VOL. 112 - NO. 33 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AUGUST 22, 2008 $.30 A COPY 2008 Dorothy Curran Fenway Challenge in the North End Concert Series Wraps Up! by Cristina Romano Jackie Andrews of the North End, Brandon Uy of Brighton, Eli Swab of Charlestown, Anthony Bolger of Charlestown, and Jake Scanlon of Charlestown (front row, left to right) were the winners of the Fenway Challenge, part of Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ (BCYF) annual Sox Talks, held at Puopolo Park in the North End. The Boston Red Sox and Boston Police Activities League sponsor the Fenway Challenge, a skill competition in running, hitting, and throwing for boys and girls, ages 6-14. After the challenge, members of the Red Sox Organization arrive and speak with the crowd. Joining the young people in this photo, left to right, are BCYF Director of Recreation A familiar face in the North End, Angelo Picardi of the Ryan Fitzgerald; Red Sox Catcher Kevin Cash; Red Sox First Base Coach DeMarlo Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS Hale; Red Sox Pitching Coach John Farrell; Red Sox Pitcher Javier Lopez; Red Sox staff brought down the house when he was asked to Bullpen Coach Gary Tuck; Red Sox First Base Coach Luis Alicea; Red Sox Pitcher perform during the final show of the 2008 Dorothy David Aardsma; and Red Sox Bench Coach Brad Mills. Curran Wednesday night concerts on August 13th with the US Air Force Band of Liberty and special guest artist Instead of sitting in front of the excitement was evident theme of the day stressed by Crystal Gayle. During his brief set on City Hall Plaza, the television this summer as children lined up behind everyone who spoke, was to Angelo received no less than three standing ovations. or playing video games, kids a microphone to ask ques- encourage kids to stay in Angelo Picardi, an instrumental figure in bringing the from two local camps met at tions to their favorite players. school and to get an educa- best performers to Boston’s City Hall Plaza for the free Puopolo Park in the North Members of the team gave tion. At the end of the ques- concert series. Other performers included Charlie End on Wednesday, August advice to the young fans in tion and answer session, th Thomas’ Drifters & Shirley Alston Reeves of the 13 , for the annual “Sox the audience. Catcher Kevin winners of the Fenway Chal- Shirelles, U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty with Michael Talk”, part of the Fenway Cash offered advice to a boy lenge in every age group got Amante and the Big Band Night featuring the Harry Challenge — a running, hit- who wanted to improve his the unique opportunity to James Orchestra. The 2008 series was hosted by Mayor ting and throwing competi- catching skills on his Little take pictures behind home Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Parks and Recreation tion for boys and girls ages League team and Pitcher plate with the team. Mayor Department. (Photo by Jon Seamans) 6-14. After the competition, Javier Lopez taught a young Thomas Menino was also on children got the opportunity North End resident how to hand to greet players and to sit down and ask questions throw a curveball. However, fans, but let members of the to Boston Red Sox players and the advice was not just lim- Red Sox take the spotlight for News Briefs coaches. Even in the heat, ited to baseball; the common the afternoon. by Sal Giarratani Louisiana Bans Cockfighting Mayor’s Column For generations down in Louisiana, cock- by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston fighting has been the sport of Kings. However, now the sport is banned, making that state the With gas around $4 a gallon, many those who may never have never asked last state to outlaw rooster fights. Opponents Boston families are feeling the crunch for assistance before. of the law say the new law marks the end of a this year. The cost of groceries is also The Food and Fuel Summit will be th rich tradition. up, with milk and eggs almost 20 per- held Saturday, September 27 at Madi- cent more than they were just a few son Park High School in Roxbury. The Maybe, No New Taxes months ago. The rising costs will hit the Summit will feature demonstrations by wallet of every Bostonian if they haven’t professionals on winterizing your home Governor Deval “No New Taxes for Now” already, and this winter will be a par- and tips on how to make the most out of Patrick has a message for taxpayers — there ticular challenge for many of us. No one your grocery budget. Utility partners aren’t any new taxes in the works but new wants to be hungry