VOL. 114 - NO. 7 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, FEBRUARY 12, 2010 $.30 A COPY Presidents’ Day Carnevale February 15, 2010 Remember these men as you enjoy the holiday Abraham Lincoln George Washington 1809 - 1865 1732 - 1799 President 1861-1865 President 1789-1797 News Briefs by Sal Giarratani Tim for Governor Since the upset victory of Scott Brown over February 16, 2010 is the celebration of “maschere” mask is the most widely used Martha Coakley, everyone wants to be an in- Carnevale also known as Mardi Gras or costume as it is a traditional prop in Venice. dependent. However, in the 2010 governor’s Fat Tuesday. In Italy, Carnevale is cel- The celebration usually begins weeks before race there is only one real independent run- ebrated before Ash Wednesday as a way to the actual “Carnevale” day where locals ning and that is current State Treasurer Tim party before the Lenten season begins. The take part in a lot of fun and joking where a Cahill. He gave up his safe statewide seat as largest celebration takes place in Venice, saying has been derived “A Carnevale Ogni treasurer to run for governor as an indepen- Italy with the most elaborate parades, balls, Scherzo Vale” — “Anything goes during dent voice. Good timing it would seem now with and music throughout the streets. The Carnevale.” Brown’s come-from-behind defeat of the Demo- cratic Party on January 19. Recently, a reception for the two-term State Treasurer and former Quincy City Councilor was held at the Alumni Cafe in Wollaston Cen- Mayor’s Column ter. The race for governor is going to be very by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston interesting with Deval Patrick running for re- election and Republicans Charlie Baker and Over the last month, Boston has shown tected Status (TPS) for Haitians bring- Christy Mihos duking it out for the GOP nod. a great sense of togetherness as we ing relatives to the United States, adopt- They’re all jumping on the populist bandwagon helped our Haitian community after ing children orphaned by the earth- but remember Tim Cahill is running for gover- the devastating earthquake that killed quake, benefits for Haitians granted nor as the only Independent on the ballot. hundreds of thousands of people. TPS, resources for Haitian earthquake New Name in the Race We banded together as a city to support evacuees and much more. The special state Senate primary on April 13 friends, co-workers and neighbors as The goal of the forum and our goal has a new aspiring candidate in Michael Albano they tried to reach their families and moving forward as we work through this of Chelsea to fill the open seat vacated by An- loved ones and we immediately arranged crisis is to raise the level of awareness thony Galluccio. Says Albano, “People are hurt- for a resource and call center and orga- concerning the differences between the ing and they’re frustrated and we need new nized a massive fundraising effort. But real resources available and the scams the work must continue as there are that often permeate when communities (Continued on Page 15) now questions about the often compli- respond to similar tragedies. cated immigration process and unfortu- Additionally, information regarding nately, some are preying upon such a potential scams and fraudulent activity tragic situation by offering services they will be available at the city’s resource cannot provide. center located at the Mattapan Public To alleviate some of the confusion and Library or online at cityofboston.gov/ concerns regarding potential scams and haiti/. You can also call the resource fraudulent activity, the City of Boston center at 617-593-0363. The USCIS has has organized a community forum on a dedicated website to provide guidance February 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the Haitian on its response to Haiti at uscis.gov/ Multi Service Center in Dorchester. The haitianearthquake. forum will consist of an expert panel dis- The USCIS has also posted several cussion including Denis Riordan, Direc- tips to prevent from becoming a victim Happy tor of the Boston Office of the United of immigration fraud: States Citizenship and Immigration DO NOT sign any blank papers or docu- Services (USCIS) and Emmanuelle ments that you do not understand. Valentine’s Dupiton, Consul of the Consulate of DO NOT sign any documents that Haiti. These immigration experts will Day address concerns about Temporary Pro- (Continued on Page 15) 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, FEBRUARY 12, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull This is Washington’s Birthday and I Can’t Tell a Lie BLAME IT ON YOUR ROOTS Monday is WASHING- number. But here in the Bay Michelangelo Buonarroti, preparation for the Rome embalmed bodies called TON’S BIRTHDAY, a federal State we have something the probably the most talented that was to be. Suddenly out “loculi”, pigeonhole niches and state holiday to honor Old Dominion lacks. We human being to walk upon of the bay were thrown enor- for cremated remains called the hero of the Revolution- have in our midst the Wash- the face of this earth, was mous quantities of every “columbaria”, and more than ary War, the Father of this ington Library — About 800 known, not only for his great kind of volcanic ash, pum- three hundred miles of cata- Country, and the first Presi- books and pamphlets from masterpieces, but also for ice, lava, refuse, and debris. combs that would hold about dent of the United States. George Washington’s per- his frightening “terribilita”. Nature’s frightening “ter- six million deceased. Of the 43 men to serve as sonal library at Mount Did this quality just happen ribilita” formed a cosmic After an interval of great chief executive of the Union, Vernon given to the Boston or was it preordained? As far spectacle that no human duration there came an- only Washington is so Athenaeum by a group of as I’m concerned, show me eye could have seen. The other series of eruptions. singled out for honor with a Bostonians in 1848. The an Italian who doesn’t get seed was planted, and from Similar materials were federal holiday. books themselves are price- angry once in a while and this our roots were destined thrown out, but were sub- That many persons now less and only serious schol- I’ll show you an impostor. to grow. Land appeared above jected to different elements call the third Monday in ars need apply for permission Those who do not hold with the water but there was a and forces, which resulted n February “Presidents Day” to use the collection. How- theory have never heard two long dormant period which the formation of a different is an indicator of our lack of ever, in 1997 the library pub- Romans discussing a fen- caused all of this material to kind of tufa. This time on the discrimination and devalu- lished a catalog so the rest der bender at a busy inter- be beaten into the stony Palatine Hill, the hot ashes ing of true accomplishment of us can see what sort of section. It follows them, if “tufa” which formed the and debris, falling in enor- and fame. To put it in per- books the great man was “blowing your stack” is a part foundations for the seven mous quantities, buried a spective, Catholics believe reading. of our Roman character, hills of Rome, and furnished growing forest like a giant that each of the 265 popes Books on history and gov- there must be some ratio- the material for those early coal bin. The wood was thus was the Vicar of Christ on ernment from Washington’s nale by which we can blame walls, sewers, and temples. converted into huge lumps Earth, infallible in matters library include his personal it on our roots … violent These tufa beds, about of charcoal, which have been of faith and morals, and yet copy of Common Sense, the roots … eruptive roots. seventy-five feet thick, plentiful everywhere in fewer than 80 have been tract by Thomas Paine that Geologists tell us that formed the geological phe- the Palatine tufa. Nature added to the calendar of was so influential in promot- there was a time when the nomena (soft enough to ex- was kind in providing the Saints (and no less erudite ing the revolutionary spirit. area now occupied by Rome cavate but hard enough to fuel for those hundreds of writer than Dante placed The General, of course, had and its suburbs was covered support the crushing weight thousands of braziers which some of the popes in Hell), several books on military with the quiet blue waters from above without shoring) would furnish the heat for but common American us- science. Remembering that of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the which later permitted the warmth and cooking during age honors equally the great Mount Vernon was a work- form of a broad and placid excavations for the under- later eras. Washington and the least ing farm, we are not sur- bay. It all started when na- ground burial places called NEXT ISSUE: noble and least accom- prised to find books on agri- ture combined its forces in “cemetaria”, shelves for the Blame It On Your Roots Part II plished of men to hold the culture and practice arts office by jumbling them all such as carpentry and together on “Presidents Day,” horsemanship.