvd. 7th floor ocean views from all rooms. Newly renov. Amenities include: Parking Space, Pool, Sauna, $1,600 month, ht, A/C included. No Pets Call 781-710-8418 or 781-910-2454 SELL YOUR GOLD $ NOW !!! VOTED Now! T $1260 We Buy Diamonds, PLA#C1EBTEOS SELL $ Gold and Silver Jewelry JEWELRY We Buy Gold and Silver Coins AS FEATURED ON CHANNEL 5 Per Ounce! 24K $ $10.00 OFF EXTRA BONUS 781-286-CASH Jewelry Box $ 345 Broadway, Revere Serving The Community For 32 Years sellgoldmass.com Hours 10-5:30 pm every day but Saturday until 3:30 pm Page 6 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 AN ECONOMY IN TROUBLE Readers Sighting (The Build Up to Our Economic Problems) by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari The employment figures released on Friday, June 4th, indicate that nonfarm employment grew by 431,000 jobs in May reflecting the hiring of 411,000 temporary employees to work on Census 2010. Private-sector employment edged up by 41,000 dropping the unemployment rate in the U.S. to 9.7 %. The announcement of these figures sent the stock market tumbling for they indicate the fact that the stimulus program might not be working reflected in a drop off from previous months in the growth of private sector jobs and the fact that the census jobs are temporary and would be coming to an end in September, once again increasing the unemployment numbers. The message seems clear that economic recovery will be a slow and difficult process and the stock market is echoing it. The most pressing problem in our economy that is becoming increasingly evident while promising to be difficult to resolve is the inability of the economy to produce enough full time well paying jobs to support our working population. It is a problem that has its roots in decisions made decades ago when economists encouraged growth in the service sector of the economy while playing down the manufacturing sector. The thinking was that we as an economy had evolved to the point where basic manufacturing of goods was no longer practical and should be ceded to third world and emerging countries where wages and cost of manufacturing is far below ours; when manufacturing occurred in the U.S. it should be highly technical and value added commensurate with our higher standard of living and wages. In the years that followed, laws were passed by the federal government that encouraged the transfer of American manufacturing to other countries through tax breaks, other laws allowed unlimited access to our home market to foreign manufacturers while we faced quotas and restrictive trade policies from our trading partners. Through the years, not only low tech manufacturing but also high tech went offshore though it was originally thought the latter would remain in America. Increasingly we became an economy dependent on consumer spending encouraging debt and reckless speculation to drive our economy. We created an inflated economy based on debt that inevitably must fail. The precipitous drop in the stock market in the fall of 2008 revealed not only the massive bubble created in the home mortgage market as a result of speculating in highly leveraged mortgages that had been securitized, that is bundled together for trading on the stock market. What was also revealed was the massive level of debt present at all levels of our economy, not only is private debt at an all time high but debt in the public sector has forced states to drastically cut bloated budgets and our federal government to increase the national debt by borrowing from foreign sources reaching a level of an estimated eleven to fourteen trillion dollars depending on who you are listening to, a level of debt that will be inherited by future generations threatening not only their standard of living but their way of life. Profile of an Old First Baseman Everyone is talking about Jamie Moyer of the Phillies, the 47-year-old ageless wonder who’s been around seemingly forever. His goal reportedly is to pitch in the majors a 50-year-old. As of May 27, he is 5-3 with a 4.07 ERA. Not bad in today’s baseball. As old as he is and as long as he’s played, he’s a youngster compared to me. He’s been around in the majors since 1986 and has 268 wins and given up 501 homeruns to date. Four more and he surpassed Robin Robbins as the alltime leader. However, I’ve played on baseball and softball teams since 1965 when I played first base for the St. Philip Phillies in a Catholic urban league. I was still playing as a team’s first baseman in the late 70s on the Fenwood Flyers. In the early ’80s I did lots of pick-up games up on Mission before announcing by Sal Giarratani my retirement as a 34 year old guy in 1982. I thought I was too old to hang around first base. Then, for whatever reason, back in 2005 at age 57, I took myself out of retirement and played on a Lemuel Shattuck Hospital team sponsored by Griffins in Forest Hills. I played three years and then quite thinking I was old again. Amazingly, three years ago, I heard about a Summer Softball League organized by the West End Community Center. In 2008, I was the starting first baseman on one of the league’s teams and managed 9 hits in 14 games. Not exactly Ty Cobb but not meat loaf either. Last year in 12 games, I hit safely 8 times with one miracle double. It was a miracle I got to second safely. Last week on May 21, I played my first game of the 2010 season at first base of course. I lined out to the second baseman. I struck out. I walked on five pitches and I got my first single, a long short out to right out of the right fielder’s reach. First game and first hit. I still use my 1965 Wilson first baseman’s mitt. I still have that Orchard Park address on it from my project days. Mostly, I use my new glove, a 1982 model. Even the “new” glove is older than most of my teammates. The “old” glove is older than everyone. For the third straight season, I am the oldest player in the league. I wish I could say I keep getting better but at this stage of the game, I just want to keep on playing and let those hits fall into place from time to time. Rapino Memorial Home Trevor Slauenwhite Augustave M. Sabia, Jr. Dino C. Manca Frederick J. Wobrock Courtney A. Fitzgibbons Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia M. Pollak, and Frog Pond Foundation President Thomas A. Kershaw are pleased to welcome children and guests to kick off the 2010 summer season as the Boston Common Frog Pond reopens on Wednesday, June 30, with a fun and exciting celebration at 11 a.m. followed by the opening of the wading pool immediately after the ceremony. “The Frog Pond wading and spray pool provides a place for free family fun and a cool dip for Boston’s kids in the summer heat,” said Mayor Menino. The celebration will feature a special visit from official mascot Frog Pond Freddie, entertainment, arts and crafts activities with Sidewalk Sam, and a children’s entertainer leading the youngsters in song and dance. Children of all ages can enjoy cool giveaways from ReadBoston and media partner Mix 104’s Street Team. All attendees are eligible to enter a summer raffle for a chance to win great prizes. In addition to the activities that last until 1 p.m., information regarding upcoming summer programs offered by the City of Boston will be available to families and residents and tasty treats will be provided by in-kind sponsors H.P. Hood LLC, Nantucket Nectars, Snapple, and the original Boston Frosty. There will also be a special visit by The Minions from Universal’s upcoming movie “Despicable Me” and fun giveaways from the movie. One of the world’s greatest supervillains meets his greatest challenge — three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes — when the film comes to theaters in RealD 3D on July 9 (www.despicable.me). The Frog Pond spray pool is open for wading daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day. For further information, please call the Frog Pond at (617) 635-2120. Mattéo Gallo o o Appraisals Sales & Rentals • Real Estate 376 North Street • Boston, MA 02113 (617) 523-2100 • Fax (617) 523-3530 POST-GAZETTE EAST BOSTON SATELLITE OFFICE Kirby-Rapino Memorial Home 917 Bennington St. East Boston 617-569-0305 Dino C. Manca Funeral Director A Family Service Affiliate of AFFS/Service Corp. Int’l A Service Family Afiliate of AFFS/Service Corporation International 206 Winter St., Fall River, MA 02720 Telephone 508-676-2454 FROG POND OPENS JUNE 30 9 Chelsea St., East Boston 617-567-1380 Boston Harborside Home Joseph A. Langone 580 Commercial St. - Boston, MA 02109 617-536-4110 www.bostonharborsidehome.com Rich and Ave LaMonica from Staten Island in New York stopped by Contrada’s recently for lunch. While visiting Boston they decided to tour the North End. They are Yankee’s fans but do love the North End. And say it’s better than New York’s Little Italy which keeps getting smaller all the time. (Photo by Sal Giarratani) 206 Winter St. • Fall River, MA 02720 WWW.BOSTONPOSTGAZETTE.COM 508-676-2454 IS NOW OPEN MARIE MATARESE 35 Bennington Street, East Boston 617.227.8929 MON. and TUES. 10:00 A.M. - 3.00 P.M. THURS. 11:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. ACCEPTING Advertisements General Advertisements • Sales and Rentals Memorials • Legals ADVERTISING WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Mrs. Murphy . . . As I See It Guy Fieri Visits Rino’s Place Guy Fieri, the popular host of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on the Food Network hit the road and recently stopped by Rino’s Place in East Boston. Guy sampled some of Tony Dicenso’s famous dishes and discussed what makes Rino’s Place a great place to eat. In photo Rino’s Place owners, Tony DiCenso and his wife Anna pose with Guy during the taping. Watch the Food Network for the upcoming segment on Rino’s Place. (Photo by Lisa Cappuccio) Michele McPhee Book Signing at Ecco Restaurant Join Author, Radio Personality and Journalist, Michele McPhee at Ecco Restaurant located at 107 Porter Street, East Boston, on Saturday, June 12 from 5:00-7:00PM where she will sign copies of her latest book “A Date with Death.” Book synopsis: He was an online predator — hiding in plain sight … In a luxury Boston hotel on April 14, 2009, police discovered the body of a beautiful young woman — her head battered, a bullet through her heart. Within hours, the story exploded, making headlines across the nation. The victim, a masseuse named Julissa Brisman, had advertised her erotic services on popular classified ads Website Craigslist. A twenty-two-year-old medical student named Philip Markoff was her last-known client. For information and directions for Ecco call 617-561-1117 or www.eccoboston.com. PINELLI’S FUNCTION FACILITY BEREAVEMENT BUFFET $13.25 Page 7 Per Person Please accept sincere condolences, from the Spinelli’s family and staff. During this difficult time, we would like to offer our facility at a specially reduced price, for you, your family and friends. SERVED UPON ARRIVAL Coffee, Mini Danish Pastries and Tea Breads BUFFET LUNCHEON MENU Tossed Salad, Assorted Rolls with Butter Chicken, Ziti and Broccoli Alfredo Eggplant Parmigiana Italian Sausages, Onions and Potatoes Above price does not include a 15% Administration Fee and a 7% Mass State Tax. 280 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON, MA Telephone: 617-567-4499 www.spinellis.com An Italian inspiration! Filomena “ M e n a ” Castaldini, an Italian immigrant raised in East Boston inspired a poet to write a poem called “Angelus” that won him a $5,000 prize. The poem is about an Italian girl “Mena” that lived on a farm in Italy. It’s a romantic poem that received rave reviews. The Boston Globe ran a half page story given to them by Filomena. Today, Filomena’s parents continue to live in East Boston, while she lives across the bridge in Winthrop ... Drivers Beware! A huge caterpillar truck with a wide shovel attached to the front was driving down Bennington Street heading towards Day Square last week causing traffic to come to a halt so the caterpillar could squeeze by. A suggestion to heavy equipment drivers, rather than risk accidents on Bennington Street which is a narrow main street with parking on both sides, why not use Chelsea Street that is wide enough to handle heavy construction equipment vehicles. ... East Boston suffered two fires recently. One on Chelsea Street and the other on Gove Street. The Red Cross was called in to assist the victims ... The streets of East Boston appear to be looking cleaner. Heavy construction around the Central Square Park is causing traffic chaos; however, area trash is minimal. According to Shaw’s Market Manager, Shaw’s has workers outside the building picking up debris every day. It’s now up to the public to take pride in their town, so use rubbish barrels as a means of ridding your trash rather than the streets of East Boston. Thank You! ... Lou Torrone retired former owner of the East Boston Times was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award last week at Suffolk Downs by East Boston High School. Mr. Torrone was given the award for his outstanding coverage of high school sports games ... The governor’s race is becoming too negative. Voters want to know what these candidates will do to ease their pain. Voters already know what Deval Patrick’s shortcomings are, which is just about everything. We need to hear more about Charlie Baker, republican candidate for governor, and Tim Cahill should back off! ... Summer is here and problems in the inner cities of Boston are increasing. Already Boston is facing major acts of criminal behavior, with drugs running rampant and random shootings throughout the city. Residents need to become vigilant and report unusual behavior to the police. East Boston is fortunate to have a dedicated police force that responds quickly to 911 calls ... President Obama will go down in the history books as the pacifist naive president that kowtowed to dictators, communists and terrorists around the world. According to reports, Obama, brought up as a Muslim in his early years, is allegedly blaming the tiny state of Israel that has been our allies since the forties for Middle East conflicts. What he hasn’t said is radical Muslim terrorists will always find a cause for destruction ... Barack “Insane” Obama continues to host lavish parties at the White House despite the country’s economic woes, and during the mammoth BP oil spill in the gulf that has already cost Americans their homes, livelihoods and environment! Obama is a disgrace! If this is the change he promised we’re in BIG TROUBLE! The Obama’s are using the White House to ENTERTAIN liberal, socialist, and communist Hollywood actors and actresses on our dime ... If Republicans can capture more seats in the senate and house this fall, maybe Obama will get impeached before he does further damage to our country. In speeches Obama has made abroad and in this country, he’s insinuated that America is the troublemaker paving the way for terrorists to feel justified in their blood thirsty quest for justice. Need I say more!!!! ... Till next time! Art and Culture EAST BOSTON IS HOSTING A VARIETY OF CULTURAL EVENTS 80 Border Street Cultural Exchange Center, 80 Border Street, East Boston (Atlantic Works Building) “GRAVY WARS” Book Signing Saturday June 12, 2010 Author Lorraine Ranalli will be signing copies of her book “Gravy Wars” from 3-5PM. Join Lorraine for tales of her Italian upbringing while she shares family recipes. Sponsored by Italia Unita. www.italiaunita.org. “RETRO BLAST” Exhbit by Joe Pepi Saturday June 19, 2010 at 3:00PM The Cultural Exchange Center will be showcasing the work of Eastie’s own Joe Pepi. This will be debut of the artist’s colossal metal sculptures being shown to the public. Viewers have been moved by the workmanship in his compositions, which resonate 1950s America. 