or left out in the cold. and community based organizations taxes can’t be off limits either. By working together, we can assure will be on hand to assist residents in Says Patrick, “The point is we have to stop more families will get the help they accessing fuel aid and energy efficiency paying for the things we want, but not the need. The City will host a Food and Fuel programming. things we don’t want” Summit next month and will begin a There are many things families can campaign to address these issues. do to save money on groceries from shop- Gas Prices Dropping Current estimates for heating the ping locally to making smart consumer Gas prices continue to drop. The average average household this winter are in decisions, and the summit will have tips price has dropped about 30 cents since the last the upwards of $4,000 if fuel remains for every income level. Experts on hand week of July. Hard to figure out. Wouldn’t you around $4 a gallon. Yet, nationally, food will discuss the best ways to winterize think with the Labor Day Holiday approaching, generally accounts for 13 percent of homes, from properly sealing windows just the opposite should be happening. household budgets compared with 4 per- to programmable thermostats and Meanwhile, latest polling shows a whooping cent for gas. With that in mind, fami- everything in between. There will also 87 percent of the public wants the US to start lies need to be smarter about the gro- be information about food pantries and drilling for our own US oil up in Alaska. ceries they purchase and more health- fuel assistance programs, financial lit- conscious while preparing meals. Food (Continued on Page 14) pantries especially are preparing for (Continued on Page 14) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, AUGUST 22, 2008 Res Publica by David Trumbull Three 2008 Massachusetts Ballot Questions Repeal of state income tax awareness program devel- MITHRAS This proposed law would oped by the state Depart- Mithras was the Persian Striking parallels have Mithras is often repre- reduce the state personal ment of Youth Services. Such counterpart to the Greek god been noted between Mith- sented as a young invincible income tax rate to 2.65% programs would include ten Helios and the Roman god raism and Christianity, es- hero, stabbing a bull or for all categories of taxable hours of community service Sol. He was the Persian deity pecially in humility, broth- standing upon a bull that he income for the tax year and at least four hours of in- of light, earthly wisdom, erly love, communion, the has just thrown to the beginning on or after Janu- struction or group discussion chief of the good spirits, and use of holy water, the adop- ground. The sacrifice of a ary 1, 2009 and would elimi- concerning the use and ruler who conquered all the tions of Sundays and Decem- bull and the purification of nate the tax for all tax years abuse of marijuana and other demons of darkness. After ber 25th as holy days, belief his worshippers with bull’s beginning on or after Janu- drugs and emphasizing early the death of Alexander the in the immortality of the blood formed a part of the ary 1, 2010. detection and prevention of great, the worship of Mithras soul, the Last Judgment and rites of Mithras. Ban dog racing substance abuse. was mixed with customs that the Resurrection. This ancient Roman cer- This proposed law would The penalty for offenders were common in Western Mithras is believed to emony was called “Taurobo- prohibit any dog racing or under 18 who fail to com- Asia, and then it extended to have been born from the lium” — Tauro meaning racing meeting in Massa- plete such a program within all Oriental kingdoms. rocks, and therefore he is bull, and bolium meaning chusetts where any form of one year could be increased Mithras is credited with kill- worshipped in caves, such to throw (no pun intended). betting or wagering on the to as much as $1,000, un- ing the divine bull, from as have existed in all parts In this ritual a bull was speed or ability of dogs oc- less the offender showed an whose body sprang all of the of the Roman Empire. The sacrificed while standing curs. The State Racing Com- inability to pay, an inability plants and animals that use of a cave signifies the on a high wooden platform. mission would be prohibited to participate in such a pro- are beneficial to man. The world into which the soul The blood of the bull was from accepting or approving gram, or the unavailability Greeks of Asia Minor identi- must enter in order to be caused to flow down through any application or request for of such a program.