VOL. 121 - NO. 12 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 24, 2017 $.35 A COPY Upcoming Project to Preserve and Repair Tobin Bridge The Massachusetts Depart- ment of Transportation (Mass- DOT) will begin operations this week on an upcoming project to repair, clean, and preserve by painting a section of the Tobin Memorial Bridge which carries Route 1 over the Mystic River between the Charlestown neighborhoods of Boston and Chelsea. MassDOT crews and contrac- tors will carry out the $15.6 mil- lion project that includes struc- tural steel repairs as well as cleaning and painting the steel and railings on the upper and lower levels in order to preserve the bridge. These activities will take place on the south- ernmost section of the bridge in Charlestown and the project bound on its lower level and waterway opening measures is expected to be completed by three lanes southbound on the 340' wide by 100' high. 2019. upper level. The 36-foot-wide Appropriate signage and mes- In order to allow MassDOT roadway is bounded on both saging will be in place to guide crews and contractors to safely sides by safety walks (2'7" wide) drivers during these construc- conduct these operations, the with steel-pipe railings on each tion operations and MassDOT travel lanes on Route 1 north- side. will provide more information bound and southbound on the The main structure over the regarding any impacts as it Tobin Memorial Bridge in this Mystic River is a three-span, becomes available. area will be reduced during off- cantilevered truss 1,525' in MassDOT encourages drivers peak hours with temporary lane length. Its center span is 800' to utilize the appropriate travel closures at times throughout and the maximum truss height resources throughout the dura- the duration of the project. is 115'. It provides a navigable tion of this project and make The Tobin Memorial Bridge waterway opening 700' wide by informed decisions regarding was erected in 1948-1949 and 135' high. A smaller, simply their travel plans. Those trav- opened to traffi c in 1950. It con- supported warren truss spans eling through the area should News Briefs nects the Charlestown neigh- the Little Mystic. It reaches a be mindful of delays and traffi c by Sal Giarratani borhood of Boston and Chelsea maximum truss height of 65' impacts, reduce speed, and use with three travel lanes north- and is 439' long. Its navigable caution. Obama Wins JFK Award Former President Barack Obama has been named the 2017 winner of the John F. Kennedy Profi les in Italian Easter Traditions and Foods Courage Award from the Kennedy Library in Dorchester. According to the JFK Library Foundation, Obama is by Prof/Cav Philip j. DiNovo being recognized for “his enduring commitment to Something vital is lost if we democratic ideals and elevating the standard of political fail to keep alive our Italian courage in a new century.” traditions and customs. They Perhaps, Caroline Kennedy can ask Obama to donate are the glue that tie us to our some funds to restore her dad’s boat over in Dorchester, past. Being an Italian-American too, huh? Meanwhile, might I add, why not give him comes from being one with one- this Profi le in Courage Award? It’s a fi tting bookend to self and our past — it is a state his eight long years in offi ce. After-all, he received the of mind. Italian Easter tradi- Nobel Peace Prize for defeating John McCain in 2008. tions and customs are splendid, If I were President Donald Trump, I wouldn’t hold my rich, and should be preserved. breath waiting to get this award. That would be a real Easter is a religious celebra- Profi le in Courage by the Kennedy Library. You know, tion, colorful, folkloric and the folks looking for you and I to donate dollars to fi x up earnest in Italy. It was in Rome a rusty boat over there in the waters of Dorchester Bay. that the Apostles Peter and What Happened to the Paul went to preach Christ’s message of love and peace and Separation of Powers? were eventually to be martyred. I thought we had something in the U.S. Constitution It was in Rome that the seeds of about the separation of powers between the Executive, Christianity were nurtured by attached to large gifts: stuffed sugar. Bakers are constantly Legislative and Judicial branches of government. the early saints. In Italy during toys, tricycles, even pieces of inventing new Columba with Recently, a federal judge in Seattle, then the U.S. Court Holy Week, the mortal spirit furniture. Each egg, no matter countless fanciful fi llings, frost- of Appeals in the Ninth District in San Francisco, and may feel that they have gotten a the size, contains a prize in the ings and fl avors. Often break- now a federal judge in Wisconsin, have put a temporary genuine glimpse of heaven. Be- hollow