303 Café 303 Sumner Street, East Boston SHARON DEVEREUX PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT in collaboration with ROBERT HUNT will be displayed through the month of June. Feast your eyes, fill your tummy and share a drink while viewing the newly installed collection of photography by the artists Robert Hunt & Sharon Devereux. Opening Reception to be held June 10 th from 6:008:00 PM at the 303 Cafe lo- cated at 303 Sumner Street in East Boston. Flowers, Architecture, People & Places — Great art that you will want to take home with you — pricing that will make that dream come true. We would love to see you and share the experience! Appetizers will be served and make sure to pick up a voucher for a free drink. Boston Public Library 276 Meridian Street Monday June 14, 2010 6:00PM Italia Unita will show an ITALIAN FILM with English subtitles. For more info log (Continued on Page 12) LUCIA RISTORANTE & BAR Traditional Italian Cuisine Donato Frattaroli 415 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113 617.367.2353 — Open for Lunch and Dinner Daily — Private dining rooms for any occasion donato@luciaboston.com www.luciaboston.com Page 8 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 OSIA Renaissance Lodge #2614 Installation Ball For over 20 years, Boston’s reproduction of a Roman LeRenaissance Lodge, 2614, gionnaire sword, was presented OSIA has held a black tie ball to the family by Major General to celebrate the installation of Joseph C. Carter. General the Lodge’s officers. For the Carter conducted this sword past five years the installation presentation with a “full military and dinner was held at Boston honors presence.” University’s Trustee Ballroom. Dr. Dean Saluti, Renaissance OSIA State President James Lodge President and close DiStefano and the Lodge’s friend of the Christoforo family State Deputy Sonny Robak for over 30 years, recounted, presided over the installation as part of the ceremony, the ceremony. history of the Christoforo famThe Renaissance Lodge was ily in America. Boston’s Italian honored to have a National community has become familSupreme Lodge, officer, Rita iar with the exploits of Dr. Robak, in attendance. Christoforo’s relatives featured After the installation of ofeach week in the “Nanna and ficers, everyone enjoyed a Babbononno” column of the Postsumptious cocktail hour. Gazette newspaper. However, Then, everyone entered the the stories of all the other relaballroom for a delicious dinner Renaissance Lodge 2010 Installation at their annual black tie ball held at the tives and their adventures, as and dancing to Frank Zarba’s Boston University Trustee Ballroom. State President James DiStefano (standing, they emigrated from Italy and society orchestra. One of the second from right) and State Deputy Sonny Robak (standing, far left) presided. Armenia, were very interesting. evening’s highlights was the Loretta Christoforo’s family, the “posting of the colors,” with Italian and American Giuseppe “Pepe” and Fernando Giangregorio “Hajinlians,” fled Armenia during the Turkish flags, by the Massachusetts Army National Guard brothers are renowned in Boston’s Italian com- massacres. The Hajinlians were academic Military Police Battalion Color Guard. It was an munity as the owners of the North End Green scholars, and it is no wonder that Loretta impressive spectacle. Cross Pharmacy. They emigrated from Italy as Christoforo today is considered to be an outstandThe Consul General of Italy, Liborio Stellino was children, but the remarkable story of the ing educator. honored for his work promoting Italian language Giangregorio family had never been shared. John, Sr. was a career teacher in the Boston and culture education in Massachusetts schools When presenting the awards to the Giangregorio Public Schools, and Dr. John followed in his and colleges. Also honored was Giuseppe “Pepe” brothers, Dr. Dean Saluti, President of the Re- father’s footsteps in the Boston Public Schools. and Fernando Giangregorio, from Boston’s North naissance Lodge of the Sons of Italy, recounted John, Sr. was an accomplished musician, playEnd Green Cross Pharmacy, for their tireless the early days of their childhood in Apice, Italy ing with the WWII era big bands, influencing Dr. dedication to the betterment of the Italian com- during WWII. Their father was killed during the John’s career as a musician on the road with munity. Consul General Stellino received a full- war in Italian-occupied Greece, as their mother the jazz and rock bands of the 1970s. John, Sr. size replica of a Roman Legionnaire sword and continued to operate his mechanical repair shop took on leadership roles with musicians’ assoPepe and Fernando Giangregorio received an on her own. Somehow, their mother earned ciations, paving the way for Dr. John to be the actual reproduction of a Roman Legionnaire enough money to bring the boys to the United President of the Boston Professional Musicians’ helmet with a red plume. The Giangregorio States, where the Giangregorio family could pur- Club. Dr. John’s career in Hollywood, that inbrothers also received marble plaques with their sue the American dream. cluded roles in various TV series such as “Mod portraits engraved into the stone. The modest Giangregorio brothers had never Squad,” “Mission Impossible,” and as a Klingon On August 28, 2006, Liborio Stellino assumed touted their outstanding academic accomplish- in the original Star Trek series, was encouraged the duties of the Consul General of Italy in Bos- ments as teenagers. Both brothers received schol- by John, Sr. ton with jurisdiction over the States of Maine, arships to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Today, Dr. Christoforo serves as the Director of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island where they earned B.S. degrees and became Education for the “October is Italian Heritage and Vermont, with a special commitment toward Registered Pharmacists. They saved their money, Month” Committee. Dr. Christoforo currently holds a more incisive and proactive cultural and com- bought the Green Cross Pharmacy, and the rest adjunct faculty positions at Boston University, mercial Italian presence in the Region. Prior to is history. Boston’s Renaissance Lodge of the North Shore Community College and Cambridge this assignment, he served as the First Counse- Sons of Italy gave the Giangregorio brothers an College. lor and Chief of the Press Office in the Embassy “Inspiration Award,” as these brothers’ lives should Dr. John and Loretta Christoforo consider their of Italy in Moscow. He has also served in the Cabi- inspire all Italian Americans to work toward greatest achievement to be their children. Their net of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rome, achieving their life goals while giving back to the son John, III, a graduate of George Washington responsible for Parliamentary Relations. He has community “the Giangregorio way.” University, is currently an Investment Analyst worked on assignments in Italian Consulates of The Christoforo Family received the 2010 Re- for SwissRe in Zurich, Switzerland. Their son Morocco and Cyprus. His leadership in Boston’s naissance Lodge, OSIA, Legionnaire Award. Michael, a graduate of Lynn University, is curItalian community has been outstanding. Present to receive the honor were Dr. John rently pursuing an acting career in New York. Each year, Boston’s Renaissance Lodge of the Christoforo, his wife Loretta and his son Michael. His son John was unable to attend, he is now Sons of Italy awards scholarships to deserving children of Lodge members. These scholarships working in Europe. The Legionnaire Award, an authentic, full-size are funded by Lodge families. The Privitera family funded a “Jean Privitera Memorial Scholarship” to honor the family matriarch who recently passed away. The Jean Privitera Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Anya Demko, the daughter of Renaissance Lodge member Michele Modica. Anya had superior academics at North Reading High School, maintaining an A/A+ average. Anya will attend Reed College in September 2010. Sal and Yvonne Balsamo also funded a scholarship in the Balsamo family name. The Balsamo’s have generously donated this scholarship for several years. This award was given to Fallon Marie Rondinelli. She is the daughter of Joseph Rondinelli, a member of the Renaissance Lodge. Italian Consul General Liborio Stellino Fallon is a recent graduate of Wareham High is recognized by the State Grand Lodge The Christoforo Family, recipients of the Renaissance School. During her four years at Wareham High, of the Sons of Italy. Consul General Lodge, OSIA, Legionnaire Award, (L-R) Dr. John Fallon received Academic Achievement Awards Liborio Stellino, State Grand Lodge in a wide variety of subjects, including Algebra, Christoforo, son Michael and wife Loretta. President James DiStefano reading a English, Spanish and French. She will attend the citation. University of Massachusetts, Amherst this fall. (L-R) Philip Privitera, Michele Modica, Scholarship recipient Anya Demko and Toni-Ann Privitera. (L-R) Scholarship recipient Fallon Rondinelli is congratulated by Renaissance Lodge First Lady Marjorie Cahn. The Giangregorio Family - Rachele, Fernando, Joseph, Consul General Liborio Stellino, Mira and Giuseppe “Pepe.” POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Page 9 The Socially Set by Hilda M. Morrill Charles Ansbacher accepts his award from Ursula Liff, daughter of the late Parks Commissioner Justine Mee Liff. (Photo by Roger Farrington) The 7th annual “Party in the Park” was held on May 12th in the beautiful Kelleher Rose Garden, on Boston’s Fenway. Proceeds from the party benefited The Justine Mee Liff Fund for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. The event generated awareness for the importance of public works in partnership with private philanthropy while raising much needed funding for Boston’s parks system. The 2010 honoree and special guest was Charles Ansbacher, founder and conductor of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. Mr. Ansbacher was presented with the 2010 “Justine Mee Liff Spirit Award.” Capping his distinguished 40-year career, Ansbacher has brought more people to public parks and used music to unite them, honoring Frederick Law Olmsted’s ideals. Among the many VIP guests and benefactors were Kitty and Michael Dukakis, Angela Menino and Mayor Thomas Menino, Corinne Grousbeck, Tonya Mezrich, Kristina Lyons, Jonathan Dorfman, and Wendy Shattuck, the founder of Party in the Park. Event sponsors included Dorfman Jewelers, who donated a stunning $10,000 gold cuff bracelet raffle item. Dorfmans also custom designed a special necklace exclusive for Party in the Park and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. Proceeds from the sale of the necklace, the design of which was inspired by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy logo, benefited the Liff Fund. J.P. Morgan returned again this year as Party in the Park’s corporate sponsor. Winston Flowers and The Catered Affair provided flowers and catering for the seventh consecutive year. The Justine Mee Liff Fund was established to honor the legacy of Boston’s former Parks Commissioner, Justine Mee Liff. Her vision and leadership drove the continued restorations and improvement of these renowned parks. The Fund supports conservancy, restoration and maintenance projects in the Emerald Necklace parks. “Party in the Park” chairs, left to right: Janet Atkins, Jane Roy, Lynn Dale and Holly Safford. (Photo by Roger Farrington) Kristen Daly, left, and Doris Yaffe enjoy “Party in the Park.” (Photo by Roger Farrington) The Emerald Necklace Conservancy was created in 1998 to “protect, restore, maintain and promote the landscape, waterways and parkways of the Emerald Necklace park system as special places for people to visit and enjoy.” In the face of city and budget constraints, the Conservancy addresses issues of constituencybuilding, advocacy, public education, restoration, maintenance and stewardship. The Conservancy is a not-for-profit public-private partnership. The organization brings together parks’ neighbors and citizen groups; community, business and institutional leaders; and federal, state and municipal officials to work for the renewal of the Emerald Necklace and its long-term preservation. For more information, visit www.emeraldnecklace.org. ……. Presenting the ideal vantage point from which to enjoy the holiday fireworks spectacular over The Charles River, Top of the Hub is now accepting reservations for its annual Fourth of July dining celebration 52 floors above the Back Bay. The party on Sunday, July 4, begins with a complimentary “Chef’s Hors d’Oeuvres & Cocktail Reception” from 7 to 8 p.m. Then a simulcast of the Boston Pops concert, live from the Hatch Shell, will provide musical accompaniment for a fivecourse dinner, served at 8 p.m. and designed by Executive Chef Mark Porcaro. The night will be capped with a sky-high view of the fireworks at 10:30 p.m. (weather permitting). All guests will also receive a commemorative holiday program book. For information and reservations, please call 617-536-1775. General Manager Raphael Oliver commented, “Fourth of July is always one of the most popular parties of the year for us. What better way to celebrate the holiday than with panoramic views of the city, a great cocktail reception, an extraordinary meal, music from the live Pops concert in the background, and finally a birds-eye view of the fireworks display over The Charles River. It’s a complete evening, and Top of the Hub is the only restaurant in town to have this unique vantage point. I encourage guests to make their reservations early.” One of Boston’s most discerning dining destinations, Top of the Hub has welcomed residents and visitors alike for more than forty years. In addition to being named one of the world’s most romantic dining destinations by The Travel Channel, the restaurant is the proud recipient of multiple Awards of Excellence from both Distinguished Restaurants of North America and Wine Spectator magazine. ……. Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is pleased to announce the return of its successful aria contest for Boston area high school musicians ages 13-17. Up to five finalists will be chosen to perform live “Party in the Park” founder Wendy Shattuck, left, and Susan van der Linde. (Photo by Roger Farrington) for a chance to win a cash prize at BLO’s “Open House” at the Shubert Theatre in Boston on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Joyce Kulhawik, arts and entertainment critic, will return to emcee the popular event. Budding singers and instrumentalists are invited to submit a video by October 5 of their own interpretation of one of 14 pre-selected arias. The contest is designed to showcase the talent of area teens and to reinforce how fun opera can be for any age. BLO’s Aria Contest offers young music lovers a chance to gain valuable performance experience and compete for a cash prize that can help pay for future music studies. Milton student Alexandra Selawsky-Group, who won First Prize at last year’s contest, stated, “It was great to be able to sing in that beautiful-sounding space. I was completely in shock at winning. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.” Julie House, BLO’s Education & Community Programs Manager, noted, “Last year we met many really talented singers and had a great time awarding them with well-deserved prizes to support their interest in opera. This year, we are encouraging creativity in addition to great musicianship, so we added an opportunity for teens to experiment with the popular opera repertoire in a format other than a traditional solo performance.” Visit blo.org/aria_contest for the list of arias and complete guidelines. Enjoy! (Be sure to visit Hilda Morrill’s gardening Web site, www.bostongardens.com. In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, “The Socially Set” is compiled from various other sources such as news and press releases, PRNewswire services, etc.) French Cultural Center President and Executive Director Catheline van den Branden and Gerard Riveron of Dorfman Jewelers at “Party in the Park.” (Photo by Roger Farrington) Page 10 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 ANDREA PALLADIO B 1508 – D 1580 “Renaissance Architect” by James DiPrima Andrea Palladio, is probably bandits. Within these walls Italy’s most renowned archihe provided barns, which, tect. In his book, I Quattro according to his Quattro Libri dell’Architettura (The Libri, were faced to the south Four Books of Architecture) to keep the hay dry, bread he has laid down principles ovens, chicken coops, a facof architectural design that ility for cheese making, have endured well into this press for grapes and quarters century. Palladio was born for servants. He used the Andrea DiPietro della Gonknowledge gained when he dola in Padua in 1508. His visited the temples of Herfather, Paolo della Gondola, cules Victor at Tivoli with its was a miller and his mother, villa and outbuildings. VisitMarta a housewife. His goding the Forum of Augustus, father Vincenzo Grandi was he incorporated the placea sculptor who introduced ments of the curving barns, him to sculpture and at sixfacing south. Like many teen he went to Vicenza to good designers and archiAndrea Palladio live and work. In 1534 he tects he used what was married Allegradonna and had five children. proven to be functional and met the needs Although he was not a painter or a sculptor, presented. he was in fact a stonemason and if it were Italy in the 1500s was not a unified counnot for the writer and nobleman Giangiorgio try and consisted of many city states. The Trissino, who befriended him and gave him economic base was in the countryside while the name Palladio, he probably would have political life was in the cities. In Vicenza remained a stonemason. Trissino was in- Palladio was responsible for three city terested in architecture and although a palaces: the palazzo Thiene, the palazzo novice at it he was instrumental in design- Porta and the palazzo Chiericati. The nobiling his palace and own home in Cricoli, ity constructed palaces to offset those of outside of Vicenza. On his trips to Rome opposing factions thus creating much work with Trissino Palladio he absorbed the build- for Palladio. His own style soon emerges ings architecture and he later wrote in after the palazzo Porto and the palazzo his Quatro Libri I p 5, the buildings were Chiericati where he breaks away from his “worthy of much greater attention than contemporaries and forms his own language I had at first thought.” These impressions for architecture. of the various building designs and deOne of his last commissions was to recretails were to influence him in his later de- ate an ancient Roman theater which he signs of his own buildings and villas. accomplishes in the Teatro Olimpico in Many of his contemporaries including Vicenza. Trissano, Raphael, Bramante and Giuliano It was designed for the Vicenza Accademia da Sangalloi, architect to Lorenzo de’ Medici Olimpica for stage performances. The were a huge influence on him when he was following is a very good description of it. in his thirties. Palladio soon began to receive commissions for villas and palaces more than any other of his contemporaries. This could probably be attributed to his realization that for each house it was not necessary to determine how tall and wide a door or window should be or how stairs should be formed. He thus set about coming up with a set of standards that he employed in the architecture design of his houses and villas. Palladio’s Villa Rotonda, Vicenza, Italy (Photo by James DiPrima) The floor plan of Palladio’s many villas provided for a division of suites of rooms each with shapes that were different in size. His work around 1542 reflected his visits to Rome and showed up in his high barrel vaulted ceilings and cross vaulted halls with ample space in the loggia, a place to eat, talk, play or listen to music. In many country homes, he designed, the kitchen, store rooms, laundry room and cellars were located in the low ground floor. The space under the roof was used to store grain and provided insulation for the rooms below. It certainly can be said that Palladio was way ahead of his time. In his floor layout he placed the rooms according to their usage running horizontally and vertically. The main floor was for used for family and friends while the public rooms were on the central axis and to the left and right were other rooms. When laying out these country villas, Palladio also included walls around the property to provide protection from possible Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico (Photo by James DiPrima) “Inside an exterior brick box, the elaborate wooden theater interior is a half circle of steep tiers of seats (wood covered benches) facing a rectangular proscenium stage. A wooden colonnade with cornice and figures above circles the top of the seats. The ceiling plane is undifferentiated and was later painted blue, suggesting an open sky above the theater. The walls and ceiling of the proscenium are elaborately articulated with architectural details and statues, made of wood and plaster. A central arched opening dominates the back wall, flanked by two smaller doorways. Through these openings, elaborate stage sets of streets angle backstage, a triad through the central opening and single streets through each side. These sets, designed later by Scamozzi, use techniques of tilting the floors and contracting the angle between the street walls and the heights of their building facades to make foreshortened streets in perspective.” As with all of Palladio’s works there magnificence can only be appreciated on a personal visit to Vicenza and Italy. TRUE BLOOD: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (5-DVD) HBO Home Ent. True Blood’s second season returns you to Bon Temps, the home to mystery, Southern sensuality and dark secrets. Sookie Stackhouse’s life is more dangerous than ever after she and Bill became more deeply involved. Meanwhile, Tara finds herself in love and under a spell; Sam puts his trust in an unlikely ally; Jason becomes involved with an anti-vampire sect; Eric recruits Sookie to investigate the disappearance of a 2,000-year-old vampire; and Maryann is revealed to possess a power that can control almost everyone in town. Then, after making a shocking discovery, Sookie, Bill, and Sam form the last line of defense against a diabolical plan, raising this award-winning series to bloody new heights. (12 hrs.). YOU REALLY GOT ME — THE STORY OF THE KINKS (DVD) ABC Entertainment You Really Got Me, an informative video that takes the viewer on a musical tour that is told in nine segments. Take a look at the success of this English export, as they made their indelible mark on the music scene. The segments include, “Everybody’s a Dreamer,” “All Day and All of the Night,” “America and Exile,” “Well Respected Man,” and “Muswell Hillbillies.” Additional cuts have, “Sleepwalker,” “Stadium Days,” “Come Dancing,” and the excitement of “Changes.” Segments are in both color and black and white to deliver the story of this iconic group that was a huge part of the British Invasion that swept the United States. (1hr. 27 mins.). SUPERNATURAL: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (4-Blu-Ray-DVD) Warner Home Video The creepy, the demented, the unexplained, the unearthly: Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) grew up hunting such terrifying things. But that’s all past. Law school beckons him. So does safety and normalcy. That is, until Sam’s estranged brother Dean (Jensen Ackles) appears with troubling news: their father has disappeared, a man who’s hunted evil for 22 years. So to find their father, the brothers must hunt what their father hunts … and Sam must return to the life he’d rather leave behind. Hold on tight, as you taste all 22 Season One Episodes of the edgy, hip series that has viewers in its grip and critics enthralled. Confront the Super- natural. Includes “Devil’s Road Map” interactive feature. (15 hrs. 36 mins.). WOLF MOON (DVD) Lionsgate Amy, a small-town girl, meets and falls in love with Dan, a mysterious drifter. Amy learns that Dan possesses a family curse and the unimaginable horror that was passed on to him by his father, Bender. Dan and Amy’s love is put to the test when town locals unite in the ultimate showdown with Bender to eliminate the terror he has brought to their town. Starring Max Ryan, Maria Conchita Alonso, Chris Mulkey, and Sid Haig. (2 hrs. 4 mins.). CAKE BOSS: SEASON 2 (2-DVD) Discovery Communications The delicious and tasty Season Two of Cake Boss is about to enter your kitchen. Featuring big-hearted Buddy Valastro and his even bigger family taking on some truly outrageous challenges. All this is done with a staff that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law. The fourth generation baker and owner of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, also manages over-the-top bridezillas, deals with unreliable suppliers, addresses complaints and drums up new business. It all makes the baking part seem like a piece of cake. (6 hrs. 57 mins.). MY DOGS: AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE STORY (DVD) Docurama Films My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story explores the unique relationship between people and their beloved pets through candid interviews with notable dog lovers. Viewers are offered an intimate glimpse into the lives of these actors and musicians, authors and designers through the aspect of their lives that unites them all: the profound connection they have with their dogs. My Dog captures the remarkable bond between our dogs and us. (50 mins.). HAPPY TEARS (DVD) Lionsgate Jayne (Parker Posey) and Laura (Demi Moore) are about to take on the first man that they just might not be able to handle - their father Joe (Rip Torn). Dutiful daughters returning to their childhood home, Jayne and Laura are forced to take a closer look at their own notso-perfect lives when their dad tests the limits of their patience (and sanity) in this heartwarming comedy about how life may cause you to fall apart, but family can pull you back together. Ellen Barkin portrays their father’s new, sassy “lady friend.” (1 hr. 35 mins.). The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraud and deception. Call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or log on to www.ftc.gov. POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 NOW PLAYING UPTOWN & DOWNTOWN Dance to the 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra, featuring American Idol finalist John Stevens, as they pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and more. For more information please visit musicnotnoise@aol.com or call 617633-5100. DICK’S LAST RESORT Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP - Friday, June 11 John Polino, 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Saturday, June 12 Grab Brothers, 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Sunday, June 13 Tim Nickerson, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Monday, June 14 Tim Nickerson, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday, June 15 Ryan Fitzsimmons, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday, June 16 Nate Watkins, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Thursday, Sunday, June 27 Ryan Fardy, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Monday, June 28 Brian Locher, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday, June 29 Ryan Fitzsimmons, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday, June 30 Nate Watkins, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. For more information about thes performances or general information about Dick’s Last Resort, you may call 617-267-8080. Special Events Some people think big. Some people think huge. And then there’s Meat Loaf. For the past 35 years, the man born Marvin Lee Aday has been a towering monument on the musical landscape. His legendary 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell transformed this former high school football player, nightclub bouncer and stage actor into one of the great American rock ‘n’ roll icons. That record, with its staggering operatic sound and impassioned vocals, has sold more than 43 million albums worldwide - still one of the biggest-selling records ever. Out with a new album, check out Meatloaf on his latest tour. For more information check out Music Section. THEATER REAGLE PLAYERS 