DOCSLIB.ORG

SIDE Park Users Howl Over Left-Behind Dog Poop

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SIDE Park Users Howl Over Left-Behind Dog Poop ' "' Who will tell N.O. escapees about closing time? PAGE3 .... _......, •..,ity Newspaper Company ii www.allstonbrightontab.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 Vol. 10, No. 6 ~ 48 Pages filf 3 Sections 75¢ TO OWN A HIT WITH THE LADIES Roller Derby slams its way Katrina into Allston By Audltl Guha STAFF WRITER refugees It's fast and fuiious and it's in Allston. Women zooming circles on four wheels and crashing into each other at the hockey rink on Western Avenue Monday evening are enthusiastic about the new venue and roller derby, a sport once thought passe that's making a comeback in the area. stabbed Wearing shorts, knee and elbow guards, helmets and knee-length socks with stock­ ings or colorful tights, about a dozen Pair thought they were safe seemingly fearless females sped about the rink on their roller skates weaying through orange cones placed around, with an in­ By Auditi Guha ed to serious Wednesday! after­ structor shouting out pointers or words of and Erin Smith noon, by a spokesperson tor Beth encouragement. STAFF WRITERS Israel Deaconess Medical. Center "Nice booty blocking!" cried Shelby hey survived one of the where the victims were treated. Shattered, or Carol Cunningham ofAllston worst natural disasters in Lovell and Vairo are two of TU.S. hi story. A late-night who, like the other teammates has an alias. 150 visiting students from Loy­ The new derby was formed in June by tlip to the Store 24 in Brighton, ola and Tulane Univer. ities of "Sarah Doom" from Cambiidge and however, almost cost them their New Orlean. , attending classes at "lvana Clobber" from Medford. They lives. BC this semester. began practice in Taunton. When they Two Loyola University- stu­ BC administrators notified the found the little-used hockey ri nk in All­ dents who escaped Hurncane families of the two victims ston, they began twice a week practice Katiina and came to Boston Col­ Wednesday morning, Dunn said. here 'on Monday and Thursday evenings, lege recently were stabbed during Cun'ningham said. a Cleveland Circle brawl Found on sidewalk Unlike in-line skating, this is a team Wednesda>, according 10 Boslon AL"uirding to police re 11 .. at spo1t and it's women only, which is what Police. about 1:30 p.111., oftice1. from 'dttla1,1txi many oi' he paitil..iparit". Joe Vairo. 19, Oiiginally from Di strict 14 respond(Xl to Chest11ut Holden, was stabbed in the head. Hill and Englewood avenues ilnd Too cool neck, chest and lower body, while found Yairo lying on the sidewalk Her fou1th month on the team, ..Slamala Marley Lovell, 20, of Oakland, outside 324 Cl1eq11u1 I !ill Ave. Anderson," or Leslie Quattlini of Calif., received a superficial with multiple stab wournh. Brighton, has been skating all her life. So wound on his arm, according to Lovell had been stabbed in his when she heard about a roller derby in the the police repo1t. right arm, had a broken nose and area, she jumped in. STAIT P rOTO BY KEITH E. JACOBSON Yairo's condition improved cuts on his face. police said. Carroll "Shelby Shattered ~ Cunningham of Allston and Leslie "Slamala Anderson" She's glad they can practice in Allston. around 4 a.m. Wednesday said Lovell told police he and Vairo Quattrini of Brighton, right, practice with the Boston Derby Dames league, which Jack Dunn, a spokesman of were arguing with a group of un­ DERBY, page 15 recently mo\ed their practices to Western Avenue. Boston College. known men, when one of the sus­ Vairo's condition was upgrad- STABBING page 14 SIDE Park users howl over left-behind dog poop By Audlti Guha Bad dog owner pie who don't clean up after their Don Lubin suggested residents Jonathan Ralton ·suggested STAFF WRITER oreen Kennedy. heading the pets don't reali1e what a problem police themselves and talk to dog looking at what other city parks About 20 residents attended a di cu. ~ion on dog poop, said peo- this