interior and it is possible fast starts with an Easter om- injunction on the implementation of President Trump’s ing part of Holy Week Services to spend several hundred dol- elet (Frogga). The eggs may be new limited travel ban on six countries known for can lead to a feeling of joy dur- lars on an Easter egg. Easter prepared with different herbs harboring terrorists because it might affect a Syrian ing the Holy Season. lambs in spun white sugar are and vegetables. living in Syria with family living here as a refugee from Italian children gorge them- also seasonal favorites. Here is a typical Easter Sun- coming in to join his family. selves on a vast variety of The traditional cake you serve day menu: milk-fed lamb (the I thought the Judiciary’s role was to make sure laws sweets during Easter. Easter on Easter mornings is Columba. most popular way is spit-roast- by Congress or actions by the president had to pass eggs adorned with elaborate It is a dove-shaped Easter ver- ed with rosemary or lamb made muster with the U.S. Constitution? wrapping paper and bows are sion of the panettone eaten at with olive oil, garlic, vinegar, (Continued on Page 10) very popular. The eggs range Christmas. The basic Columba sage and rosemary), pasta, in size from small to unbeliev- is a sponge cake stuffed with ably large. The large eggs come raisins and coated with white (Continued on Page 11) PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, MARCH 24, 2017 2017 City Scholarship Applications Now Available to Boston Residents Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced applications are now avail- able for the 2017 City of Boston Scholarships. The City of Boston Scholarship program is designed to support higher education, and is available to Boston residents interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in Massachusetts. “For the last 20 years, the City of Boston Scholarship Fund has provided more than 2,000 residents with the fi nancial sup- THE HOSPITABALE AUGUSTUS port needed to further their education,” said Mayor Walsh. “Our lettuce or a piece of dried apple. students are the foundation of Boston’s future, and I encourage His favorite after-dinner sport anyone interested in pursuing higher education to apply for this was to auction off paintings of scholarship. Investing in our residents means investing in the which only the back was shown future of our city.” and requiring all of the guests Candidates must be Boston residents who have graduated from to take part in the bidding. high school or have completed G.E.D. programming by the time He went all-out on holidays, the awards are made. Additionally, candidates must be planning especially the Saturnalia (com- to attend, or currently attend, a two- or four-year accredited post- parable to our Christmas sea- secondary institution within Massachusetts. son) and gave gifts of clothing, The City of Boston Scholarship fund provides up to $2,500 per gold, silver and rare coins. He academic year towards tuition and relies primarily on generous vol- observed a daily siesta after the untary contributions from individuals, organizations and corpora- noon meal, but after dinner he tions to further the goal of having more Boston residents complete retired to a couch in his study a post-secondary education. During the 2015-2016 academic year, to attend to the remains of the the scholarship program awarded a total of $250,000 to over 100 business of the day. students representing almost every neighborhood of Boston, over Augustus was not without 20 local high schools, and 20 local colleges/universities. his share of superstitions. At “The cost of college tuition has increased by 45 percent in the last one time he had a narrow es- decade — a price rising faster than nearly any other good or service Fresco in the House of Augustus. cape from lightning during a in America,” said Boston Chief of Education Turahn Dorsey. “Over journey; consequently he car- the coming year, the Mayor’s Education Cabinet and the City’s The villas of Augustus were extravagant, but were always ried a seal-skin on trips as a Scholarship Committee will work with local students, educators, not considered lavish, but he steeped in good-fellowship. He protection, and at any sign of a higher education offi cials, and college access experts to identify did decorate with rare items always tried to draw the silent violent storm he sought refuge ways to ensure that all Boston students fi nd an affordable way to such as the bones of huge sea guests into general conversa- in underground vaulted rooms. reach — and complete — a postsecondary education.” monsters or wild beasts, and tion, and usually provided During a battle he became ill Residents who fi t the criteria are encouraged to apply.