617 Lexington St.,Waltham, MA RACHEL YORK appearing in INTO THE WOODS - June 17-27, 2010. The characters (some new and some familiar) set out into the woods on a quest. Act One sees them all pursuing “happily-ever-after” destinies. The musical’s second half explores what happens after “happilyever-after” as the characters confront giants, mayhem, conflict and disenchantment. In the end, they discover that perhaps happiness is simply found in living the tale and turning the pages. Call 781 891 5600 or visit www.reagleplayers.com THE LYRIC STAGE COMPANY OF BOSTON 140 Clarendon St., Boston, MA THE 25 TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE – September 3 – October 2, 2010. Can you spell “centavo?” A quirky cast of characters hope to win the 25 th Annual Spelling Bee in his “effortlessly endearing new musical.” (The New York Times) School-age angst combines with current event improvisation as volunteer audience members join in for some fun competition. “From beginning to end it’s a delight. D-E-L-IG-H-T. Delight.” For more information visit www.lyricstage.com or call 617-585-5678. AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA CABARET - September 2010. Take your seat at the Kit Kat Klub, the perfectly marvelous cabaret where singer Sally Bowles meets writer Cliff Bradshaw. As the two pursue a life of pleasure in Weimar Berlin, the world outside the Klub begins to splinter. Presiding over it all is singer, songwriter, and former Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer as the Kit Kat Klub’s magnetic Emcee, with A.R.T. regulars Book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood; music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, directed by Steven Bogart. For information call 617-547-8300. MUSIC BANK OF AMERICA PAVILION 290 Northern Ave., Boston, MA DONNA SUMMER - August 27, 2010 at 7:30PM. A five-time Grammy winner, Donna Summer was the first artist to win the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (1979, “Hot Stuff”) as well as the first-ever recipient of the Grammy for Best Dance Recording (1997, “Carry On”). In 2004, she became one of the first inductees, as both an Artist Inductee and a Record Inductee (for 1977’s “I Feel Love”) into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in New York City. It is estimated that Donna Summer has sold more than 130 million records. MEATLOAF - July 8, 2010 at 7:30PM. He’s back! “Hang Cool Teddy Bear” is his latest album. It hit the stores in April 2010 and it’s already becoming a hit album. Other upcomings show include the following. STATE RADIO/JOHN BUTLER TRIO- June 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. p.m. FOREIGNER AND STYX WITH SPECIAL GUEST KANSAS June 20, 2010 at 7:00. RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND -June 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. CHICAGO AND THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - July 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. SQUEEZE/CHEAP TRICK - July 14, 2010 at 7:30p.m. CHRIS ISAACK - July 17, 2010. For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.For all Live Nation events log onto www.livenation.com HOUSE OF BLUES BOSTON 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA CYNDI LAUPER Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 7:00PM. The genesis of Bring Ya To The Brink, a title culled from the lyrics of the percussive standout jam “Lyfe,” lies within Cyndi’s unique, often sharp-edged observations of the world. Log onto www.houseofblues.com/tickets or call 888-693-BLUE (2583). BOSTON SYMPHONY HALL 301 Mass. Avenue, Boston, MA JOÃO GILBERTO – Friday, June 25th at 8 PM. HT Productions and New Festival Productions, LLC will present An Evening with Brazil’s Legendary, Grammy Award-winning, singer and guitarist João Gilberto. He is credited with having created the bossa nova beat and is known as the “Father of Bossa Nova.” His seminal recordings, including many songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, established the new musical genre in the late 1950s. For more information please visit www.bso.org or call 888266-1200. RAFFAEL’S HULL Clarion Nantasket Beach Hotel, Hull, MA RON DELLA CHIESA STRICKTLY SINATRA – Friday, June 25 at 8 PM. THE BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA SUMMER IN THE CITY ENTERTAINMENT SERIES - Enjoy the fabulous harbor views while enjoying free live musical entertainment every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening throughout the summer. On Fridays, guests are invited to enjoy a classic movie projected on a large movie screen over the harbor. The hotel is pleased to offer these evenings free of charge to the general public. Summer Soul takes place every Tuesday evening from June 22 through August 31, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Guests can sway to soulful sounds as the hotel hosts various R&B and soul bands. June 22 World Premier Band, June 29 Ray Greene and the Innervisions, July 6 Soul Sound Revue, July 13 World Premier Band, July 20 Ray Greene & the Innervisions, July 27 Soul Sound Revue, August 3 Felix Brown Band, August 10 World Premier Band, August 17 Ray Greene & the Innvervisions, August 24 Soul Sound Revue, August 31 World premier Band. From 6:00 to 10:00 each Wednesday evening, Timeless Tunes features classic musical entertainment of various decades – ranging from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. June 23 Joey Scott & the Connection, June 30 Mystique, July 7 Manhattan Touch, July 14 Rare Form, July 21 Decades by Dezyne, July 28 Joey Scott & the Connection, August 4 Mystique, August 11 Stardust, August 18 Rare Form, August 25 Decades by Dezyne, September 1 Joey Scott & the Connection, A floating stage anchored behind the Boston Harbor Hotel provides the setting for some of the hottest local and national blues artists. Blues Barge features performances every Thursday evening from 6:00 to 10:00 beginning June 17. June 17 Toni Lynn Washington, June 24 James Montgomery Band, July 1 Jeff Pitchell July 8 Bruce Marshall Group, July 15 Toni Lynn Washington, July 22 James Montgomery Band, July 29 Jeff Pitchell, August 5 Racky Thomas Band, August 12 Bruce Marshall Group, August 19 James Montgomery Band, August 26 Toni Lynn Washington, September 2 Jeff Pitchell. Movies by Moonlight offers guests a chance to revisit Hollywood’s silver screen and modern classics. The 2010 series begins with a showing on June 18th and continues every Friday evening through September 3. Movies begin at dusk. June 25 Driving Miss Daisy (1989), July 2 Wizard of Oz (1939), July 9 Moonstruck (1987), July 16 Maltese Falcon (1941), July 23 An Affair to Remember (1937), July 30 Field of Dreams (1989), August 6 Some Like it Hot (1959), August 13 Tootsie (1982), August 20 All the President’s Men (1976), August 27 The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), September 3 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Movies and performances are subject to change, weather permitting. For more info visit www.bhh.com. LUCKY STRICKES LANES 145 IPSWICH ST., BOSTON, MA 4 TH ANNUAL BECKETT BOWL July 29, 2010 at 6:00PM. Boston Red Sox All-Star pitcher Josh Beckett will throw strikes of a different kind on July 29, when he hangs up his cleats and ties on a pair of bowling shoes at the 4 th annual Beckett Bowl presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino, a Page 11 star-studded bowling tournament. All proceeds benefit the Josh Beckett Foundation and Children’s Hospital Boston. Festivities will conclude with a concert by country music sensation Jason Aldean at the Absolut Beckett Bowl Concert presented by MGM Grand at Foxwoods at the House of Blues Boston. About The Josh Beckett Foundation The Josh Beckett Foundation is a charitable organization established in 2007 by Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett to support community-based programs that strive to improve the health and wellbeing of children, especially children that are seriously ill, disabled, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged. The Foundation provides Beckett with an opportunity to have a direct and permanent impact on the lives of children throughout New England and in his hometown of Spring, Texas. Since its inception in 2007, Beckett Bowl has raised more than $750,000 for the Josh Beckett Foundation and Children’s Hospital. For more information www.luckystrikeboston.com ARTS WORCESTER ART MUSEUM 55 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA EXHIBITION: WHAT MATTERS – Now through August 22, 2010 from 11:00AM-5:00PM. This exhibition features contemporary works between 1988 and 2009 by a roster of leading artists including: Claire Barclay, Willie Cole, Taylor Davis, Melvin Edwards, Heide Fasnacht, Tony Feher, Jim Lambie, Jodie Manasevit, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Doris Salcedo, Yinka Shonibare and Andrew Witkin. For information log onto www.worcesterart.com or call 508-799-4406. MIT LIST VISUAL ARTS CENTER Wiesner Building, E15-109, 20 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA ORTHOSTATIC TOLERANCE – It May Not Be Such a Bad Idea if I Never Went Home. Now through July 11, 2010. This exhibition is part of an ongoing project by Bahamianborn, New York-based Tavares Strachan, who has been exploring space and deep-sea training in this multiphase body of work since 2006. The solo exhibition will feature draw- ings, photographs, video works, sculpture, and installations as well as new works that were developed during Stachan’s recent residency at MIT. For more information please visit www.listart.mit.edu PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM East India Square, Salem, MA THE KENNEDY’S PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY – Now through July 18, 2010. An intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the legendary first family through the lens of acclaimed photographer Richard Avedon. View photos of the intimate as well as high profile moments of the John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy’s iconic family. For more information about this exhibit, log onto www.pem.org MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS 465 Huntington Ave.,Boston, MA HARRY CALLAHAN, AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER – Now through July 3, 2010. This exhibition features intimate portraits, scenes of Urban Life and the Natural Landscape. There are a collection of approximately 40 photographs that survey the major visual themes of this artist’s career. CAFÉ AND CABARET: TOULOUSE-LAUTREC’S PARIS Now through August 8, 2010. The French aristocrat Henri de ToulouseLautrec (1864-1901), one of the most innovative artists of the late nineteenth century, is known for his bold and subtle images of performers in the centers of Parisian entertainment in the 1880s and 1890s: the café-concerts and cabaret nightclubs in the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre. Despite his short life, Toulouse-Lautrec was enormously productive and succeeded in developing a style uniquely suited to the celebrity culture of this raffish district. This exhibition features posters, prints, and paintings of café, cabaret, and other urban amusements. NICHOLAS NIXON: FAMILY ALBUM - Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Sunday, May 1, 2011. Among the most compelling of Nicholas Nixon’s series of photographs are the portraits that he has made of his close-knit family. These photographs, taken over time, explore the nature of long-committed relationships. For more info call 617-369-3445 or visit www.mfa.org. ITALIAN EVENTS & PROGRAMS ITALIAN RADIO “The Sicilian Corner” 11:00AM to 1:00PM every Friday with host Tom Zappala and Mike Lomazzo and “The Italian Show” w/Nunzio DiMarca every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM www.1110wccmam.com “Italia Oggi” (Italy Today) Sundays 1PM to 2PM with host Andrea Urdi 1460 AM www.1460WXBR.com “Dolce Vita Radio” DJ Rocco Mesiti 11AM-1PM Sundays 90.7 FM or online www.djrocco.com “The Nick Franciosa Show” Every Sunday at 12 Noon to 3PM on radio stations WLYN 1360 AM and WAZN 1470 AM. “Guido Oliva Italian Hour” 8AM - 9AM every Sunday on WSRO 650AM in Framingham and online at www.wsro.com. “Don Giovanni Show” Saturday mornings from 6AM-8AM and Sunday evenings 5PM-7PM on 950 AM WROL. www.dongiovannishow.com. CITI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SHUBERT THEATRE 270 Tremont Street, Boston, MA Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma June 13, 2010 at 8:00pm. The Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma – sponsored by the Fondazione Roma, brings their tour in the US. The tour will be held under the aegis of UN and FAO, two of the most important international institutions, both committed to peace and security and to the fight against hunger and poverty.” Conductor Francesco LaVecchia Conductor. Call 617-482-9393 or log onto www.citicenter.org/theatres/ shubert/ REGATTABAR AT THE CHARLES HOTEL One Bennett St., Cambridge, MA CARMEN CONSOLI - June 18, 2010 at 7:30PM. After an absence of three years comes Carmen’s new studio album “Elettra” (Electra) which, as the title implies, is centered on women - all angles and aspects of the female universe. Elettra/Electra is a powerfully symbolic figure from Greek mythology (the one who avenged her father by conniving with her brother Orestes to kill their mother and their mother’s lover) with all the psychology that lies behind it. It’s an album about Love, … and its complexes, love for one’s father, passionate love, incestuous love, love for sale etc etc. But it is also a way of denouncing the political strife that rules Italy getting more and more like a Greek tragedy every day, says Carmen! For further information and for tickets prices please call 617-395-7757 or log onto www.regattabarjazz.com. SPINELLI’S FUNCTION FACILITY Route One South, Lynnfield, MA FESTA DELL’ARMA DEI CARABINIERI 7TH ANNUAL DINNER GALA - Saturday, June 19, 2010 Associazione Nazionale Carabinieri Sezione Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa Nei Secoli Fedele presents and evening of great food and dancing. For ticket information please call Alessandro at 617-455-7590, Angelo 781-396-9427 and Sabatino 617-227-3989. You may also log onto www.assoccarabinieri-boston.com HARVARD FILM ARCHIVE 24 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA VITTORIO DE SICA – NEO-REALISM, MELODRAMA, FANTASY FILMS - June 5 – June 14, 2010. The Harvard Film Archive is pleased to present a series of films by the legendary Italian director Vittorio De Sica: All films are in Italian with English subtitles. MIRACLE IN MILAN (MIRACOLO A MILANO) - Friday, June 11 at 7pm and Sunday June 13 at 9pm. TERMINAL STATION (STAZIONE TERMINI) - Friday, June 11 at 9pm UMBERTO D. - Saturday, June 12 at 7pm. AFTER THE FOX (CACCIA ALLA VOLPE) - Saturday, June 12 at 9pm THE BICYCLE THIEVES (LADRI DI BICICLETTE) - Sunday, June 13 at 7pm. TWO WOMEN (LA CIOCIARA) Monday, June 14 at 7pm. For general information and tickets prices please call 617-495-4700 or log onto http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa Check out the other film series shown at the Harvard Archives. Page 12 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Recipes from the Homeland by Vita Orlando Sinopoli Spitting it out! A report found that 51 New York City bus drivers each took off an average of more than two paid months last year to recover from the emotional trauma of being spat on by passengers. Well, as far as we know, Boston bus drivers are never spat on. But many do enjoy being kissed by some female passengers. Cashing-in! Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s 19-year-old daughter, who is now charging from $15,000 to $30,000 to tell teens why they should practice abstinence, so they don’t become unwed mothers like her. News from Poland: Nicolaus Copernicus, the 16th century astronomer who was posthumously branded a heretic by the Vatican for proclaiming shortly before his death that the sun, not the Earth, was the center of the solar system, he has finally been given a Catholic funeral. Copernicus never achieved fame in his lifetime, and he was buried in an unmarked grave. Recently his bones were identified through DNA testing, and last week he was buried in a tomb in Frombork Cathedral, with a model of the solar system engraved on his tombstone. “Today’s funeral has symbolic value,” said Bishop Jacek Jezierski, “in that it is a gesture of reconciliation between science and faith.” Wow! A Minnesota woman gave birth to her son on the way to the hospital — while she was driving. Amanda McBride, 29, was accompanied by her partner, Joseph Phillips, 33, who can’t drive because of a seizure disorder. After McBride went into labor, the couple sped off to the hospital but failed to make it in time. “She yelled at me to grab the wheel,” said Phillips. “And then all of a sudden, I heard this little “Waaah!” “He just slid out,” said McBride. “It really wasn’t bad at all.” Carlo Scostumato claims all babies look alike — that is, all other people’s babies. Did we ever tell you about when I was born? My father was so excited that he had a baby boy! He asked my mother if he could hold me in his arms and so he picked me up in his arms and said to my mother, “My son has my lips and smile!” My mother responded, “Citrulo! You’re holding the baby upside down.” Depressing news! The teaching profession is usually thought of as recession-proof, but with many state and local governments in severe financial distress, teachers are facing their worst job market since the Depression. More than 150,000 teachers are expected to lose their jobs over the next year. Buckle-up! About 45 million Americans still do not use their seat belts, says the federal government. An average of 38 unbelted people die in traffic accidents every day. The astute Tom Analetto of Medford reminds us, buckling a seat belt takes much less time than a ride in the ambulance. The gracious Rosalie Cunio of Waltham, says, “The reason seat belts are installed in cars is to keep people alive until they make their last payments.” The lovely Mona-Lisa Cappuccio of East Boston thinks more women would use them if the seat belts in cars were covered with mink. Life gets easier later! They don’t call them the golden years for nothing. A recent study by researchers at Stony Brook University found that after age 50, people feel consistently happier, less stressed, and less worried than their counterparts in the full bloom of youth, says Scientific American. That finding emerged from a Gallup survey of 350,000 Americans from all parts of the country. The results showed that happiness and enjoyment declined between ages 20 and 50, but increased steadily after 50. Worry and stress start rising in the 20s, but fall off sharply after age 50. The patterns were similar for men and women, and held regardless of whether a person was employed, married, or had children in the house. Older people may be “more effective at regulating their emotions than younger adults,” says psychiatrist and study author Arthur Stone, or they may simply forget negative experiences more quickly. Whatever the reason, says Stone, “If you were to do a survey and say, ‘How many of you would like to be 25 again?’ you don’t get a lot of takers.” Health scare! Eating red meat may not be as bad for your heart as previously thought, Harvard researchers have found. But what’s cured could ail you: The same study found that regularly eating even small amounts of bacon, hot dogs, and other processed meat can dramatically increase one’s risk of heart disease and diabetes. The findings do not mean that a diet heavy in red meat is healthful; it has been implicated in a higher incidence of colon cancer. But if it’s meat you crave, go with the burger or steak, and skip the bacon and the hot dogs, researcher Dariush Mozaffarian tells The Wall Street Journal. “If once in awhile somebody wants to eat meat, our study suggests steak or other unprocessed cuts aren’t going to increase their heart risk,” he said. More health stuff! Crash diets lead to car crashes! People who are trying to lose weight by cutting back on food are putting themselves in danger on the roads, says a new study. Lack of proper nourishment weakens the body and lowers its blood-sugar level, leading to poor concentration, tiredness and even blackouts, found Austrian researchers. But doctors also warn that getting behind the wheel after a big meal is just as risky-as too much food makes you sleepy! Attention! Attention! There are dangers lurking at beauty counters! Scientists warn that free lipstick, mascara and moisturizer available in department stores can make you seriously ill. Jefferson Medical College researchers in Pennsylvania found that every make-up tester they analyzed was contaminated with the E. coli bug, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Women trying the free cosmetics could also be passing on viruses such as herpes. Experts found bacteria levels peaked on Saturday, the busiest shopping day of the week. This just in! Maternal mortality is down significantly across the globe, according to a new study in The Lancet. Since 1980, the rate at which women die in childbirth has fallen by 40 percent, with major reductions in the world’s most populous nations, India and China. Experts credit better education for women, which correlates with lower pregnancy rates, along with more access to doctors and midwives. “Two decades of concerted campaigning by those dedicated to maternal health is working,” said Lancet editor Richard Horton. Show biz stuff from the noted musicologist Albert Natale. George Clooney travels with a security blanket, says Britain Daily Star. A hotel worker in Honolulu, where Clooney stayed while shooting his latest film, said the actor travels with a particular cashmere throw, and housekeeping staff were briefed as to its proper care and maintenance. “We had to lay it on top of his sheets when we turned down the bed,” says the source. “He obviously can’t sleep without it.” Time for some show business reminiscing with Albert Natale. Harry James could pack ‘em in! One Spring night in 1942, his band drew eight-thousand customers at the Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He packed in 35-thousand fans during that week. Woody Herman once advised Dizzy Gillespie to give up the trumpet and stick to writing. For short periods, Bob Crosby employed the talents of Doris Day, Gloria Dehaven and Kay Starr as vocalists. Kate Jackson, best remembered on TVs “Charlie’s Angels,” began her career on the TV soap “Dark Shadows” as a ghost named Paphene Harridge. And one more time! Jimmy Durante’s famous sign-off “Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!” referred to his first wife, Jeannie Olson. Calabash was the name of a Chicago suburb they both liked. AMERICA IS A BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN NAME COPYRIGHT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ROASTED (BROILED) RED BELL PEPPERS 4 red peppers 1 large garlic clove minced 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt 4 brown paper lunch bags Wash and dry red peppers thoroughly. Place them whole on a broiling tray under the broiler. Broil until the outer skin of pepper begins to darken. Check frequently by removing from oven and turn each pepper as it blackens. It only takes a few minutes for the skin to blacken. If left under broiler too long, the pepper will burn. Continue broiling and turning in this fashion until most of the outer skin of each pepper has blackened though not necessarily the entire pepper. Remove peppers from oven. Put one or two peppers together in a paper lunch bag and close tightly. Because liquid from peppers may seep through bags, place on a cookie sheet. After cooling in paper bag for at least fifteen to thirty minutes, take one bag at a time and place on clean dish. Tear open bag and carefully peel off outer skin of each softened pepper. Gently cut around the stem to remove stem and seeds from the pepper. Cut pepper in half and remove any remaining seeds. Slice pepper into long one-inch strips and set aside in a separate bowl. Liquid will accumulate as pepper strips rest in bowl. Save for marinade. Spread minced garlic over pepper strips in a bowl. Add olive oil and stir thoroughly. Salt to taste. Cover and place in refrigerator or on your counter. Before serving, to enhance flavor, marinate roasted/broiled peppers at least thirty minutes in the garlic, oil and pepper liquids. The peppers can be heated in the microwave if desired. They store well, for a few days, in the refrigerator in a clean jar or plastic container. NOTE: Because they were only available in the summer when I was young, I welcome the opportunity to prepare them often now that peppers can be purchased daily. My family enjoys them with baked chicken, steaks, or chops. Vita can be reached at voswriting@comcast.net • Art and Culture (Continued from Page 7) onto www.italiaunita.org or call 617-561-3201. HARBORARTS OUTDOOR GALLERY Boston Harbor Shipyard, Marginal St., East Boston Organized by HarborArts in partnership with the Urban Arts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Opening Celebration INTERNATIONAL HARBORARTS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION OF LARGESCALE ARTWORK Saturday, June 12, 2-5pm Music provided by Zumix. Refreshments will be available, sponsored by Dough East Boston, Scup’s in the Harbor, La Fogata, El Paisa Restaurante, and Mehak Indian Cuisine. Come and discover art at industrial site of Boston Harbor Shipyard on the Boston HarborWalk at 256 Marginal Street in East Boston! The public is invited to attend the Opening Celebration of the new international HarborArts Outdoor Gallery at Boston Harbor Shipyard, open year-round. Meet the artists who installed over 25 large-scale 2D and 3D artworks throughout the shipyard. HarborArts employs the arts to raise awareness for issues affecting our waterways. Information will be available by the member organizations of the Massachusetts Ocean Coalition and the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership. For additional information please visit the webiste at www.harborarts.net. 1st Generation Italian-American Vita Orlando Sinopoli Shares with us a delightful recollection of her memories as a child growing up in Boston’s “Little Italy” and a collection of Italian family recipes from the homeland. Great as Gifts FROM MY BAKERY PERCH available on AMAZON.COM and in local bookstores — ask for Hard cover #1-4010-9805-3 ISBN Soft Cover #1-4010-9804-5 ISBN POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 Page 13 • News Briefs (Continued from Page 1) In the past, I’ve talked about Babbononno’s fear of cars. The reason was that he preceded the automobile generations. Arriving in this world in 1875, the only means of transportation that didn’t run on rail was something with wheels that was pulled by either a horse or donkey. His sons, my uncles Paul, Nick and Gino, as well as my father, loved cars. They grew up with cars. They learned how to drive cars at young ages, and as soon as they could afford them, they bought cars. The difference in that generation of my family and me was that cars were a means of transportation for them, and for me, a luxury item with all of the creature comforts offered in today’s market. Dad bought a used 1937 Plymouth 2 door sedan when I was born. He kept the car until 1949 when it had high miles on it and was falling apart. He couldn’t even trade it due to its condition and wound up selling it for $75.00 to a young man who planned to use it in a demolition derby. His replacement purchase was a 49 Chevy, bought at Reese Chevrolet in East Boston. I accompanied him when he looked at their floor models and he picked one with a radio, a heater, full sized hub caps, white wall tires, an off-white marbleized steering wheel, some extra exterior chrome, Cello grill guards and a hood ornament with a red plastic insert. This was high end for a Chevy in 1949. Observing all of this as an 11-year-old, I came to the conclusion that a car was something more than just a means of transportation. Dad’s next car was a 54 Chevy Bel Aire four door with similar toys as had the 49. The car was two-toned, with a robin’s egg blue body and a white top. The only option Dad didn’t get was an automatic shift. He didn’t think they had been perfected. The next search for a car came in 1957. He and Uncle Nick both bought Pontiac hard tops; my uncle a two door and Dad a four door. Both had Hydramatic transmissions, power steering, power brakes, hi-fi radios and V8 engines. Dad said no to power windows and seats, claiming they hadn’t been perfected yet. I was surprised he accepted the automatic shift and the two power options I mentioned. When Babbononno heard the price his son and son-in-law paid for the cars, he called them crazy. He told them that with what they paid for the cars, they could have put down payments on houses. I remember him addressing Uncle Nick and my father in front of everyone at dinner one Sunday, “You take-a da money you pay foh i due machine (the two cars), eh you putta da downa paymenta onna tree famiglia houza, you live-a on one-a da floorza eh renta da utha two. Da two renta, dey pay foh da houza.” No one said anything. As time passed, Dad traded his 57 Pontiac for a 1962 Chevy, which was followed by a 66 Cadillac. Then, came a 1972 Ford and his last car, a 1979 Buick. Each of these had the options that Dad considered “not perfected yet,” power windows, seats, antenna, and an option he never used, air