VOL. 117 - NO. 13 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 29, 2013 $.30 A COPY L’Anno Bello: A Year in Italian Folklore Buona Pasqua An Appreciation of Easter by Ally Di Censo Purple crocuses have like a back-to-basics holiday bring home an enormous HAPPY EASTER opened on my front lawn, for me, where tradition chocolate Easter egg, or Uovo resembling delicate china rules. I am proud to incorpo- di Pasqua, from a specialty teacups. Robins hop from rate these Italian customs shop in the North End. An Pamela Donnaruma branch to branch across my into my Easter celebrations. Italian tradition, we would neighborhood shrubs. Small In Italy, Easter celebra- often have to wait until Publisher and Editor buds peek out from trees, a tions begin the week before, Easter to find out what trin- slight hint of green that Holy Week, which starts kets were hidden inside the grows brighter every day. on Palm Sunday. My father egg — usually sour candies. and the Staff When I am surrounded by remembers gathering olive The tone of an Italian Holy such sights of spring, my branches on this day with his Week, therefore, is one of of the thoughts always turn to friends all along the Abruzzi excitement and preparation, Easter, the ultimate holi- countryside. The priest would filled with the symbols of Post Gazette day of rebirth and renewal. then bless the olive branches spring. As a young girl, Easter al- at church. This rite screams Then, of course, dawns Wish a Happy Easter ways meant pretty flowered spring to me, a festivity Easter, or Pasqua as it is dresses, painting eggs with marking the growth of plants called in Italian. I remem- my family, jelly beans, and and the abundance of green- ber waking up on mornings to All Our lots of candy. I am not going ery during this season. Good that always seemed a little to lie — I still crave a good Friday, the day Jesus died on sunnier than other morn- Advertisers and Readers caramel-filled Cadbury egg the Cross, was marked by ings, devouring the treats in every time this holiday rolls solemn processions in my my Easter basket, and then around. However, I am now father’s town, where the dressing up to go to church. more attuned to the deeper church was draped in black In my family, Easter calls meaning of Easter. I know and people sought to depict for wearing new clothes, that the name of Easter may the sorrow of the Virgin indicative of the newness of News Briefs derive from the Germanic Mary. Holy Week in Italy spring all around us. Every- pagan goddess Eostre, who begins in triumph and ends where in Italy, I am told, tra- by Sal Giarratani represented dawn and the in tragedy, all in anticipa- ditions emphasize the un- spring and was associated tion for the joy that is Eas- bridled happiness of the day. with rabbits, thus explaining ter. Holy Week in my family My father is particularly Bobby Smith R.I.P. the Easter Bunny. I know is marked by preparations fond of a custom practiced in I just read somewhere that former lead singer that the Christian roots of for the Easter festivities. his region called la Madonna of “The Spinners” recently passed away in Easter, the Resurrection of When I was little, I enjoyed che scappa in piazza, or “the Orlando at age 76. He was the R&B group’s first Jesus, offer the same prom- coloring eggs in bright bursts Madonna who runs in the lead singer and was the voice on the group’s first ises of hope and light that of purple, blue and pink. piazza,” where a procession hit “That’s What Girls Are Made For.” A few years the arrival of spring does. Eggs, like rabbits, symbol- races towards the church back down at Twin Rivers in Rhode Island, I at- Finally, Easter allows me to ized fertility since ancient while holding a statue of tended a concert put on by the latest version of explore my Italian heritage. times, thus appropriate for a the Virgin Mary, re-enacting “The Spinners” and they have that great sound Christmas has become too holiday honoring the rebirth her joy at seeing the risen still to this very day. commercialized in our soci- of nature. Sometime around CPAC Gets the Truth from Allan West ety, but Easter still feels Holy Week, my father would (Continued on Page 13) Former U.S. Rep. Allan West, R-Florida, who was beaten up in last November’s election by the en- tire Democratic Party machinery has not gone st away quietly. He recently spoke at the CPAC gath- Neighborhood