is for others who use the park. owners who don 't. RINGER PARK, page 14 meeting Tuesday to come up" ith solutions for several problems with dogs running loose ac Ringer Park. Say a prayer While poop, leash laws. irre­ sponsible owners and ad. of trashcans have been pointed out before, residents discu. sing i. - sues in four groups came up" ith new issues that need to be added ENTERTAINMENT to the list. These include the definition of a dedicated space for dog : the New start at coffect ways of dispo. ing dog poop; the process of creating a legal space for dogs with a virtual New Rep citywide ban in place; and que - ..,.SEEPAGE33 tions about which space hould be dog-free. ''There's been a lot of ten ion last year over this issue. o we de­ cided to have a community PYCCKOE process," said Juan GonLalez from the Allston-Brighton Com­ IlPHJ\O)l{EHHE munity Development Corp. "'\ e ~SEEPAGE28 really value contlibuting 1ogether to come to a solution." While development corpora­ INSIDE tion leaders had a plan charted out for the evening, only part of the Commentary 10 agenda was finished in the allot­ ted two hours, as group of re i­ Community Notes 31 dents voiced their concern and suggested solutions. Crime 12 No votes were taken on the four issues discussed - dedicat­ STA.FF PHOTO BY KATE FLOCK Destinations 22 ed dog space; feces not cleaned The Crusaders of Fatima lead a procession of the Passlonlst Monastery Tuesday night. The Brighton-based shrine is a popular stop for up; dogs not under owners' con­ local Catholics. Ubrary Notes 27 trol; and dog-free zones. Obituaries 23 MAEL The Finest r-c~iTF~~ -~-F;;; ·-·-: ~ . People 24 (:lllROPR \CTIC m Mortgage Loans Market Analysis! Political Notebook 25 Swiss Watch Repair local knowledge. Authorized Sales & Service BEST OF BOSTON Experienced answers. All Siles & Widths ~21. Many Styles Shawmut Properties 3 8 1 134 Tremont Street • Brighton IA} ALPHA OMEGA Peoples . & Colors DIAMONDS SINCE 1976 Federal Savlng.s Bank , fnmv'ro'ir 'ffhtch '-· l/JtimKJm!.f)mvalul• All AMERICAN ROME AID, INC. Your Neigliborlrood Realtor® Natick Maff 503-655-0700 Allston 229 Nonh Hm<1rd Street Medical Supplies 556 Cambridge St., Brighton --~- -~- I Burlington Mal. 781-272-4016 Brighton 435 Market Street ! Tel. 617-787-2121 P'Ude taJ Ctr .. Boston 617-424-9030 (617) 254-0707 • www.pfsb.com 151 Sutherland Rd. • Brighton (617) 787-8700 ~ www. CZ Harvard Square , Cafltlridge 617-IJ64.1227 /;;iii \lnnb.-r FDIC 617-713-4300 l l .~hawmut.<· 0111 \ Page 2 Allston-Brighton TAB Friday, September 16, 2005 www.allstonbrightontab.com Allston-Brighton History Then Now By William Marchione BRIGHTON ALLSTON HISTOPICAI. SOCIETY Wow, virtually all our contestants thought this was the Brighton High School. But It was really the Harriet Baldwin School. Here we see a 1933 view of the Harriet Baldwin School at 121 Corey Road, corner of Washington Street. The Baldwin School was bullt In 1926 In the then popular Tudor Gothic style. The handsome U-shaped three-story brick and cast stone building was designed by the architectural firm of Fay, Spofford & Thorndike. The school was named fOr Harriet Baldwin, president of the community's Influential Brlghthelmstone Women's Club, and a longtime advocate of public school Improvements. ttarrlet Baldwin was the wife of Judge Henry Baldwin of the Brighton Municipal Court. Boston School We want your news! Key contacts: Committee member Jennie Loltman Barron, a resident of nearby Selklri< Road, was instrumental in bringing this new schoolhouse to her Aberdeen neighborhood. Mrs. Barron became the first full-time Editor . .. • . .. Nick Katz (781 ) 433-8365 Welcome to the Allston-Brighton female judge In the history of Massachusetts, in 1935. She was also an active Baldwin School parent ... ....... .. ... .. .. .... ... .. .. [email protected] TAB! We are eager to serve as a whose three daughters attended the school. Note that the photograph was taken from the vacant lot Reporter . ........... .... Auditi Guha (781 ) 433-8333 opposite the school, on which