conditioning. Babbononno became relaxed riding in these cars as the creature comforts put him at ease. To prevent him from criticizing his sons and his son-in-law about the prices paid for each new car, when he asked the price, Uncle Nick or my father would say that they had gotten a bargain and the cars only cost a few hundred dollars. The ladies in the family never said anything about the cars, they just rode in them. As far as they were concerned, they got you from one place to another and that’s all that mattered. The only woman in the family who knew a little about cars was Aunt Ninna, Uncle Gino’s wife. Babbononno and my mother used to say that Ninna drove like a man. I guess this was due to the fact that they knew nothing about cars and never drove. I guess I acquired my love for cars watching Uncle Nick and my father care for their cars, washing, waxing them and then vacuuming out the insides, after which, they would hang an air refresher from the rear view mirror to kill the smell of smoke. When it came time for me to buy my first car, it was at a point in time when I was in college and was playing music. I joined up with a couple of band leaders and needed my own transportation to play on weekends. Dad had a mechanic friend in Malden who sold me a 54 Chevy that he had done over from bumper to bumper; motor job, transmission rebuild, new tires, new paint and seat covers. I — FOR YOU WHO APPRECIATE THE FINEST — THE Johnny Christy Orchestra MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS 781-648-5678 was on my way to fame and fortune. I finished college owning that car and continued driving it after I started teaching. One day, a friend who was riding in the back seat attempted to climb out and wound up standing on the muffler. I pulled the rubber floor mat up and noticed that there was no floor. The car was rusting away and it was time for another car. The father of one of my students sold Fords and I went to see him, hoping I could get a deal. He sold me a 1958 Thunderbird. The car was three years old but had very little mileage. I brought my bass violin with me to see if it could fit. That 58 Tbird was the first of the four seaters and the bass fit. I bought it. Everyone liked the car even Babbononno who felt comfortable sitting in a bucket seat. I kept the car for two years, all the while planning to buy a convertible as my next car. When a used 1960 Cadillac convertible came my way, I traded the Tbird and rode with the top down from the first warm spring day until it was too cold. In 1966, I traded the Caddy for a Chrysler Imperial convertible which was followed by a 1970 Eldorado, a 1972 Lincoln Mark II, a 1978 Town Car, an 82 Coupe de Ville, an 88 Town Car, a 92 Sedan de Ville, a 98 Sedan de Ville and a 2004 STS, which I now drive. All of them were purchased used, but have all the toys and creature comforts that I like. Like Dad and Uncle Nick before me, I keep my cars well oiled and very clean. I’ve developed a hobby surrounding cars. I have two antique cars (25 years old or older). I own a 1962 Lincoln Continental and a 1966 Thunderbird. My closest friend, Dean Saluti has two British antiques, a 1965 Jaguar and a 1969 MG, and we constantly compare notes about leaky transmissions, faulty carburetors and whatever else is wrong with the old vehicles. If Babbononno or Dad were around today, they would think we were crazy with this type of a hobby, but as I tell people when they ask why, “I don’t drink, I don’t take drugs, I don’t smoke cigarettes, I don’t chase stray women … I need something, so it’s old cars.” Babbononno did enjoy riding in one of my convertibles in his later years. I picked him up for Easter Sunday dinner in 1971, and he made me lower the top and raise the right front seat as high as it would go. With him looking tall, we drove around the corner to where Mass was just ending at his church, and he waived at all of the old ladies exiting the church, yelling, “Buona Pasqua, signore” (Happy Easter, ladies). Toward the end, I guess he really did like my cars. GOD BLESS AMERICA How Long Will We Be an Alien Nation? We live in a nation it seems without a sense of law. We have illegals freely roaming our country and no one in Washington, DC’s ruling class: read Democrat seems to think that matters much. The only reason Arizona did what it did and the only reason the Massachusetts State Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill cracking down on illegal immigrants in our state is due to the fact that our leaders in both the White House and up on Capitol Hill have gone AWOL on the issue of illegal immigration. Our borders are not secure. Arizona sees the problem first hand sharing its border with Mexico. I was insulted that the president of Mexico was allowed to address a joint session of Congress to bad mouth Arizona and the United States and Democrats listening to him stood up and applauded him. Then, Cuba of all places lashes out at the United States for the way we treat illegal Mexicans. This from a country that demands it citizenry to carry government IDs at all times. A country that has the right to arrest you from being in the wrong part of your own country. A country high up the list of human rights violators across the world. Already, protests are being planned in response to the tough new measures passed by our state senators. Democrats are lining up with all their liberal allies as if protecting American citizens somehow is un-American. No nation can just allow immigrants to sneak in and roam at will. America is a democratic republic. The people are the government and the US Constitution are compact with one another. Democrats need to get over this political correctness #%A*. We are a nation of immigrants. Most of us like myself are either children or grandchildren of immigrants. I am not anti-immigrant. However, allowing illegal immigrants to gain status when it comes to government entitlements is very well the beginning of the end of the rule of law. What part of the word “illegal” don’t liberal Democrats get? Finally, getting back to good old President Calderon, what gives him the right to lecture us on U.S. Border Policy? Down in Mexico’s southern border, the Mexicans guard entry like Mexico was Fort Knox. Try sneaking in from Central America and watch what Mexico does to those illegal immigrants? Mexico can’t have it both ways depending on which of their borders you are talking about. Then, there’s the fact that legal and illegal MexicanAmericans send over $20 billion home to families every year. Perhaps, we should follow the money to see why Mexico is not very helpful at the U.S./Mexican border. We don’t need Calderon coming here to trash talk us either before the U.S. Congress or at the Kennedy School of Politics at Harvard University. Blaming Bush for BP Spill? I wondered how long it would take for Democrats up on Capitol Hill to blame the Bush Administration for the Gulf oil disaster. On Tuesday, May 25, US Sen. Chris Dodd was a guest on the “Imus in the Morning” show on the Fox Business Channel. When asked by Imus, if the Obama White House is to blame for the fallout of the spill, Dodd said, “Well, you know, they come into office a year ago with all of this. And so, after the last eight years ... Then, Imus interrupted him for apparently running astray. On the first Friday of the BP spill, the St. Petersburg Times editorialized, “President Obama met U2’s Bono in the Oval Office on Friday when he should have been headed to the Gulf Coast.” Also, while the oil was washing up in the Louisiana marshes, he was out at a fundraiser for the re-election of US Sen. Barbara Boxer in California. As Investor’s Business Daily editorialized on March 28, “This is on President Obama’s watch. He and his administration should man up and put a sign on the desk in the Oval Office reading: The slick stops here.” Democrats blaming Bush are barking up the wrong tree as usual. Nightmare on Bowdoin Street On Sunday, May 30, a 14year-old boy was gunned down in Dorchester near where he lived. According to news reports, he died in a hail of gunfire executive style. Back on May 8, another 14-year-old was shot dead on a Roxbury project basketball court. On Sunday, May 30, a 17-yearold was stabbed to death in Mattapan. The father of the Dorchester youth said, “It’s like a nightmare come true,” However, these acts of violence are no nightmares. It is real. You don’t wake up from them. Rev. Shaun Harrison from Charles Street AME Church in Roxbury told the news media, “It’s open season on kids ... It’s not a police problem. It’s a community problem.” He also believes things will only get worse with more teens unemployed thanks to cuts in the city’s youth jobs program. Rev. Bruce Wall of Global Ministries Christian Church believes, “We are in a state of emergency in Boston.” He also hopes that the mayor will address the “crisis” of violence. Mayor Tom Menino for his part still has insisted that crime remains low and blames gun violence on illegal weapons brought into Boston. The mayor states, “It’s not out of control, no, but it’s a serious situation.” Rev. Wall believes, it is not asking too much for parents to let their kids ride bikes or play basketball without getting killed. I believe, as does Rev. Wall, that there are neighborhoods within the city that are in a state of emergency and it is time for the mayor to recognize this fact because the longer we play pretend the more young people will die on our streets. The clock keeps ticking away, tick-tock, tick-tock. Page 14 POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 The Bilingual Orazio Buttafuoco LO SAPEVATE CHE … La lingua di Cicerone non e’ morta, come ci insegna Parigi. Due volte al mese gli amanti del Latino si incontrano per praticare la lingua degli antichi Romani, naturalmente nel quartiere Latino della capitale francese vicino alla Sorbona. Sono studenti ed intellettuali, ma anche impiegati e ferrovieri, avvocati, registi di teatro, professori e medici. Non occorrono diplomi. C’e’ una sola regola: sapersi esprimere, bene o male, nella lingua di Cesare. In queste riunioni, sui generis, il francese e’ del tutto bandito. I partecipanti si stringono la mano scambiandosi un ‘ave’ nella maniera degli antichi Romani. Si e’ liberi di parlare di filosofia, di poesia e di scienza. Ovviamente tutto avviene in Latino. Quando e’ necessario si inventano nuove parole. Per esempio, il ‘computer diventa il ‘computatrum’, dal verbo latino ‘computare’. In Francia queste riunioni sono organizzate dal “Circulus Latinus Lutetiensis” (il circolo latino di Lutetia, l’antico nome di Parigi). Esiste anche un sito internet: www.circulus.fr., che e’ pure in latino. Si possono trovare anche le date dei prossimi incontri. Il ‘circulus’ e’ nato nel 2003 ed il suo fondatore, Daniel Blanchard, 33 anni, non e’ nemmeno un latinista ma un cantante lirico di professione, ma con la passione per l’antica lingua. Aveva voglia di parlare latino, ma nessun circolo specializzato esisteva a Parigi allora, diversamente da altre citta’ europee. Cosi’ la nuova idea, nata 20 anni orsono, incomincio’ subito ad atttirare alcune persone, poi sempre di piu’, grazie all’apertura del sito web. DID YOU KNOW THAT … Cicero’s language isn’t dead, as Paris tells us. Twice a month the lovers of Latin gather in order to practice the language of ancient Romans, of course in Paris’ Latin Quarter, near the ‘Sorbonne. They are students and intellectuals but also employees and Rairoad personnel, lawyers, theatre directors, professors and doctors. A degree is not necessary in order to participate. However, there is only one rule: One must express himself/herself, good or bad, in Caesar’s language. At these “sui generis” gatherings, French language is “banned.” The participants shake hands, greeting each other with an “Ave,” as ancient Romans used to do. There is freedom to discuss philosophy, poetry and science. Of course all takes place in the Latin language. When necessary, new “computatrum,” from the Latin verb “computare.” These gatherings in France are organized by the club “Circulus Latinus Lutetiensis,” the Latin Club of Lutetia, Paris’ ancient name. There is also a web site: www.circulus.fr which is also in Latin! The next meeting dates can be found in it. The “circulus” was born in the year 2003, and its founder, Daniel Blanchard, 33, isn’t a Latinist, but a professional opera singer with a passion for the ancient language. He wanted to speak in Latin but a specialized club did not exist in Paris, unlike other European cities. The new idea, born 20 years ago, immediately began to attract a few people, then increasingly more, thanks to the introduction of the web-site. Fully Insured Lic #017936 Heating & Air Conditioning Sales, Service & Installation Ken Shallow 617.593.6211 kenskjs@aol.com LEGAL NOTICE Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Suffolk Probate and Family Court 24 New Chardon Street P.O. Box 9667 Boston, MA 02114 Docket No. SU10P1180EA In the Estate of PHILIP S. RUGNETTA Late of BOSTON, MA 02113 Date of Death October 21, 2009 NOTICE OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, a petition has been presented requesting that PHYLLIS RUGNETTA of Boston, MA or some other suitable person be appointed administrarix of said estate to serve Without Surety. IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON JULY 8, 2010. WITNESS, HON. JOHN M. SMOOT, First Justice of this Court. Date: June 2, 2010 Richard Iannella, Register of Probate Run date: 6/11/10 TO TALK OF MANY THINGS of shoes and ships and sealing wax of cabbages and kings Corner by The time has come, the walrus said, ATTENTION ATT ORNEYS TTORNEYS The POST-GAZETTE newspaper is a paper of general circulation. We are qualified to accept legal notices from any court in each town that we serve. LEGAL NOTICES For information on placing a Legal Notice in the POST-GAZETTE, please call (617) 227-8929; or mail notice to: POST-GAZETTE P.O. BOX 135 BOSTON, MA 02113 Attn: Legal Notices by Sal Giarratani BOBBY G NEVER WHINES ABOUT HIS WINE My cousin Bobby Giarratani of Winthrop via Beachmont better known as Bobby G to his friends. Isn’t this always the case with an Italian guy with one of those long last names? He’s in the wine business. He’s a well-known wine sales guy in the North End where his father Sal Giarratani (the other Sal) grew up at 89 Prince Street. I bumped into Bobby as he walked passed the Post-Gazette office. He was making the rounds of North End restaurants where everyone knows his name. I am always aware of how Irish I can look standing next to his golden Italian complexion, which I don’t have. We’re both lucky to have good Giarratani hair. You can’t stop getting older and you have to thank God for great hair. NEWS CONCERNING 47 PRESCOTT STREET The City’s Department of Neighborhood Development has recently