VOL. 112 - NO. 40 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER 10, 2008 $.30 A COPY Happy Columbus Day GREEN ITALY IN MASSACHUSETTS October 12, 2008 (Observed October 13, 2008) America — Land of Dreamers The year was 1492. A young man from Genoa, Italy, Cristoforo Colombo, was convinced a route to the Far East could be found by sailing West and he wanted a chance to prove it. Many thought he was a dreamer. Luckily he was able to persuade others and turned his dream into a reality. In the years that followed, America became a melting pot for people who, like Columbus, had a dream and were willing to take a chance on what they believed in. The English, the French, the Jews, the Irish, the Italians, and countless others, all came seeking the freedom to make their own decisions and to have the opportunity to make their dreams “Green Italy in Massachusetts” event was held on Tuesday, October 7th at Boston a reality. They wanted the best of both worlds and got it. These Logan International Airport. The exhibition explored the collaborations between Italian people were proud to call themselves Americans and equally proud to hold on to the traditions of their homeland. Where else but in and Massachusetts partners to support the global need for sustainable practices in America would this be possible? our society and environment. Through international partnerships, public and private Five hundred and sixteen years later, we salute the man who institutions organizations work together to develop solutions for tomorrow’s world. It took a chance — Christopher Columbus. A man who was a model was presented by Consulate General of Italy in Boston, Alitalia Airlines, supported by for future explorers to emulate. We are the product of all the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory; Christopher Columbus’ that came before us. Embassy of Italy in the U.S.A and Italian Trade Commission. Massport and Boston We are Americans — the envy of other nations — where oppor- Logan International Airport also collaborated in this event. L-R: Consul General of tunities are boundless for every person. Some call America, the Italy Liborio Stellino, Commissioner for the Environment of the European Commission “Land of Dreamers.” We’re not offended by this. Instead, we’re Mr. Stavros Dimas, The Ambassador of Italy Giovanni Castellaneta, Consul General proud to be able to dream and, like Columbus, make our dreams of Greece Mr. Constantin Orphanides. To learn more about this initiative log onto come true! www.greenitaly.info Columbus Weekend Activities Chief Marshall Banquet Friday, October 10th, 2008 Suffolk Downs at 6:30 p.m. (Tickets not available at the door) CARMEN CONSOLI $10,000.00 Raffle — winner will be drawn at Chief Marshall by Post-Gazette Staff Banquet — 1st Prize $10,000.00, 2nd Prize $3,000.00, 3rd Prize “To look into the future … you must know your past and realize where your roots began.” $2,000.00 Columbus Day Breakfast Sunday, October 12th, 2008 Suffolk — Singer, Songwriter Carmen Consoli Downs 8:30 a.m., sponsored by Richard Fields aware of it, was very pleased. Carmen approaches her Columbus Day Parade Sunday, October 12th, 2008 1:00 p.m. On the East Coast leg of her song-writing with passion Begins at Orient Heights (Bennington Street) through Day “Anello Mancante” US Tour, and force. “It is my personal Square, Chelsea Street to Maverick Square ending in Central Carmen made her second quest to write” … “My writ- Square. Boston appearance. Singing ing quenches that thirst, it For tickets and more information about these events, please some songs in her native is a natural means of ex- call Joe Ruggiero 617-590-3035. Sicilian dialect and even go- pressing my soul,” said Con- ing back three to four centu- soli. Throughout the evening ries ago, it showed the pride a screen displayed iconic she has in her roots. Carmen women throughout history News Briefs wowed the audience with her such as Marilyn Monroe. by Sal Giarratani solo voice, guitar, harmonica Performing with creative and special Sicilian instru- instruments constructed by Ray Flynn mental sets. herself and her father, she She is the most successful quipped with the audience Back on His Two Feet Again female singer-songwriter that she was stopped and As someone who has known Ray Flynn not just Italy has ever produced. Her questioned at JFK Airport, as a politician but as a friend since I was 20 some- Carmen Consoli soft yet feminist style is where security guards ques- thing, I am glad to see him back on his feet and On Thursday, October 2, unique. Her powerful perfor- tioned her different instru- home again. 