VOL. 118 - NO. 29 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 18, 2014 $.35 A COPY 45th Anniversary of Eagle Bank Takes Flight in the North End First Manned Moon Landing L-R: Vincent Panzini, North End Chamber member and Eagle Bank Corporator, James Barrett, EVP/CFO, Maria Safina, North End Branch Sales and Service Associate, Marc L-R: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Whittaker, EVP/Retail Administration & General Counsel, Frank DePasquale, Aldrin. Chairman of the North End Chamber of Commerce and owner of DePasquale Ventures, Almost 45 years ago the spaceflight Apollo 11, led by Neil James H. Whittaker, President & CEO, Gisella DiPaola, AVP/Business Development Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins, landed Officer & North End Branch Manager, Derek Delaney, EVP/Commercial Loan Officer, on lunar surface. It was July 20, 1969 when Armstrong, Fernando Giangregorio, owner of Green Cross Pharmacy, Christian Guarino, North followed by Aldrin, became the first human on the Moon. End Branch Sales & Service Manager, Joseph Galvao, North End Branch Sales & Service In those days, President Nixon was ruling the country Manager, and Heather Wetterneck, VP/Retail Administrator. and the United States of America was in the middle of the On July 16, 2014, Eagle Bank held its offi- loans, as compared to the multi-layered pro- Cold War, a conflict which also included the Space Race cial ribbon cutting of their new branch loca- cess of regional and national banks.” between USA and USSR, which started when Yuri Gagarin tion in Boston’s North End. The North End Branch is located at in 1961 became the first human to travel into Space under “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to 389 Hanover Street and is open Monday and the Soviet Union’s flag. For that reason Apollo 11 was much establish ourselves as a strong community Friday 9:00 am–6:00 pm, Tuesday through more than a scientific discovery, it was a powerful victory bank with a keen focus on the needs of the Thursday, 9:00 am–4:00 pm, and Saturday against the USSR. Armstrong’s first step on the moon was businesses and residents of the North End,” 9:00 am–12:00 pm. as he stated himself: “One small step for (a) man, one giant said Eagle Bank President and CEO James leap for mankind.” H. Whittaker. “The North End branch is Eagle Bank, founded in 1889, offers a wide That 65-yard walk left a permanent mark on history, among the most technologically advanced range of retail consumer banking services, as science and space engineering, and after that day the world retail banking facilities in the Northeast well as a complete portfolio of commercial retail was never the same. region, which should appeal to a variety of and lending products and services. As a mem- customers who appreciate a mix of traditional ber of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corpora- and technologically enhanced banking.” tion (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund “As a local community bank, Eagle Bank (DIF), depositors’ funds are fully insured. For is capable of an expedited loan approval pro- more information please call (800) BANK-EAGLE News Briefs cess, for both residential and commercial or visit us on the web at www.bankeagle.com. by Sal Giarratani Madonna Delle Grazie Annual Procession Obama Wants to Re-make America Last Sunday the annual organized by the Madonna When Barack Obama was running for presi- procession for Madonna Delle Grazie Society. Our dent back in 2008, he was pretty clear as to what Delle Grazie (Our Lady of Lady of Graces is a devotion he was looking to do. He said he wanted to trans- Graces) took place in to the Virgin Mary in the form America into something much better than Boston’s North End. It was Roman Catholic Church. it had become. However, in order to transform or re-make America, one must un-make America first. To date, Obama has done a wonderful job of tear- ing America down. Some say it appears he hates America. I think what he hates is U.S. history. He sees America with a negative history and little to be proud of. I think President Obama may be the worst0 president in our time, pass- ing Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Richard Nixon. America once was a world leader that had the respect of the world community and our enemies feared our overwhelming power and world influ- ence. Today, we have little, if any, respect from any nation around the world. Starting at Saint Leonard’s Ruling Class Republicans Church the Madonna’s statue made its way all Went to Bat for Thad Big Time throughout the neighbor- The Republican ruling class down in Missis- hood along with all her devo- sippi went to bat to