purchased a building in Eagle Hill East Boston at 47 Prescott Street directly from a bank servicer after foreclosure. The city agency is preparing to issue a Request for Proposals seeking proposals to redevelop the property for residential use with a priority for owner-occupied ownership with opportunities for rental occupancy. The City of Boston under Mayor Menino has convened The Foreclosure Intervention Team to address foreclosure issues harming neighborhoods. The RFPs will be available this month and due back in early July. For more info call City Hall at 617-635-0353. CONSALVO COOKOUT JUNE 24 City Councilor Rob Consalvo will be once again holding the Consalvo Family Cookout on June 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Sunset Bocce Club on Danny Road in Readville. My father from the North End worked for the WPA during the Depression and would travel daily over to the country as he called it in Readville, to build the railroad bridge and construct sidewalks. He said many North Enders often moved to Readville from the North End just to see the country. For more info on the cookout, go to www.robconsalvo.com. GIANT EAST BOSTON FLEA MARKET The Salesian Boys & Girls Club on Byron Street will be holding a Flea Market on Saturday, June 26 from 8AM until 6PM. Tables purchased will benefit the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. Tables are limited, so hurry. For more info, contact my sister-inlaw, Renee at 617-567-6626. RELAY FOR LIFE OF EAST BOSTON The Relay for Life of East Boston is scheduled for June 18-19, 2010 at East Boston Stadium. For more information log onto www.main.acsevents.org. SAIL BOSTON SAILING BACK JUNE 19 Sail Boston and Conventures Inc. are reLaunching the Boston Harbor Parade of Lights after an 8 year absence. An event is scheduled with more than 30 large boats for June 19 from 8:30 to 1:00 pm. The parade will start at Castle Island, head for East Boston, turn at the Charlestown Navy Yard and pass the North End on the way to Long Wharf ending at the Boston Fish Pier. Castle Island, Fan Pier and the Seaport World Trade Center will be the best, viewing spots to watch all the vessels pass by. The Juan Sebastian de Elcano from the Spanish Navy will be docked at the World Trade Center. IS CASINO COMING TO EASTIE? Both House Speaker Bob DeLeo and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have expressed support for the Suffolk Downs site. With the Suffolk Downs Racetrack partnering with once rivals Wonderland Greyhound Park, is Orients Heights about to get a resort style casino? Keep watching this story because it promises to be a big story. HOLY NAME SWINGS INTO ACTION On Friday, May 14, I was in the auditorium of Holy Name School in West Roxbury or an afternoon of swing music. Students decked out in fancy retro clothes made their way to the center of the hall to show off their fancy footwork as well. Their dance routines were great as parents and friends watched the acts intensely. This dance date was part of Holy Name’s Socially Fit program which combines physical fitness with social activities. The kids performed the Cha-Cha, the Tango and the Lindy Hop. My nephew Jacob Schafer took part in the Lindy Hop dance number all dressed up like somebody during Prohibition, soft hat, sun glasses and all. He and his classmates learned the Lindy Hop was named after Charles Lindbergh and the hop he did across the Atlantic in 1927. ALLSTON LANDMARK REPLACED BY NORTH END LANDMARK Boston’s most famous pizza parlor, the Regina Pizzeria from the North End will soon be serving in Allston according to Anthony Buccieri, chief operating officer for the Regina chain. The newest restaurant will open up at the long time neighborhood favorite, the Sports Depot. Said Buccieri, “We think this location is a great one for Regina ... We’re excited to bring a family friendly restaurant to Allston.” The Allston Regina is hoping to open by mid-September. EAST BOSTON PICK FOR COUNCILOR TOBIN’S OFFICE Recently, Boston City Councilor John Tobin announced the addition of Legislative Aide Dave Halbert of East Boston. He will handle constituent services for Jamaica Plain. Most recently, Halbert worked as Chief of Staff for Councilor At Large Sam Yoon back in 2009. Good luck, Dave! TERRIBLE INTERSECTIONS We all know horrible intersections where you take your life into your own hands. Whether driving or walking. Doesn’t matter much. My pick for the worse is still the intersection of Brookline Avenue and the Riverway over by the Longwood Medical Area. Next, the intersection of Neptune Road and Bennington Street in East Boston. Thirdly, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street by the BMC Trauma Unit. If you can think of any others, e-mail to postgazette@aol.com. MADE IN NEW JERSEY FLAGS? Nothing makes me more upset then to look for an American flag and find that they’re all marked “Made in China.” That would be okay if I were looking for a Chinese flag but I’m not. I believe there’s one American flag maker down in New Jersey, which at last check is still in the U.S.A. If you look hard enough, you’ll find them at WalMart and CVS Pharmacy. Speaking of patriotism, if any reader knows where to purchase a pair of those “Rocky” red, white and blue running shorts, let me know at postgazette@aol.com. BUNKER HILL DAY PARADE The Bunker Hill Day Parade will be held in Charlestown on Sunday, June 13 th beginning at 12:30PM and travels down Bunker Hill Street. Apprentice Jockey Jorge Fuller Vargas Notches First Career Win at Suffolk Downs Apprentice jockey Jorge Fuller Vargas, son of former New England jockeys Abby Fuller and Jorge Vargas, recorded the first win of his career on Saturday at Suffolk Downs before an appreciative crowd of 6,813. After trailing the field for the first halfmile, Vargas improved position aboard Morgan, a three-year-old filly, before surging past the leaders in deep stretch to post a threelength victory in the day’s third race, a maiden claiming event for three-year-olds and up contested at one mile over the fast main track. Morgan covered the mile in 1:44.46 and paid $11.40, 4.20 and 3.00. “It feels great,” said the 23-year-old Vargas. “It was especially nice to do it at Suffolk Downs.” BOSTON POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 • Boston Water and Sewer (Continued from Page 2) The corrosion or wearing away of these lead-based materials can add lead to tap water, particularly if water sits for a long time in the pipes before use. Therefore, water that has been sitting in household pipes for several hours, such as in the morning, or after returning from work or school, is more likely to contain lead. If high levels of lead are found in drinking water, water may contribute up to 20 percent of a person’s exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with lead-containing water can receive up to 60 percent of their exposure from water. Steps You Can Take to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM — Fresh water is better than stale: If your water has been sitting for several hours, run the water until it is consistently cold - usually about 15-30 seconds – before drinking or cooking with it. This flushes water which may contain lead from the pipes. Use cold, fresh water for cooking and preparing baby formula: Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot tap to make baby formula. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead. Test your home for lead: The only way to determine the level of lead in drinking water at your home is to have the water tested by a state certified laboratory. The cost to test is usually between $10.00 and $50.00. Consider having your paint tested also. A list of labs is available online at www.bwsc.org or you can call the BWSC Lead Hotline at (617) 989-7888. Test your child for lead: Contact your local health department or your local health care provider to find out how you can get your child tested. A blood lead level test is the only way to know if your child is being exposed to lead. For more information, contact DPH at www.mass.gov/dph/ clppp or at (800) 532-9571. Identify if your plumbing fixtures contain lead: New brass faucets or other plumbing fixtures, including those labeled “lead-free,” may contribute lead to drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in tap water, you should consider buying a lowlead or no-lead fixture. Contact NSF (see below) to learn more about lead-free faucets. Consider using a filter: If your water contains lead, you may want to consider using a filter. Make sure the filter you are considering removes lead – not all filters do. Be sure to replace filters in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality. Contact the National Sanitation Foundation at 1-800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for more information on water filters. Also, if you are considering using bottled water, note that it may cost up to 1,000 times more than tap water. Simply flushing your tap, as described above, is usually a cheaper, equally effective alternative. What is Being Done to Control Lead in the Drinking Water? BWSC and MWRA are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The BWSC and MWRA both have an extensive testing program and the MWRA has treated the water to make it less corrosive. BWSC and MWRA are concerned about lead in your drinking water because although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some homes in the City of Boston may have lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). To monitor lead levels, the BWSC and MWRA test tap water in homes that are most likely to have lead. These homes are usually older homes that may have lead service lines or lead solder, and they must be tested after water has been sitting overnight. The EPA rule requires that 90% of these worst case samples must have lead levels below the Action Level of 15 ppb. MWRA treats your water to make it less corrosive, thereby reducing the leaching of lead into drinking water. Starting in 1996, MWRA increased the pH and buffering capacity of the water, and has steadily fine-tuned these levels since corrosion control treatment began. Due to this treatment change, lead levels found in sample tests of tap water in the MWRA service area have dropped over 90% since 1996. The MWRA service area has been below the Lead Action Level since June 2004. The BWSC tap water has sampled below the Lead Action Level since 2007. For More Information Call the BWSC Lead Hotline at 617-989-7888 or visit our website at www.bwsc.org to find out if your property has a private lead service line. The BWSC also has a private lead service line replacement program for eligible homeowners. For more information on reducing lead exposure and the health effects of lead you can consult a variety of sources for additional information: • Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead. • The MWRA (617-242-5323 or www.mwra.com) can provide you with information about your community’s water supply, and a list of local laboratories that have been certified by DEP for testing water quality. • The Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 1-800-532-9571 or the Boston Public Health Commission (617-534-5966 or www.bphc.org) can provide you with information about the health effects of lead and how you can have your child’s blood tested. • The Environmental Protection Agency (800-426LEAD or www.epa.gov/lead) or Department of Environmental Protection (617-2925770 or www.mass.gov/dep/ water/drinking/lead01.htm can provide additional information about lead in drinking water. Page 15 EXTRA Innings by Sal Giarratani Judge OKs Loan for Texas Rangers Think Greece is in trouble? Take a look down in Texas where a judge approved a multi-million dollar Major League Baseball loan to keep the Rangers afloat during bankruptcy proceeding. Many hope this action allows the stalled $575 million sale to happen this summer. Matters could be finalized at a July 9 hearing. “We’re pleased, and (the court dates) allow us to do the things important to us,” said Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, whose group is the team’s prospective buyer. Did You Know That ... 1931 and grew up in Alabama amid segregation. His father taught him to be a survivor and not to get caught up in anger. Mays avoided bitterness and focused on his abilities like his baseball skills. In 1950 a few years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Mays signed with the NY Giants and joined their minor league team in Trenton, NJ. He was the Interstate League’s first black player and was subjected to racial taunts from both fans and opposing players. He followed his father’s advice and ignored the ignorance. His father knew Willie had great talent and would get to the majors and help other black players do likewise. His father taught him to endure struggles and learn from them. His manager Leo Durocher believed in him too. And Willie was no quitter. He bounced back helping the Giants win the 1951 NL pennant and Rookie of the Year honors too. Over the next two decades, he did so well, he was called another Babe Ruth. Mays said, “My father gave me that one thing, positive thinking that allowed me to look past whatever was happening. Sure there was some pain. But if you can overcome your pain and do your job, the pain disappears the next day. That’s where the positive thinking comes in.” He never give up when things were going badly. Over his long career, Mays won two NL MVP awards in 1954 and 1965. He had a lifetime .302 average including 3,283 hits. He hit 660 homeruns and had 1.903 RBis. He also won 12 Gold Gloves playing the outfield. Whatever he did, he always tried being the best. Growing up his baseball heroes were Joe Di Maggio, Stan Musial and Ted Williams. His batting stance belonged to Joltin’ Joe himself. He played 22 seasons and always to win. He finished his career back in New York with the Mets where he started off with the Giants before the team moved to San Francisco. Mays led the Giants to three pennants and helped the Mets win one too in 1973. His most famous moment in baseball was the World Series catch that sparked the Giants sweep over the Cleveland Indians in 1954. It all started in the first World Series game. The score was tied 2-2, the Indians had men on first and second with no outs in the 8 th inning. Vic Wertz stepped up to the plate and drove the ball deep to center. Running full speed with his back to the plate, he made a stunning overthe-shoulder catch. He wheeled around and fired a bullet to second and kept the runner at first. And he made a second great catch in the 10 th inning and the Giants won 5-2 in the bottom of the tenth. The Indians’ manager AI Lopez called Mays’ 8 th inning catch “THE BEST PLAY ANYBODY EVER MADE IN BASEBALL.” Willie Mays, himself, summed up his own