Covenant House now stands. The Baldwin School lies within the boundaries forum for the community. Please . [email protected] of the recently established Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District. send us calendar listings, social news Editor in chief ... .. .. .. .. Greg Reibman (781) 433-8345 and any other items of community . .. ...... ... .. , ...... .. [email protected] interest. Please mail lhe infonnation Advertising Director .. .... .. Cris Warren (781) 433-8313 Barbara Berry to Nick Katz, editor, Allston- Winners: Advertising sales . .. .... Harriet Steinberg (781) 433-7865 . Brighton TAB, P.O. Box 9112, Real Estate sales ... .. Mark R. Macrelli (781) 433-8204 Needham, MA 02492. You may fax Russian section advertising ... Yuri Tabansky (617) 965-1673 material to (781) 433-8202. Classified/help wanted ... .. : . .. .. .. (800) 624-7355 Next week's contest Our deadline for recieving press Calendar listings. (781) 433-8211 releases is Monday, 5 p.m., prior to Newsroom fax number .. ..•. ..... .. ..... (781) 433-8202 Hint: This Allston apartment lhe next Friday's issue. AUditiGuha Arts/listings fax number . (781) 433-8203 building was one of the most Residents are invited to call us with story fashionable addresses In the To subscribe, call . .... ... ... .. ........ (888) 343-1960 ideas or reaction to our coverage. Please call neighborhood, when it was General TAB number .. .... • .. ....... (781 ) 433-8200 built in 1906. Think you know Allston-Brighton TAB Editor Nick Katz ar Order photo reprints . ... .•.. .. .... .... (866) 746-8603 what this old place was? Send (78 l) 433-8365 or News Reporter Auditi Guha News e-mail ...... .. [email protected] your answer by fax to 781· at (781) 433-8333 with your ideas and Sp.orts .............. .. .. [email protected] 433--8202 or e-mail to allston­ ugge lions.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • United States District Court,D. Massachusetts. CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION, INC., Plaintiff, V
    United States District Court,D. Massachusetts. CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION, INC., Plaintiff, v. Mitt ROMNEY, in his official capacity as Governor of Massachusetts, Douglas I. Foy, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Office for Commonwealth Development and Chairman of the Commonwealth Development Coordinating Council; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; Daniel Grabauskas, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Executive Office of Transportation and Chairman of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; Michael H. Mulhern, in his official capacity as General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority; Matthew J. Amorello, in his official capacity as Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority; John Cogliano, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Highway Department; and, Robert W. Golledge, in his official capacity as Commissioner of The Department of Environmental Protection. Defendants. No. C.A.05-10487 NG. March 20, 2006. Pierce O. Cray, Attorney General's, Office, Boston, for Daniel Grabauskas, Douglas I. Foy, John Cogliano, Mitt Romney, Robert W. Golledge, Defendants. Timothy J. Dacey, III, Goulston & Storrs, PC, Boston, for Matthew J. Amorello, Defendant. Elisabeth M. DeLisle, Foley Hoag LLP, Boston, for The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Michael H. Mulhern, Defendants. David Hadas, Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Boston, for Daniel Grabauskas, Douglas I. Foy, John Cogliano, Mitt Romney, Robert W. Golledge, Defendants. Randall E. Kromm, Foley Hoag LLP, Boston, for The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Michael H. Mulhem, Defendants. William L. Pardee, Attorney General's Office, Boston, for Daniel Grabauskas, Douglas I. Foy, John Cogliano, Mitt Romney, Robert W. Golledge, Defendants. Dean Richlin, Foley Hoag LLP, Boston, for The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Michael H.
