VOL. 120 - NO. 27 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 1, 2016 $.35 A COPY Mayor Walsh Visits North End Waterfront HHappy+appy BBirthdayirth+day Amid Controversy + + + by Jeanne Brady AAmericamerica Dozens of protesters for vari- ous causes awaited Mayor + + + + Marty Walsh’s arrival in Chris- + topher Columbus Park Wednes- day morning for his rescheduled coffee klatch with the North + + End/Waterfront neighborhood. But they had to wait their turn, as reporters and cameramen + + followed him into the park to question him about that morn- ing’s news of Timothy Sullivan’s + + indictment. Sullivan, the City’s acting director of intergovern- mental relations, is the second member of Walsh’s young ad- + + ministration to be indicted for allegedly strong-arming the North End residents were pri- going on for months). Mean- Boston Calling music festival marily protesting the planned while, Waterfront residents + + organizers to hire unneeded closing of what they still refer continued their longstanding union laborers by withholding to as the North End Nurs- objections to potential develop- permits. Mayor Walsh gamely ing Home, currently Partners’ ments on Lewis Wharf and the + + answered reporter’s questions Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Harbor Garage site. Signs were as the protesters formed a ring Center, North End, which has carried by all three groups and around the news group with only recently come to light everyone was respectful of each + + their signs. As soon as the re- (where “light” means actually others’ causes and the dozen or porters got their story, unhappy letting residents and families so elected offi cials introduced residents pounced. know what has apparently been by Mayor Walsh when he even- tually addressed the crowd. + + Although rumors had persisted throughout the last week that Walsh would not be answering questions, he did take the time to acknowledge the protest- ers and make statements as to what he knows and what News Briefs is going on with each of the by Sal Giarratani issues represented. Basically, “we’re looking into it” on the nursing home, and “no plans Democrats Occupy Congress have been fi led yet” on the wa- There is nothing sillier than Democrats going theatri- terfront development projects. cal inside the House chambers. The whole act lasted 25 But residents of both areas sent hours. Sounds like Occupy Wall Street wasn’t enough, their messages loud and clear. so the 1 percent in the House occupied themselves. As They will be watching. Daffy Duck might say, “That’s despicable!” (Photos by Jeanne Brady & Sal Giarratani) If I was Speaker Ryan, I would have turned off the lights and shut off the air conditioners, too. There’s nothing like seeing grown-ups acting like college stu- dents holding sit-ins. The only difference is, these were ABCD North End/West End NSC Director supposed to be responsible political leaders. Looking at U.S. Rep. John Lewis sitting on the ground, he probably needed help getting up. He didn’t cross any bridges Responds to North End Nursing Home Closing this time around. Greetings approach to enhance a person’s In Reaction to Public Praying The word respect in Latin quality of life and maintain Recently, riders on the MBTA’s Orange Line went into means to “look at” and it is one’s well-being. The purpose a little panic when they saw two Muslims pull out their with much sadness that I write of the location in the North prayer rugs on the platform at Wellington Station in this letter in response to the End neighborhood was so Medford. I read the comments made by a Muslim Iman news of the closure of the longtime residents could stay published in the Boston Herald, saying folks shouldn’t 140-bed North End Nursing in the North End while their be nervous if they see praying Muslims in public. Noth- Home and Rehabilitation Center families could frequently visit. ing to fear. I also heard a comment by our U.S. Sen. that Partners Healthcare owns Here, families are an integral Ed Markey, who thought folks were in needless panic and is planning to close in part of their care program. because of Trump’s rhetoric. about a year’s time. Seniors Families are encouraged to Note to the Imam and Markey: How often has it been and other members of the participate actively in all reported that radical Islamist terrorists start praying community feel ignored, aspects of care, and to be an invisible, and angry. The important component of the (Continued on Page 14) center’s mission was to provide interdisciplinary care model. lifecycle care for residents Maria Stella Gulla, Director with an interdisciplinary team North End/West End NSC (Continued on Page 14) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 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, JULY 1, 2016 Winthrop & Revere Petty Offi cers 2nd Class Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello Nostra Serves Aboard World’s Oldest Commissioned Warship by Kayla Good, Navy Offi ce of Community Outreach A weekly column highlighting some “Boston is an area that really of the more interesting aspects of our ancestry...our lineage...our roots. appreciates the military.” A key element of the Navy’s mission is tied to the fact that THE ROMAN FORUMS America is a maritime nation, according to Navy offi cials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea. Petty Offi cer 2nd Class Just as the U.S. Navy’s 274 Petty Offi cer 2nd Class Jeffrey Hammerman ships and submarines do today, Johnny Chaison Constitution actively defended Petty Offi cer 2nd Class Jeffrey sea lanes against global threats as well as the Navy’s story, is go- Hammerman, a 2006 North- from 1797 to 1855. Constitu- ing to be told with enthusiasm east Metropolitan Vocational tion’s victories at sea during the and accuracy.” The Forum Romanum (view facing northeast from above the Technical High School graduate War of 1812 inspired a nation The Constitution is currently Portico Dii Consentes). (Photo from Wikipedia) and Winthrop, Massachusetts and helped mark the emergence in dry dock for its fi rst major nd A Roman Forum was a large appealed to the Romans for native, and Petty Officer 2 of the United States as a world- restoration in more than 20 open space, usually in some vengeance on Caesar’s murder- Class Johnny Chaison, a 2008 class maritime power. years. The restoration is ex- convenient or central location. ers, while the dead Caesar lay Pensacola Junior College High Now a featured destination pected to last two and half years It was surrounded by many at his feet. School graduate and Revere, on Boston’s Freedom Trail, the during which time the ship will fi ne buildings and was used as Constantly embellished dur- Massachusetts resident, will Constitution and crew offer com- remain open to the public. th a center for business, political ing the time of the Republic and get to celebrate America’s 240 munity outreach and education According to Navy offi cials, activity, meetings, and as a the Empire, the Forum became year of independence as part about the ship’s history and ships must come out of the market place. surrounded by some of the of a hand-picked Navy crew the importance of maintaining water from time to time for The idea for the Forum came most magnificent structures serving on the world’s oldest a strong Navy to hundreds of maintenance and repair, even from the Greek Agora (market the world has known. There commissioned warship afl oat, thousands of visitors each year. the newest vessels in the fl eet. place) and most likely furnished were six Temples, two Basilicas, the U.S.S. Constitution. “The Constitution has given me The integrity of a ship’s hull is nd the inspiration for the Italian the Tabularium (the public ar- Petty Offi cer 2 Class Jeffrey more appreciation of where the critical to its survival and that Piazza, the Spanish Plaza, the chives), the Regia (residence of Hammerman, an electrician’s Navy has been and why we are of its crew. Ships are removed nd German Platz, the French Place, the early legendary kings), and mate, and Petty Offi cer 2 Class still here,” said Hammerman. “It from the water for careful in- the English Square, and the the House of the Vestal Virgins. Johnny Chaison serve aboard gives me more pride in my job.” spection, replacement of aging American Village Green. It was the duty of the Vestals the 219-year-old Boston-based “When I came to this com- pieces, and refi nishing of the At various times the City of to keep alive the sacred fi re in ship named by President George mand, I became the outreach bottom below the waterline so Rome contained the Forum Ro- the Temple of Vesta. If the fi re Washington to honor the Con- coordinator betwwen the USS they may continue to serve for manum Magnum, the Forum of was allowed to go out, the Ves- stitution of the United States Constitution and the greater years to come.