2008 Carmen Consoli per- mance included tracks from ment created by chains and As a politician in Boston and as ambassador at formed at the world renowned her latest “woman inspired” her mother’s belt. “I had to the Vatican, Flynn has always been real people. Regatta Bar at the Charles album “Eva Contro Eva.” In play the instrument to prove He never forgot where he came from. When he Hotel in Cambridge, MA. It fact a performance of “Eva” that it was an instrument.” was mayor, he always looked out for the people of was a wonderful kick off to was a dedication to the bibli- She joked. Fittingly she sang his city. A regular stand up guy. When he ran for October Italian Heritage cal Eve who was seen, in “Maria Catena” translated to city council, I helped him, when he ended up in Month in Massachusetts, a Carmen’s eye, as a symbol of Maria in Chains. the hospital, I waited for him to come home and concept unaware to Carmen guilt, original sin and a re- When asked how she felt then I called him. Consoli at the time of her minder of how women suf- We talked about how long we’ve been friends performance but when made fered throughout the years. (Continued on Page 5) and what it’s like to lose younger brothers who were far too young to pass away. He has proven that there is life after being a mayor or ambassador. He has his family and Mayor’s Column friends to sustain him. by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston Tracing Ones Past: Last week, Boston Public Schools Su- cilities is difficult to understand, but I’m A Genealogy Workshop perintendent Carol Johnson introduced confident that Dr. Johnson’s proposal will This two part workshop will explore methods the “Pathways to Excellence” plan to ultimately strengthen all of our public for tracing ones’ ancestors for three or more anxious parents, teachers and commu- schools so that we can provide children generations, using web technology. Other ways nity members during a School Commit- with the greatest resources and educa- (Continued on Page 4) tee meeting. For some BPS families, the possibility of closing certain school fa- (Continued on Page 6) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, OCTOBER 10, 2008 AL LUPO A Voice for Us by Sal Giarratani As I read the obituary on he was a Jewish guy from Alan Lupo (Alan Lupo, Winthrop with an Italian chronicler of Boston dies, surname. We laughed over September 30). I think he that. We laughed often. Every HADES, THE PLACE was much more than just year, we communicated with Last week we learned that trance to Hades was on the charged for this service was the pulse of the streets, he each other because his ancient mythology believed far side of a wide river named one obolus (a coin of low was the pulse of Bay State birthday was also my birth- Hades to be the name of a Oceanus or Acheron (both value), and in order that the politics, he was the pulse of day. We were both born un- god, and also the name of a names have been used). ghost might meet this de- working class people, he der the Taurus sign and place. We then examined The burial of the dead was mand, the ancients placed was the pulse of the home- could be pretty bull-headed the legend surrounding Ha- a most solemn duty among that coin under the tongue less and he was the pulse too but always with a smile. des, the god. He was the the ancient Romans. It was of the deceased person. To of the average person worry- I often considered him along brother to Zeus, ruler over incumbent upon anyone this day we are told of the ing about modern life, it’s with another Boston Globe the infernal regions, and who found an unburied body, countless members of skel- effects on the family and he journalist Jeremiah Murphy over the ghosts of the dead. at least to cast earth upon it etons that have been found was the pulse of everything as my writing mentors. I Today, our attention is di- three times. If no funeral with coins that had been Boston. learned how to make read- rected to Hades the place; rites had been performed, placed in their mouths. Lupo in many ways told a ers feel my feelings thanks that mythological world of the the soul of the dead person The entrance to the king- lifetime of stories that made to both of these writers. dead. According to the belief could not be received in dom of Hades was guarded by us think about ourselves They taught me anyone can of the ancients, this world of Hades, but wandered home- a dog named “Cerberus”, a and our relationship with write but are you really say- the dead and the abode of the less upon the earth for one terrible monster with three one another.