    [Show full text]
  • Describe Catch 22 As Doc Daneeka Explains It
    Catch 22 Question Answers Describe Catch 22 as Doc Daneeka explains it. § It is a doctor’s duty to ground anyone who’s crazy. § BUT the doc cannot ground any pilot for reasons of insanity unless the pilot first asks him. § YET if a pilot asks to be grounded because he’s crazy, then he must be sane. Who doesn’t want to fight? § A soldier who doesn’t want to fight is sane (it’s impossible to want to fight). § Therefore, it’s impossible for a soldier to be excused from battle on the grounds of insanity. Describe the growth and expansion of M & M Enterprises. § This brainchild of Milo’s grows from a small operation into an international syndicate. § Within two weeks, Milo convinces Major de Coverley to name him mess officer and put squadron planes at his disposal for transactions and acquisitions. Milo’s ambition § As milo tries to get the best food for his mess hall and as he makes the best deals for the highest profit, his operations expand beyond the local level. § His operation becomes large enough to be considered a syndicate in which everyone supposedly has a share. Syndicate’s Success § Milo’s planes are everywhere. § Milo makes big deals all over the world. § Milo’s status at the head of the syndicate earns him respect-even fame- wherever he goes. § Mayor of Palermo § Assistant governor-general of Malta § Vice-shah of Oran § Caliph of Baghdad § Sheik of Araby Explain the significance of the character’s names. Yossarian § Colonel Cathcart’s reaction to the name suggests the trouble and rebellion we see in the character.
    [Show full text]
  • Arthur Et Manon How Important Is Sport in Boston and at School
    Article : Arthur et Manon How important is sport in Boston and at school ? In American schools, the students finish every day at 2:30 pm because they have trainings. Needham high school proposes a lot of sports, such as dancing, rugby, soccer, football, basketball, baseball… When we went to the high school we could notice the importance of sport by the way they dress. They wear sport outfit every day whereas in France, we wear street outfit. After school not everyone practices sport, they also have artistic and computer science clubs. During their sport class, they also have social and moral activities. They can watch movies, play several games. Above any other sport, football is the most popular in high school. There is a game every Friday night, and some of the team outfit are on sell, like t-shirt, sweaters...They can organize sport events in high school and college. Students can have a grant thanks to sport to enter a great college. In Needham people mostly practice sports to be fit and to avoid overweight. Every school has its own team in every sport and for example at Needham high school sport infrastructures are huge. There is a football field, a baseball one and a gym for several sports. Sport is very important in the American culture and it attracts a lot of media coverage for example in restaurants. We ate at “buffalo wild wings”, there were a lot of televisions with different sports on each one for them. In Boston, there are famous teams, like “The Patriots” (American football), “The Red Sox” (Baseball), “The Celtics” (NBA, Basketball), “The Boston Bruins” (Ice Hockey).
    [Show full text]
  • Composing Digital Community Spaces: Design and Literacy Practices In/Of the Archive
    1 COMPOSING DIGITAL COMMUNITY SPACES: DESIGN AND LITERACY PRACTICES IN/OF THE ARCHIVE A dissertation presented by Kristi Tillene Nadira Girdharry to The Department of English In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of English Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts August, 2016 2 COMPOSING DIGITAL COMMUNITY SPACES: DESIGN AND LITERACY PRACTICES IN/OF THE ARCHIVE by Kristi Tillene Nadira Girdharry ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities of Northeastern University August, 2016 3 ABSTRACT This dissertation offers a case study of Our Marathon: The Boston Bombing Digital Archive & WBUR Oral History Project by exploring the relationships between the creation of the archive, the use of the archive, and the narratives the archive tells on its surface and in its stories. More specifically, it looks at how Our Marathon adheres to/departs from traditional archives through its state as a digital archive, its attempt to both historicize and memorialize an event, and its focus as a community project. This dissertation takes advantage of offering a real-time examination of the digital archive’s role in capturing the artifacts and reflective practices of people affected by the tragic events of the Boston Marathon bombings through a mixed-methods approach; it draws upon primary research, the archive itself, and the researcher’s own participation in designing and building the space. To add to ongoing conversations on digital archives in Rhetoric and Composition scholarship, because of the complicated nature of the term “community” and because of a gap in understanding how these types of digital community sites function in the world, this dissertation aims to open up a conversation on building spaces for public writing and how the sponsors of these spaces impact participation and representation.