career saying, “In baseball, you have to be very disciplined as far as knowing what to do, how to do it and you have to prepare.” Griffey Retires June 2 Ken Griffey Jr., aka “The Kid” is no longer a big leaguer. At age 40, he retired from the Seattle Mariners on June 2, ending one of the weakest careers in recent baseball history. His lifetime average was .284 with 630 homeruns and 1,836 RBIs in a 22 year career spanning three clubs. This season he was but a shadow of himself hitting just .184. Junior was one of the nicest players to play the game. No hint of scandal and no hint of drugs. All his numbers were real and he was like Willie Mays, a natural when it came to his baseball skills. • Mayor’s Column (Continued from Page 1) and more to have 10 thou- and recreational activities, sand teens working this day care, and academic ensummer. We announced richment programs — this week that the Boston across more than 300 workHousing Authority will pro- sites ranging from city devide an additional 100 jobs partments to community to youth who currently live and faith based organizaat BHA developments. Every tions in the Boston area. The job gets us closer to our experience gained through goal and every additional these placements not only effort is appreciated and exposes them to career opneeded. tions, but provides them These programs are not with an enriching experijust about short-term jobs, ence and respect for a job as they allow teens eco- well done. nomic independence and Still, the program is about keep them busy and learn- more than paying wages and ing during the summer providing job experience to months. We have seen that youth. It benefits and supyoung people who are ex- ports the entire community. posed to the world of work do These young people supply a better in school, stay in much needed workforce at a school, graduate and con- time when many commutinue their education after nity organizations have been high school. The majority of forced to cut back hours and youth are placed in jobs services. The additional as counselors, tutors and staffing allows community mentors in nonprofit organi- programs to expand their zations that serve younger services throughout the children — camps, sports summer and continue serv- ing more young children, seniors and others. The recession has affected us all and made it difficult for many Americans to find work, but it has had a significant impact on youth jobs. Last summer, only 33% of U.S. teens found work compared to 52% who were employed in 2000. This has a significant effect on our lower income families, many of whom rely on the additional income the teenagers are able to earn in the summer to assist with household expenses. This is an investment we can’t afford to forsake, even in a tough economy. Boston has a long commitment to summer employment for its young and we continue to use every resource available to find jobs for our youth. We need to continue to work together and make sure our young people have this important life experience. The NY Yankees’ Ironman Lou Gehrig started something really big as Ed Sullivan might have said back in May of 1925. Unbeknownst to the fans at the ballpark, when he batted for Pee Wee Wanninger in the eight inning of that late May game and replaced Wally Pipp at first base, he began his streak of 2,130 consecutive games. He played side by side with the great Babe Ruth and is one of the greatest players ever to play the game. “Say Hey Kid” Was One of the Best Willie Mays was called by many the greatest baseball player in history. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1979 and was chosen to Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team in 1999. Willie Mays born in Page 16 BOSTON POST-GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 2010 CORNER TALK HOOPS and HOCKEY in the HUB by Reinaldo Oliveira, Jr. Local New England Fight Stars Display Their Talent in Worcester on June 24th then We Give You “Pride and Power!” on June 26th at Mohegan Sun 24th New England Star Fighters in Worcester DiBella Entertainment Broadway Boxing is back at Mechanics Hall. Presenting undefeated Super Middleweight Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez 15-0, 11 KO’s of Worcester. He’s fighting tough veteran Gabriel Holquin 25-8, 9 KO’s. In the cofeature you get Junior Welterweight Danny O’Connor 12-0, 3 KO’s of Framingham fights Shamir Reyes 18-6-2, 7 KO’s. There’s more. Junior Lightweight Ryan Kielczewski 7-0, 2 KO’s of Quincy demonstrates his talent as does Heavyweight Rashad Minor at 3-1, 3 KO’s, and Light Heavyweight Isiah Thomas 6-0, 4 KO record. 26 th Star Fighters, fight and give you “Pride and Power!” June 26th at Mohegan Sun. You get WBF AllAmericas Heavyweight Champion Tony “TNT” Grano 17-1-1, 13 KO’s Tony “TNT” Grano (Photo by taking on Horace Reeazon” Emily Harney) “The Grant 15-2, 9 KO’s. All-star boxing, promoted by Classic Entertainment and Sports. Jimmy Burchfield and CES also has New England and EBA Super Bantamweight Champion Mike Oliver. There’s also David Bauza 5-0, 3 KO’s, Rick Dawson and Joe Smith Jr. Check out Joe Smith Jr. He’s looking for his fifth straight first round kayo. Four first round knockouts in his first four fights. He takes care of business. Then Mike Oliver battles, 35-13-2, 23 KO’s former IBF, WBA, IBO and IBA World ChamJoe Smith Jr. pion Mauricio “India (Photo courtesy Boy” Pastrana. Don’t of CES Boxing) forget New York Golden Glove Champion, Light Heavyweight Joe Smith Jr., 4-0, 4 KO’s. He’s a banger. Also displaying his talent is 6-0, 2 KO’s Frankie Trader of Philadelphia. You’ll get “Plenty of Bang!” for your buck. Vincenzo DiGangi owner/publisher of Boston’s North End Magazine (1999 to 2004) says “Tony DeMarco is one of the hardest punchers in Welterweight history.” Stressing that Tony’s one of the hardest punchers pound for pound in boxing history. I concur. Nice communicating with Christine Lewis. She’s made me aware that Micky Ward and screen writer Richie Farrell both will be at the Collins Center in Andover on June 25 th. Do you remember September 28, 1976? How about September 28, 1976 at Yankee Stadium? Okay. How about this one Heavyweights Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton? September 28, 1976 was the date when Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton fought at Yankee Stadium in New York. That was sthe last professional fight at Yankee Rick Dawson (Photo courtesy of CES Boxing) Stadium. Many greats have fought at Yankee Stadium: Joe Louis when he fought Max Schmeling, Rocky Marciano, July 1927, Jack Dempsey fought Jack Sharkey before 77,283 fans. Naming a few. Well, on June 5, 2010 Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto meet and Edwin “La Bomba” battled at the new Rodrigues 15-0, 11 Yankee Stadium. KO’s. Starting history again is great. “Fight sports.” Aren’t they the greatest. It’s like going to college. “Fighting your way to the top.” In boxing you really do “FIGHT!” your way to the top. I believe that more individuals should participate in sports. Especially boxing. Overcoming ones fears. Risking personal defeat for victory. Facing adversity. Fighting on despite obstacles. Think of fighters, who’ve been behind on scorecards. Fighting back, and achieving victory. Like, yo Adrian, I did it. Getting knocked down, “OUCH!” Then getting back up and winning. There is no acceptance of defeat. Fighting for victory. Climbing into a ring is the first part. A gym is part of it. A real fight is another degree. Climbing a ladder is rewarding. An attempt is rewarding. Becoming a contender and winning titles is magnificent. Titles such as: Junior Olympic, AAU, Golden Glove, Diamond Belt, Local, Regional, National, Olympic, World, Military, Collegiate, Amateur, Professional, and All. Congratulations to all who have attempted and taken at least one step in that pathway. Remember? In this corner weighing in at ___ lbs., hearing your name “_____________.” Pat yourself on the back. That’s an accomplishment. Little Nostalgia. I’m looking at a Ring 4 Boston Silver Anniversary program dated April 16, 1972, Bradford Hotel, Boston. They had an all-star lineup of members and guests: General Chairman George Martin, Chaplin Rev. Father Hilary Sullivan, Dr. G Edward Bradley, Albert “Dapper” O’Neil, Samuel Harmon, Russ Kelcourse, Joe Jacobson, World Champions Jack Sharkey, Johnny Wilson, Sal Bartolo, Lou Brouillard, Paul Pender, Tony DeMarco. Dick Honeyboy Finnegan, Red Chapman, Paul Junior, Honey Melody, Tansey Norton, Joe Heirty, Fred Rich, Andy Martin, Eddie Milson, Jimmy “Duke” McKenna, Charlie Longo, Eddie Erbank, Manny Aronis, Tom McNeeley, Willard Buckless, Eddie Daley, Tansey Norton. Officers were: President Russ Kelcourse, 1 st Vice Johnny Walker, 2 nd Vice Al MacDonald, recording Secretary Jimmy Rogers, Treasurer Frank DeKnight, Finance secretary Jimmy McGinnis, Sergeant at Arms Tansey Norton, Asst. Sgt at Arms Barney Snyder, Auditor Fred Rich, Club Chaplain Jack Beaton, Parliamentarian George H. Martin, Board of Directors Joe Heirty, Jack Beaton, Charlie Parker, Eddie Caton. All still remembered for their great work. “Thank You!” President Russ Kelcouse states in his Presidential Message: I read “Boston Author Wins Gold Medal for Boxing Book.” Independent Book Publishers Honor Fight Promoter’s Memoir. A great story on Paige Stover-Hague (She owns Boston-based independent press and publishing consultancy serving the needs of authors, athletes and business professionals seeking to share their story with the world and former boxing promoter Hank Schwartz. More to follow on this great accomplishment. By the way, Arnold Cream was World Heavyweight Champion Jersey Joe Walcott. by Richard Preiss So now we know that there will not be a closeout game in Boston this year. There won’t be a wild celebration on Causeway Street or partying until dawn. For if the Celtics are to win the 2010 NBA Championship they will have to win at least one — and possibly two — games back in Los Angeles. That scenario became a fact following the C’s 91-84 loss to the Lakers in game 3 of the Finals on June 8 at the Garden. By losing game 3 the Green negated the possibility of winning a second championship at home with the contemporary Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. They may still win but if they do it will be some 3,000 miles and several time zones removed from home. And now that the C’s will have to return to L.A. If they are to win, the Finals format of 2-3-2 is being called into question by some members of the Fourth Estate. If you’ve been reading a good portion of the commentary that’s been published during the NBA Finals, you’ve probably noticed that some media members have voiced criticism over the format that deviates from the 2-2-1-1-1 setup of the first three rounds. Funny, isn’t it, that two years ago, when the Celtics opened with the first two games at home and later returned for game 6 and a potential game 7 at the Garden nary a word was offered in opposition. But this year, when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s different. You see, now that the Celtics have to return to L.A. for a game 6 and possibly a game 7 in order to win — well, that just isn’t right, according to some. The feeling by some is that the team with the better regular season record earned the right to host a possible game 7, not games 6 and 7 and that hosting the final two contests in a consecutive manner gives one team an overwhelming edge. They will point out that no team needing to win both games 6 and 7 on the road has ever done so since the present format was adopted in 1985. But that doesn’t mean those games were not competitive — just that the home team won. A complete demolition — such as the one the Celtics administered to L.A. in game 6 of the 2008 Finals — is unlikely to occur every year. In addition, we would remind everyone that this is the pro game and teams are familiar with playing on the road. Sure, it’s noisy and the home fans attempt to create an atmosphere that will favor their team. But for L.A. that only worked in the first game — and not in the second. I mean, is facing an opposing team on the road all that strange for those playing in the NBA? Consider that half of all regular season games — some 41 in number — are played on the road. It would seem that most teams — especially the two that have made it to the Finals in any given year — must be pretty adept at playing away from their home arena. Otherwise, how were they so successful during the regular season and how did they make it all the way to the NBA Finals? Also, with the middle three games in one location it makes it so much easier and comfortable. Players get proper rest, go home at night or go back to the same hotel for a few days — not just a night or two as they did in the latter stages of the former 2-2-1-1-1 format. Plus it eliminates a lot of time consuming and tiresome travel. Imagine if the Celtics and their media contingent had to fly all the way to L.A. just for game 5 then turn around and fly right back to Boston for game 6. So, we say keep the format the way it is. It must feel good for media and NBA staffers to settle into one location for a week — without having to fly back and forth for individual games. Red Auerbach, who suggested going to 2-3-2 had it right. Let’s keep it that way. L.A.-BOSTON — MORE THAN JUST ONE GAME — Just like the start of the Finals, Boston and L.A. split their 2009-2010 regular season series 1-1, but there was a difference since each game. The arch-rivals have met 181 times since the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to the West Coast prior to the start of the 1960-1961 season. It may surprise fans in the modern era. But L.A. actually trails in those regular season meetings with the Celtics holding a 98-83 edge. Even when you include the time the Lakers played in Minneapolis, the C’s are still on top, holding a 152-120 advantage over the course of 272 games. The teams only play two games during the regular season and the Lakers currently hold a 6-4 edge over those last 10 contests. So, it’s easy to see why younger fans consider L.A. to be the dominant team. Plus, under current coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers have swept the regular season series five times while being broomed by the Green only twice. The Celtics and the Lakers are meeting in the Finals for the 12th time, dating back to 1959 when the Lakers called Minneapolis their home. The Celtics possess an overwhelming lead in these championship series, currently outpacing L.A. 9-2 in championships decided between the two. The Celtics won the first eight Finals matchups against the Lakers, with L.A. being victorious only in 1985 and 1987. Who will win this year? As this is being written, L.A. holds the upper hand. But don’t count the Celtics out.