VOL. 120 - NO. 52 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 23, 2016 $.35 A COPY A Very Merry Christmas to our Readers and Advertisers from the staff of the Post-Gazette Jeanne Pam Donnaruma Brady Claude Marsilia Joanne Freeway Frasier Mrs. Murphy Joan Smith Frances Jeanette Fitzgerald Cataldo Bobby Franklin Mary DiZazzo Bob Morello Ed CampochiaroLouie Shallow GraffeoDom BarronRay David Rosario Trumbull Scabin Ally Samantha Josephine John Christoforo Bennett Di Censo Molinari Symynkywicz Sal Giarratani Dreaming of Naples, FL? Well, if you can’t go, stroll by the green Cross Pharmacy for a glimpse of old Naples, Italy, at Christmas. It won’t warm your feet, but it may warm your heart! Giuseppe Richard Girard Plante Molinari Giangregorio, owner of the Green Cross Pharmacy, was fortunate to inherit this wonderful Daniel Naples display from the Pompeii Restaurant and is happy to share it with the neighborhood. Richard Preiss Di Censo (Photo by Sal Giarratani) Alessandra Sambiase To All the Good Little Boys and Girls Out There News Briefs by Santa Clause by Sal Giarratani I am making plans right of the annual NEAA Christmas now to drop by your house Parade through the streets of for Christmas with my bag of the North End. Do You Ever Read the toys. I’ve been pretty busy this Then, a few hours later, it was “Shoe” Comic Strip in the Paper? season, especially the last sev- off to East Boston where I rode I love this comic strip. It has been around for many eral weeks as Christmas Day in a Santa Convoy all over Eastie years and for good reason. The latest one showed two approaches. Recently, I got a for the official lighting of the reporters listening to a political speech. The politi- little banged up in Quincy. You Christmas Tree in the Heights. cian says, “I’m pushing hard to get that wall built to might have read about or saw it So continue being good and keep undesirables out!” Then one of the two reporters on TV, but not to worry, just a don’t forget the milk and cook- tells the other, “How about building a wall around few broken bones. No big deal. on a cool Black Hawk helicopter ies. My reindeer-powered sleigh Washington to keep undesirables in?” A short stop at the ER. (which was much better than is good to go. Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Last Senate Race Makes Recently, I did a twofer, first that old parachute over in Christmas from me, Mrs. Claus in the North End where I arrived and the reindeers, too!! Senate 52-48 Republican Quincy!). I was once again part The long 2016 Election Season has come to a close and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy filled an open U.S. Senate seat, giving the GOP a 52-48 edge Join the Old North Church for Christmas in the upper chamber. He defeated a long shot Democrat challenger named Christmas Eve Family Nativity Service Festival Christmas Eucharist Foster Campbell in a December 10th run-off. and Holy Eucharist with Choir, Candles, and Carols D.A.’s Plan 2nd Shot Saturday, December 24, 4:00 pm Saturday, December 24 at Trying Two Cops An interactive family service. Children Choir prelude 10:30 pm; service 11:00 pm. Facing an uphill battle to find jurors willing to are invited to help set up our Crèche with Christmas Morning Eucharist convict police officers, prosecutors in two states say the traditional figures while we listen to Sunday, December 25, 11:00 am they will retry two white police officers in the fatal the Christmas Scriptures and sing familiar Christmas Lessons & shootings of two black men. Both in Cincinnati, OH, carols. The service concludes with Holy Carols for the New Year and North Charlton, SC, trial jurors were deadlocked Eucharist. Sunday, January 1, 11:00 am in hung juries. As I stated before, it is always difficult for jurors to find police officers guilty of murder charges when THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE police stops go badly. When it comes to cops, the 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON decision isn’t based on what a reasonable person might do in the same circumstance, but what would This office is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM a reasonable police officer do in the same circum- stances. Obviously, Jurors are always likely to give and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, law enforcement the benefit of the doubt, which most for the convenience of our would never give a civilian shooter. East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors (Continued on Page 10) Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, DECEMBER 23, 2016 Res Publica by David Trumbull What’s Your Favorite Christmas Movie? Democrats’ favorite Christmas movie is “Miracle on 34th Street.” THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE Republicans’ favorite Christmas movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I first heard that aphorism alone must drive some liberals Caesar became a consul (chief should disband his army by a Pompey fled to Egypt, where at a holiday party nearly two nuts when the film is broadcast magistrate) in 59 A.D. and certain date, or be considered a he was soon murdered by un- decades ago. It’s been around over the public airwaves. shortly thereafter entered into a public enemy. With the strength known assassins. Caesar ar- longer than that and I haven’t But the game can be played coalition with Pompey (an army and speed characteristic of all rived in Egypt in time to settle been able to determine who first the other way. Wonderful Life general) and with Crassus (a his earlier military campaigns, a disturbance known as the said it and when. presents negative stereotypes of wealthy real estate dealer). This Caesar assembled his legions, Alexandrine War and then place On its face, the saying makes bankers, so much so that when coalition became known as the which were still in Cisalpine Cleopatra on the throne. sense. After all, what better it was released some Hollywood First Triumvirate and its ties Gaul, crossed the river Rubicon, Later, he proceeded to Pontus movies for adults who still observers (but not, as is errone- were further strengthened by the and within three months was (a city on the Black Sea), which at believe in Santa Claus than ously asserted on some liberal marriage of Caesar’s daughter master of all of Italy. that time was called Cappadocia Miracle on 34th Street? Be- websites, the Federal Bureau Julia to Pompey. The jealous Caesar then set out for Spain, and ruled by forces opposed to sides (watch out for plot spoiler), of Investigation) charged that Pompey soon attempted to check where he soon dispersed the Rome. He defeated Pharnaces and the picture’s crisis is resolved it was a vehicle for Communist the increasing power of Julius forces of Pompey and then later this is when he sent his famous dis- when a huge federal govern- propaganda. The charge is easy through much political intrigue. defeated Pompey’s superior patch to Rome, “Veni, vidi, vici,” — ment agency — the Post Office to ridicule today but, in the He succeeded in obtaining a de- army in Greece with his excel- I came, I saw, I conquered. Caesar — comes to the rescue. And 1940s, Communist infiltration cree from the Senate that Caesar lent generalship and courage. then returned to Rome, where with a divorced mother rearing of the motion picture industry his supremacy was no longer a child alone, Miracle features a was a real and serious threat to disputed. non-traditional family, surely a American values. Now look at During the ensuing months, plus in the eyes of liberals. the favorable treatment — not he exercised the full scope of It’s a Wonderful Life, on to mention free advertising — his civil administration. All of the other hand, celebrates the that Miracle gives to two large his projects were character- infinite worth of an individual department stores! Main Street ized by the highest order of human being, a worth that Republicans surely must find statesmanship. Meanwhile far exceeds even the biggest that refreshing compared to the Crassus, the third member of financial fortune. In Wonderful negative views of business that the Triumvirate, became very Life, the hero’s crisis is resolved Hollywood gives us today. wealthy through his associa- (another plot spoiler) by the The lesson? It’s just a movie! tion with Caesar and trained a from the spontaneous voluntary action Enjoy them both, or whichever group of slaves as fire fighters. of family, friends, and local ones you choose to watch this Fire of suspicious origin would community; emphatically not holiday season. Santa’s list does Family of often occur in very desirable by the government. The film not include your political affilia- pieces of property. Crassus usu- also shows people in fervent tion, but he does have a lump of ally appeared on the scene very prayer, not to some generic coal for those who would strip quickly to offer sympathy to the State Senator higher power, but to the God of our public life of all sense of grieving landlord and also to of- the Bible as worshipped by the Wonder at the Love of God and fer a pittance for the purchase Sal DiDomenico Protestant and Catholic believ- thankfulness for all Miracles big (Continued on Page 12) ers shown in the picture. That and small. Buon Natale Season's Greetings Season’s CITY COUNCILLOR Greetings TONY HOUSE SPEAKER AMBUTO REVERE CITY COUNCIL - AT LARGE ROBERT A.