    [Show full text]
  • Signs Multi-Year Deal with Beasley Media Group in Boston
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact: Heidi Raphael 239-659-7332 [email protected] 98.5 The Sports Hub Co-host Mike Felger Signs Multi-year Deal with Beasley Media Group in Boston Naples, Florida (January 2, 2018): Beasley Media Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBGI) announces Mike Felger, co-host of the Felger and Mazz show on WBZ-FM/ 98.5 The Sports Hub, has signed a multi-year contract extension to continue to lead the highly rated afternoon drive program and provide compelling content for the highest rated station in the market (M25-54). The show, co-hosted by Tony Massarotti, is fresh off another No. 1 A25-54 and M25-54 finish in the Fall of 2017. This marked the 22nd consecutive quarter the program finished No. 1 with M25-54, a run dating back to the summer of 2012. The duo have been entertaining Boston fans week-days from 2-6pm on the station since 2009. “We are thrilled to have Mike continue entertaining Boston’s loyal and dedicated sports fans,” said company Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Beasley. “I couldn’t be happier to continue what we started here almost nine years ago and keep it going with Beasley Media Group,’’ said Felger “I’m privileged to be surrounded by some of the best people in the business, starting with Tony and including Jim Murray and producers Jimmy Stewart and Billy Lanni. I’d also like to thank Program Director Mike Thomas, Assistant PD Rick Radzik, Vice President/Market Manager Mary Menna and the Beasley family for their support.
    [Show full text]
  • Umass Medicine } Umass Medical School Umass Memorial Health Care
    Annual Report of Donors 2012 UMass Medicine } UMass Medical School UMass Memorial Health Care education care research Everyone can make a difference 012 UMass Medicine Annual Report of Donors Fiscal Year 2012 | July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012 education care research News Highlights . 2 John O’Brien announces retirement . 4 EDUCATION Alumni return and give back through scholarships . 5 Students support local communities . 8 CARE Grateful parents support care by giving back . 10 Enriching community health through a lifetime of philanthropy . 12 RESEARCH Biogen Idec gives major gift to UMass ALS Champion Fund . 14 Working toward targeted treatments for hereditary and other cancers . 16 An eventful year . 18 Our donors . 19 education care research From the Leadership Every year, this report gives us an opportunity to thank and recognize the most important contributors to the success of UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care—you, our donors. And every year, we are struck by your generosity, your kindness and, particularly, your willingness to partner with us in the best way possible: by making a gift. Through the stories in this report, you will see that there is a rich Michael F. Collins, MD variety to our donors, from the energetic teenager who is a fi rst-time Chancellor, University of Massachusetts fundraiser to the steadfast donors who have exhibited a lifetime of Medical School giving and commitment to their community. You will also see that, Senior Vice President for the Health Sciences, whether your gift was the fi rst or one of many, the breadth and University of Massachusetts depth of support demonstrates that everyone can give and that every gift makes a difference.
