VOL. 113 - NO. 31 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 31, 2009 $.30 A COPY FOR WOMEN: Saint Joseph’s Feast Natural Selection in the Political Jungle Bigger and Better than ever in Boston’s North End by Rachel Marsden by Sal Giarratani Hillary Clinton called North looks and personal factors Korea an attention junkie in that have nothing to do an interview this week — a with their job or ability. North country that most recently Korea has been problematic loaded missiles onto the back since Hillary’s husband was of a ship and cruised around the United States president, like the Love Boat. North but I have yet to find any Korea’s Foreign Ministry re- statements by North Korea sponded: “We cannot but re- during the Bill Clinton Ad- gard Mrs. Clinton as a funny ministration that says: lady as she likes to utter “President Clinton is an over- such rhetoric, unaware of sexed buffoon who needs to the elementary etiquette in turn off the cheeseburger the international commu- tap. Nyah!” nity. She looks like a pri- Women at the top of the mary schoolgirl and some- political food chain aren’t times a pensioner going men in a skirt, and didn’t shopping.” kiss up to “the patriarchy” Ouch. That must really to get to where they are, as hurt, being lectured on “eti- feminists often argue to quette” by people who rou- justify their own failures. tinely administer nuclear While they don’t go out of enemas to Mother Earth. their way to alienate men — As Margaret Thatcher because someone like that used to say: “When they would have a tough time attack one personally, it getting along in any work- means they haven’t a sin- place — they tend to be gle argument left.” The phe- more feared than liked ... nomenon cuts across all and they don’t really care. Nor ideology. It’s not a right/left do they have to. Respect is question, it’s an effective/ more important than Members of the St. Joseph Society. ineffective question. And likeability among the crea- (Photos by Ross Photography, Rosario Scabin) effective women in politics tures of the political sewer. I lived in the North End as some know it as the Paul On Sunday, the statue was get attacked far more fre- a kid back in the Fifties. My Revere Mall located on placed in a brand new out- quently than men based on (Continued on Page 13) father was born and raised Hanover Street directly door shrine on Hanover there and my grandparents across St. Stephen’s Church. Street and in the afternoon left Sciacca in Sicily for Bos- The theme to the feast was it was taken out for a proces- ton over 100 years ago. a tribute to the Armed Forces sion through the streets. The News Briefs Everyone from Sciacca of the United States of procession started at 1:30 PM by Sal Giarratani settled in around North America. What a fantastic and finished about 8:45 PM. Square and the Sacred Heart way to celebrate Italian heri- Keeping us in beat was the Church. My father grew up tage in this great country of Roma Band and the Italian “U30 Bandit” Almost Raised Flags on Sun Court and Moon the U.S.A. by honoring those American Band of Lawrence. A Norwood man was arrested recently in a Streets. He graduated from who fight for our freedom. In Each band took their turn. series of brazen bank robberies pulled off by St. John’s Grammar School fact United States Marine An outdoor Mass at the the very quick “U30 bandits” was certified in back about 80 or so years ago. Corps Brigadier General Prado was held and right be- the Bay State as a civilian flagman. The guy Feasts were a huge part of Ronald J. Johnson who led fore Communion as I looked had 70 arrests on his rap sheet. He was trained my childhood. The traditions the procession became a over at the steeple of Old at New England Laborers Trust Fund in of these feasts date back to member along with his North Church, I saw clouds Hopkinton, Massachusetts to work as a flag- almost if not over, for a few brother on Saturday night giving way to blue skies. The man. The facility is one of seven approved by societies, a hundred years. and took the oath in front threat of rain vanished just the state’s Executive Office of Transportation I recently joined the of thousands. Another great like that. to train flaggers who are replacing police offic- St. Joseph Society as a mem- tribute was given to Pamela This year’s St. Joseph’s ers at construction sites in rural areas and ber and I find myself connect- Donnaruma, Editor/Pub- Feast was a big hit. It had quiet roads. ing to my North End roots lisher of the Post-Gazette great entertainment, won- A Mass Highway spokesperson said the state again. And on the weekend and the Donnaruma family derful tributes and more. doesn’t do CORIs of flaggers and added that of July 24-26th, the annual for their outstanding work The tradition keeps on going Mass Highway takes its flagger program and feast was held in this neigh- in the past and present thanks to the hard work of public safety seriously. The spokesperson borhood where I once lived. for helping and uniting the the committee members. added, “We just learned of this information and This year a nice stage was Italian communities in if found to be true, we can assure you that the set up on the Prado, or as Massachusetts. (See photo spread on Page 8) individual in question will never work on a Mass Highway construction site.” However, what he didn’t say was CORIs will now be done by the state on all folks taking the flaggers Mayor’s Column program. You can’t depend on anyone else doing by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston it for you. If the state hands out a photo ID When we talk about crime and public focused on catching and punishing identifying someone as a Massachusetts safety, the conversation tends to focus offenders that we forget about what hap- flagger, that person should be CORI-ed … on effective ways of preventing crime pens after an offender serves their sen- Period! (Continued on Page 15) from occurring and bringing criminal offenders to justice. Yet, we are often so (Continued on Page 14) 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 PMPM, 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 31, 2009 Res Publica by David Trumbull In seven weeks voters in incumbent Salvatore LaMat- the City of Boston will deter- tina is being challenged by mine the candidates for Chris Kulikoski and Laura THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR the final November munici- Garza. The practice of sacrificing ground. Altars that were con- higher than the statues of pal election of mayor and Three other incumbent to God before an altar is one structed on the spur of the the gods before which they city councillors. Two of the councillors face election con- of great antiquity, and it moment were generally were placed. four incumbent at-large tests. Chuck Turner (Dis- probably started prior to the made of earth, turf or Another interesting point councillors are challenging trict Seven) is challenged for time of Noah. In the case of stones. Otherwise, when is that in time all of these Thomas M. Menino for election by Althea Garrison, other personalities out of the time was not a factor, stone ancient altars also became mayor, so at least two new Roy A. Owens, and Carlos past, Homer (about 1100 or brick masonry was used. places of refuge. The refu- faces will be coming on the Tony Henriquez. B.C.) tells of the Greek lead- The top of the altar usually gee who prayed before such Council. Michael P. Ross (District ers sacrificing before an al- contained a depression, pan, an altar was considered to Those current council Eight) is challenged by Oscar tar prior to the start of the or brazier, upon which was have placed himself under members — Michael F. Fla- T. Brookins. And in District Trojan War, while others tell burned the sacrificial fire. the protection of the god or herty and Sam Yoon — are Nine Mark S. Ciommo faces of Romulus and of Alexander One point of interest that goddess to whom the altar joined by South End real es- challenges from Benjamin the Great engaging in simi- bears mention at this time was consecrated. Any vio- tate developer Kevin R. Ian Narodick, Alex Selvig, lar practices. We also note was the scholarly activity of lence toward the unfortu- McCrea in challenging and Abigail Furey. that the root of the word al- a writer, engineer, and ar- nate refugee, even to slaves Mayor Menino, Boston’s Five councilors face no tar goes back to the Latin chitect, who served as a and criminals, under such first Italian-American chief opposition on the ballot: Bill “ara, altare, altus,” and military engineer under circumstances, was gener- executive. Linehan (District Two), “altaria”, meaning height. Julius Caesar. His name ally regarded as violence to- Fifteen candidates have Maureen E.