Street Cleaning Begins April 1 ering in Washington, DC where he stood up for City Continues to Implement Changes enduring principles. He called on the Republican Party to stand up for something other than not to Better Coincide Sweeping with Trash and Recycling Pickup being Democratic. Jeff Kuhner was quite im- Mayor Thomas M. Menino pressed with West’s speech at the CPAC and today reminded residents called it a call to arms to GOP conservatives to that Boston’s Daytime get its act together and stand up for something. Neighborhood Street Clean- Kuhner said there was a “civil war” inside the ing Program will officially GOP rank and file. On one side is Jeb Bush and kick-off for the season on Chris Christie and on the other side Marco Rubio, April 1st. This year, the Ted Cruz and Rand Paul. By the way Kuhner would Neighborhood Street Clean- love to see Rand Paul run for president in 2016. ing Program has updated The Republicans, he says, need a positive re- street sweeping days in branding and far better communication skills. many neighborhoods to They also need to take the word “FAIR” back from better align the sweeping the Democrats. schedule with trash and A number of Republicans are trying to also take recycling days in an effort back some positive ownership over the immigra- to boost the impact of the tion issue as Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Texas City’s cleanup services and Gov. Rick Perry have tried doing. I certainly hope reduce neighborhood trash though that any civil war between the old guard and litter. The new sweep- establishment and the anti-establishment Tea ing schedule and enforce- Partiers doesn’t nuke the entire party off the ment will begin citywide on South End and Beacon Hill ority of mine, as well as our (Continued on Page 6) April 1st. Weather permit- on March 1st. residents,” Mayor Menino ting, extended street sweep- “Keeping Boston’s neigh- ing began for the North End, borhoods clean is a top pri- (Continued on Page 3) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on 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, MARCH 29, 2013 Will Menino Seek Sixth Term as Mayor? Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello by Sal Giarratani Nostra Right now, rumors are flying all around. 20 years in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall, Yes he will. No he won’t. Mayor Menino, him- he has nothing to prove. He will go down in A weekly column highlighting some self, is remaining pretty coy. At the moment history as one of Boston’s most productive of the more interesting aspects of our City Councilor John Connolly is already run- mayors. Amazing since back 20 years ago, ancestry...our lineage...our roots. ning and the mayor keeps referring to him he was appointed the interim mayor when as a nice boy. OUCH! Also, running is Mayor Raymond F. Flynn resigned office for JOHN ADAMS William Dorcena, brother of state Rep. Linda an appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to Dorcena Forry who is currently running for the Holy See in the Clinton Administration BIRTH DATE: state senate in a special election. on a 7-6 City Council vote as acting mayor October 30, 1735 Helping to spread the rumors is some in March 1993. DEATH DATE: July 4, 1826 ongoing fundraising by state Rep. Marty I don’t see Mayor Menino running if he is PLACE OF BIRTH: Walsh, D-Dorchester and his House seat not 100 percent ready to do so. If he does Quincy, MA isn’t up until 2014. Many think he is trying decide to retire, it will open up the flood- PLACE OF DEATH: to keep his campaign chest growing gates not unlike 1983 when Mayor Kevin Quincy, MA just in case lightening strikes. Connolly H. White did not seek a fifth term. It has WIFE: Abigail already is adding more cash to his cam- been three decades since there has been PRESIDENT: 1797-1801 paign funds. an open seat for mayor. The mayor is keeping everyone wonder- Of course, Mayor Menino could surprise ing. I believe he personally hasn’t made up his announced opponents this year and the Number two was John Adams, from where Quincy, Mass. is, his mind yet. rest of the wannabes out there waiting to Went to Harvard College and attended their classes; I believe as we move out of March into see what transpires before committing time Helped others to write that great declaration, April, his deadline is coming up. Nomina- and money to a heated mayoral race.