get longtime U.S. Senator tees in attendance. The Thad Cochran renominated by voters in the procession featured Saint state’s GOP primary. The last thing they seemed Alfio’s Band and the North- (Continued on Page 10) east Italian Band. (Photos by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, JULY 18, 2014 Res Publica by David Trumbull You Are Now Free to Move About the City Last fall Mayor Menino released a Taxi Consultant Report SUETONIUS, MARCELLINUS, AND CLAUDIAN commissioned by the City of Boston and prepared by inde- This is the last issue in the time from Emperor Nerva in pendent consultants. It confirmed what every taxi customer entire series honoring the 96 A.D., to Valens in 378 A.D. in Boston knows — Boston does not have enough taxis, the Latin literati. Last week we Marcellinus followed the ones we have are in poor repair and smell bad, the fares briefly examined the work of writing style of Tacitus, and are exorbitant and unpredictable, and there is no accom- Florus, Gaius, and Apuleius, although he was a heathen, modation for riders with disabilities. the first three greats in the Age he was fair in his assess- Now that we have Uber and Lyft in Boston I never take known as the Late Empire. ment of the Christians. Latin Boston taxis. Uber and Lyft are so much better. Today we honor the three was not his native tongue, 1. There is room for me in the back seat so, unlike a remaining scholars. therefore his expression was Boston taxi, I don’t feel like I need a chiropractic adjust- It is probable that crude and clumsy, however, ment after the ride. SUETONIUS was born in he is considered to be the 2. The car is not a junk heap. Rome about 69 A.D. into an last Roman historian of any 3. The car doesn’t smell bad, nor does the driver. equestrian family. There is worthwhile importance. 4. The driver understands English. very little information about CLAUDIUS CLAUDIANUS, 5. The driver doesn’t insist that all destinations require his early life except that he known to us as Claudian, a trip through the Ted Williams Tunnel. started his career as a law- was born in Alexandra, moved 6. I pay by credit card (in Boston taxis either the card yer, and shortly thereafter to Rome in 395 A.D., and swipe is broken or the driver lies and says it is broken, and became a private secretary soon became famous. He even if it does work the taxi driver grumbles and gives you to Emperor Hadrian (magis- was familiar with Greek and a nasty look for using it.) ter epistolarum). Suetonius Latin literature, was poeti- 7. Three to five minute wait time even in busy times was a scholarly man with cally gifted, and was a mas- versus 20 minutes in non-busy times for a Boston taxi. comparable tastes and habits. complete form than any ter of language and meter. 8. The driver won’t be rude to me like a Boston taxi driver. He wrote in Greek as well as other of his works. Although Most of his poems were writ- 9. The driver will take the route I request. Actually, the in Latin. His biographical it overflows with scandalous ten in praise of the Emperor Boston taxi driver doesn’t actually refuse my request, but works include The Lives anecdotes, this is the publi- Honorius, and of the notori- that is only because he never heard it over his own very of the Caesars; also brief cation which gave him uni- ous General Stilicho. In spite loud foreign language mobile phone conversation that lasts accounts of illustrious men versal recognition. It is cer- of their flattery, the poems the duration of the trip. in literature, writings on tainly the most celebrated have an important histori- 10. I can relax and talk to fellow passengers or on the famous courtesans and on today, and also the most au- cal value. His work is of high phone in Lyft or Uber, in a Boston taxi I must watch the many kings. He also wrote, thentic reference source for quality and reflects impor- road because if I take my eyes off the road for a moment on Roman antiquity, their anyone who wants to write tant historical matter. The the driver will take me some wildly out of the way route manners, customs, feasts, an X-rated movie. best work of Claudian is said that adds to the time and cost of my trip. clothing, and public office. AMMIANUS MARCEL- to be Raptus Proserpinae 11. Boston taxi drivers complain because you inconve- Additionally, his work in- LINUS was born in Syria (Rape of Proserpine). He also nience them by making them push the button to open the cluded the reckoning of of Greek parents, was edu- wrote epistles, epic, and mis- trunk so you can load your bags; Uber and Lyft drivers cheer- time, nature, bodily defects, cated in Rome, served in the cellaneous poetry, and is fully help you load you bags.