VOL. 116 - NO. 42 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER 19, 2012 $.30 A COPY Battle of the North End Saints Holidays on Hanover Bocce Tournament by Angela Cornacchio Congratulations to Saint Agrippina Society, First place winners of the Battle of the Saints Bocce Tournament. (Photo by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) On Saturday, October 13th, North End Festival Societies celebrated Italian Heritage Month with a bocce tournament at Langone Park on Commercial Street. Competing for the title of champion of the first annual Battle of the North End Saints were eight of the North End’s Feast Societies. The Joanne Paone admiring the beautiful Linda Riccio Saint Joseph Society, Saint Agrippina Society, Madonna decorations. Della Cava Society, Saint Anthony Society, Saint Rosalia It’s that time of year again something and they bring University with many ties to Di Palermo Society, Madonna del Soccorso Society, Saint where the leaves turn, heat the idea to life.” the community and local Lucy Society and the Madonna Di Anzano Society all en- goes on and decorations go More than just decorations, choirs and son Gennaro at- joyed a morning of friendly competition with the Saint up. In the North End there is Linda is hands on with keep- tends Suffolk University Agrippina Society coming out on top and winning it all. a special someone out there ing the streets clean for the while following in his Along with the title of North End Saints Bocce Champion, spreading holiday cheer. community. “I treat them as father’s footsteps and con- the winning Society was awarded $1000 to be donated to the Linda Riccio has been my own front lawn. The two tributes to running the busi- charity or charities of their choosing. Saint Agrippina’s split dressing the poles in front of trees in front of the nesses as well. their winnings between their own annual toy program and the Caffé Vittoria for about Florentine are public property Beyond the decorations, Christmas party and the North End Against Drugs. five years and Christmas but I have adopted them as my the Riccio family is very pas- While they didn’t come out on the winning side, the Saint specific decorations, includ- own and take good care of sionate about donating to Joseph Society still has much to be proud of in that their ing the Florentine, for about them. Our business is our charities. They support the own Anthony Boyd came up with the inspiration for the eighteen years. Each year it home; it’s a sort of commu- Italian Home for Children, tournament. Many thanks to Anthony and to all of the So- just begins to grow and this nity pride.” She feels the Nazzaro Center, NEAA, Toys cieties that competed in this year’s tournament. We look one has expanded. “I love the North End has so much poten- for Tots and hold many forward to the rematch next year! decorations. I love the holi- tial when people care about fundraisers at Gennaro’s, (See additional photos on page 7) days. I think it makes the the neighborhood. As a one recently being for Dana streets look charming; former employee of Linda, I Farber. Linda said, “Gerry brings a little country to the can attest to the pride she feels very strong about donat- city and cheer to the neigh- takes in her neighborhood as ing to the community. Which News Briefs borhood. I did the front of our I could count on her daily to we are very happy to be a part by Sal Giarratani businesses and the block of be sweeping the streets and of, but my mother said it where I live and was think- pruning the flower boxes. best, “Charity begins at ing how nice it would be to There are five generations home.” Considering Linda a Navy Names New Warship do more of the neighbor- of family that go back for close personal friend and be- for Navy SEAL hood.” Linda has been Linda and husband Gerry. ing welcomed into her home On October 5th, The United States Navy doing this solo but this year Gerry was born here, moved on Christmas Eve, I must commissioned the USS Michael Murphy, a new a few helped contribute, for a brief time to Waltham say it’s touching to see a fam- warship, for a Navy SEAL who died in Afghani- Damiano’s and Jerry Maffeo and came back at the age of ily so intact and spending stan at age 29. Cannons boomed and they spoke from Martini’s Smoke Shop. seventeen to run family such quality time together. of heroism at a ceremony in New York Harbor. Although, if anyone is ever businesses. Linda spent her In closing, I would like to Murphy was a Navy lieutenant who grew up in looking to join in, Linda is childhood in the North End thank Linda for the holiday Patchogue, NY and was posthumously awarded more than happy to get them every Saturday with her cheer she has brought to the the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions started. “I use F and M Flo- grandparents and after col- neighborhood; it makes me during a 2005 ambush. U.S. Rep. Paul King, R- ral. They do all my holiday lege returned as a resident. happy to be here. It is nice to NY, heralded Murphy’s “unbridled courage” and decorations and a few other As owners of Caffé Vittoria, see someone take pride and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, recounted sto- businesses in the neighbor- Florentine Café, Gennaro’s action to make the North End ries of Murphy growing up. hood have begun to use 5 North Sq. and real estate a place for families to enjoy Border Patrol Agent Shot, them. I couldn’t have done they have also started their themselves. Also, there is a 2nd Agent Injured it without Larry and Donna. own family in the North End. comfort in knowing she is They are like elves, they Their daughter Kristina is a keeping Italian traditions alive A U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot to death work magic. I envision freshman at Northeastern right in her own backyard. in Arizona on October 2nd near the U.S.-Mexican border, the first fatal shooting of an agent since a deadly 2010 fire fight that led to congressional THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT hearings over the Fast and Furious program. The 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON (Continued on Page 14) This office is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, OCTOBER 19, 2012 Res Publica by David Trumbull Happy the Home Where Humor is Read I write from West Hollywood, California, where we just gave out the 2012 Robert Benchley Awards for Humor Writ- THE GREEK PROCESSION ing. During our festivities, which featured Arte Johnson The ancient Greek funeral cypress, one for each tribe, Trojan captives. Perfumes from TV’s Laugh-In presiding at the award ceremony, we procession generally took containing the cremated and honey were poured on announced the publication of a book of humorous short place early in the morning. remains were carried on the pyre before it was lighted. essays titled Love Conquers All and consisting of 63 classic In order to limit excessive wagons to a convenient pub- When any funeral pyre Robert C. Benchley essays of 90 years ago, plus the winning displays of grief Solon, in his lic place. An empty funeral burned down, it was finally entries from our annual humor-writing competitions. wisdom, ordained that burial coach was also included in quenched with wine and We believe there is a want for witty, clean comedy. The should take place before order that all of those per- then near relatives collected Robert Benchley Society is filling that want by turning back sunrise on the day following sons whose bodies had not the remains which were to humor written in, or in the style of, the 1920s. The funny the vigil. The burial might, been found could receive the placed in urns. Immediately thing is just how contemporary, how of today, that humor however, be postponed for a full spiritual benefit from after the funeral all relatives is. Benchley is contemporary when he writes about the few days to permit distant the burial rites. Citizens and participated in a feast which man who gets intimidated by the clerk at the department friends or relatives to attend. aliens alike often joined in was given at the house of the store, mirrors that seem to take perverse delight in mak- The casket was either car- the procession. Orations nearest relative. This was ing one’s reflection look bad and the, um, joys of reading ried by professionals who were pronounced only at pub- followed by memorial ser- the Sunday “funnies” aloud to the kiddies. Contemporary, were hired for this purpose lic funerals and this was the vices which were performed yes, because the themes are universal, but so unlike many or by well known local citi- only major difference from three, nine and thirteen of today’s comics in presentation. zens if the deceased was to the private ones. days later. At the end of the The difference is today’s humor has edge. It is “trans- be honored. When the dis- It appears that in most services on the 13th day, gressive”. While formerly it was thought that art might tance to the burial plot was cases of death, the bodies there was a second and final sometimes outrage conventional sensibilities, now any- lengthy, the casket was were cremated and even funeral feast.