    [Show full text]
  • "Was Anyone out There Watching Last Night?": the Creation And
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 8-1-2012 "Was Anyone Out There Watching Last Night?": The rC eation and Early History of New England Sport Network, 1980-1989 Tanya Lee Lovejoy Southern Illinois University Carbondale, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Lovejoy, Tanya Lee, ""Was Anyone Out There Watching Last Night?": The rC eation and Early History of New England Sport Network, 1980-1989" (2012). Dissertations. Paper 546. This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “WAS ANYONE OUT THERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT?”: THE CREATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND SPORTS NETWORK, 1980-1989 by Tanya L. Lovejoy B.A., University of Southern Maine, 2001 M.A, San Francisco State University, 2006 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree Department of Mass Communication and Media Arts in the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale August 2012 Copyright by Tanya L. Lovejoy, 2012 All Rights Reserved DISSERTATION APPROVAL “WAS ANYONE OUT THERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT?”: THE CREATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND SPORTS NETWORK, 1980-1989 by Tanya L. Lovejoy A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Mass Communication and Media Arts Approved by: Dr. William Babcock, Chair Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • MTO Debates Kennedy Bill
    --~ ·- Towing Troubles Page3 Bowman Looks Ahead Page9 Sports Awards Page a Vol.1, Number 28 January 14, 1988 - ALLSTON DEALERSHIP PLANNED 'J Volvos for Vatco? By Joe Clements City officials and residents gave mixed reviews this week on a proposal to open a Volvo dealership in North Allston. The business is planned for the former Vatco Industries building on Everett Street, a site some say is inappropriate for that type of use. "It's a very poor location from my standpoint," said District 9 Boston City Councilor Brian McLaughlin. "I don't think it fits in there at all." :'rhe 118,000-square-foot building is owned by Edward Madden, a local real estate developer and owner of a pa~ing company. Madden became embroiled in a controversy this past year with No: th · Allstorrresidents after he paved over a house lot to extend the parking lot for his Lineoln Street office building. ~ . " According to Howard Speicher, an attorney for Madden, Boston Volvo has an option to buy 96,000 square feet of the Vatcoproperty to use for the dealcrship.lf things go smoothly, the company would Of!''" for~c-rvice and parts by June or July, :md have its I sales operation in place by October. The Vatco Industries building on Everett Street, where a Volvo dealership hopes to locate. Derek Szabo photo Continued on page 16 MTO Debates PICKET PET Kennedy Bill By Joe Clements plan that gave developers low-interest loans to construct affordable housing. A tenant's group this week The program provided a loophole for alternated praise with criticism for anyone who took out the 40-year state and federal efforts to retain mortgages, allowing them to pre-pay thousands of affordable housing units, the mortgages after 20 years.
    [Show full text]
  • See That Woman Walk the Street
    SEE THAT WOMAN WALK THE STREET A Novel by Edward McInnis ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to Lynda Connolly for her invaluable assistance in preparing this book. Website, book conversion & publication by Kendrick * * * "You see that woman who walks the street. You see that police on his beat. But when the Lord gets ready, You gotta move." "You Gotta Move" by Mississippi Fred McDowell as sung by The Rolling Stones CHAPTER 1 "I'm dead," the white guy said, walking into my office. The guitar I had been strumming I propped against the wall. "Who put out the contract on you?" I asked. "Mafia?" "No contract. I'm already dead." "Practical joke, right? Who put you up to it? Phoenix Chan? Had to be." "No joke," the guy frowned. "I'm dead. Simple." "My condolences," I said. "Sorry I missed the funeral." "I'm serious. I'm dead. And I want to hire you to find out who killed me." CHAPTER 2 The guy already looked half-dead. Tall, pale, stick-thin, haggard, hollow-eyed, unshaven, disheveled hair, voice a hoarse croak, deep sorrow stamped into his features. Thirty-five or forty. Wearing only torn blue t-shirt and shabby blue jeans and sneakers. "Why do you believe someone killed you?" I asked. "I'm dead, aren't I?" the guy said, indignantly. He was serious. "What's your name?" I asked. "Not sure." "You must be hungry. Let's get a bite. Like Chinese food?" "I never eat," he said. "What's the point? I'm dead." "Have to ask. What makes you think you're dead? You're walking and talking.
    [Show full text]
  • Michael C. Scoggins Joseph Heller's Combat Experiences in Catch-22
    Michael C. Scoggins Joseph Heller’s Combat Experiences in Catch-22 n the forty-one years since the initial publication of Catch-22, Joseph Heller’s best-selling 1961 novel about World War II, the book has been a favorite subject for analysis and commentary, and an enormous bodyI of literary criticism on the work has been published. There have been numerous essays on the novel’s structure, its debt to other works of literature, its humor and logic, its moral and ethical values, and its religious themes and mythical overtones (Nagel 4). However, Heller’s treat- ment of the war itself has received scant attention by most critics. A few writers have compared Catch-22 to other war novels, especially the novels of Ernest Hemingway (Nolan 77-81; Aubrey 1-5), and David M. Craig has written two essays for War, Literature and the Arts demonstrating how Catch-22 incorporated some of Heller’s own combat experiences (Craig “Revisited,” 33-41; Craig “Avignon,” 27-54). But the majority of Heller’s crit- ics have taken the stance that Catch-22 has very little to do with World War II and is in fact not a war novel at all (Kiley and McDonald v; Merrill Joseph Heller, 11). Heller himself consistently minimized the war’s influence on the novel in many of his statements and interviews. For instance, in a 1970 speech in New York City, he told his audience that “Catch-22 is not really about World War II” (Heller “Translating,” 357), and in a 1975 interview he reiterated those sentiments: “As I’ve said, Catch-22 wasn’t really about World War Two.
    [Show full text]
  • Catch‐22 Reading Guide
    Catch‐22 Reading Guide ‘Catch‐22 n. 1. a situation in which a person is frustrated by a paradoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them. 2 a situation in which any move that a person can make will lead to trouble (C20: from the title of a novel (1961) by J. Heller)’ (Collins) Synopsis Joseph Heller began work on Catch-22, the story of a US airman’s attempts to survive the madness of the Second World War, shortly after returning from the conflict himself. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States, Heller had joined the US Air Force in 1942 at the age of nineteen, going on to fly sixty bombing missions against enemy targets over southern Europe. After the war, while working as an advertising copywriter, he spent seven years writing a novel that reflected his experience, and what he saw as the insanity of military life. The book - which was originally titled Catch-18 - tells the story of Captain Joseph Yossarian, a member of a US bomber crew stationed on the Mediterranean island of Pianosa. Yossarian is convinced that the military is trying to get him killed, and that those around him are insane, and he spends the course of book trying to get out of flying any more seemingly suicidal missions. Yossarian is surrounded by a cast of bizarre characters, including Colonel Scheisskopf, who is obsessed with military parades at the expense of just about everything else, the newly promoted Major Major, Major, Major, who spends most of the war trying to hide from his men, and the profiteer Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder, a pure capitalist whose only ambition is to make money out of the war, and who ends up charging a commission on every military engagement.
    [Show full text]
  • WILLIAM STYRON and JOSEPH HELLER William
    r\c». ñ TRAGIC AND COMIC MODES IN TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN LITERATURE: WILLIAM STYRON AND JOSEPH HELLER William Luttrell A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY June 1969 Approved by Doctoral Committee /»í J Adviser Dg$artment of English Graduate School Representative ABSTRACT William Styron and Joseph Heller are important contemporary American writers who can be associated with a certain "climate of opin­ ion" in the twentieth century. The intellectual basis for this climate of opinion is that the world we know today, metaphysically, historical­ ly, scientifically, and socially, is one that does not admit to a secure and stable interpretation. Within such a climate of opinion one hesi­ tates to enumerate metaphysical truths about the universe; one doubts historical eschatology, except perhaps in a diabolical sense; one speaks scientifically in terms of probability and the statistics of randomness rather than absolute order; and one analyzes social problems in terms of specific values in specific situations rather than from an unchanging and absolute frame of reference. Indeed, it is because of a diminishing hope of achieving an absolute or even satisfying control over the world that many have come to live with contingency as a way of life, and have little reason to believe that their partially articulated values rever­ berate much beyond themselves. Through their fictional characters William Styron and Joseph Heller are contemporary observers of this climate of opinion. Styron reveals in his novels a vision of man separated from his familiar values and unable to return to them.
    [Show full text]