VOL. 122 - NO. 11 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 16, 2018 $.35 A COPY One for the Nor’easter, Two for the Rain An Irish Blessing Three for the Snow, and Four for the Spring, C’mon Let’s Go!! “May God grant you always ... A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel, so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you, Faithful friends near you, And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.” Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Post-Gazett e News Briefs by Sal Giarratani Sullivan Square Lower Busway and Parking Lot Stupid Idea Department There is a provision in a Homeland Security reau- Reconstruction Public Meeting thorization bill that would allow the Secret Service to show up at polling sites during federal elections. The MBTA is currently work- I don’t often agree with State Secretary Billy Galvin ing with Wynn Boston Harbor but, on this idea, I do. It could look like voter intimi- to implement roadway and dation and “is worthy of a Third World country.” Bad transportation improvements to idea! It needs to be nixed. Sullivan Square, including the reconstruction of the MBTA’s Texas is Not Going Red Sullivan Square Station lower or Even Purple Yet busway and parking lot, to Last week Jeff Kuhner on WRKO was warning lis- enhance the level of service, teners that Texas could very well go Blue in 2018 or performance, and passenger in 2020. Stirring up callers by telling them that the safety. Located in front of the end was near! Not so. Texas is still conservative no Sullivan Square Transit Station, matter what Jeff says or what some Democrat strate- the upper and lower busways gists are suggesting, that Texas is looking more like connect twelve bus lines serv- California every election. ing Boston, Malden, Medford, The Republicans are in trouble everywhere, even Somerville, Cambridge, and bus operation capacity and those with limited English Texas, if they don’t articulate a set of principles Everett. Wynn is privately fund- effi ciency; and improve the sta- profi ciency. For more informa- and produce good candidates. The Democrats seem ing these improvements and tion’s accessibility. tion or to request reasonable much more determined to win then they do. That is no public or taxpayer funds The construction will be accommodations and/or lan- the problem. are being used to pay for these phased to minimize disrup- guage services, please contact Speaking of Texas improvements. tions to MBTA customers and Trish Foley by phone at 857- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was easily re-nominated in The planned improvements maintain the current levels of 368-8907 or by email at trish. last week’s GOP primary ... On the Democratic side, will upgrade, replace, or repair transit and bus service for the [email protected] at least U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, is the nominee the roadway surface, pavement duration of the project. Parking ten business days before the for U.S Senate. It is going to be a classic ideological markings, drainage, bus shel- service will be reduced and at meeting. fi ght between two good candidates. The Democrats ters, lighting, security, traffi c times fully relocated during Please, join us on Thursday, had a great turnout in their primary and now we will and wayfinding signage, and construction. Construction is March 22nd, 2018, at 6:00 pm, watch over the months leading to the general election. landscaping. Improvements scheduled to last approximately at The Schraffts Center have been designed to improve seven months and will begin in Cafeteria, 529 Main Street, (Continued on Page 10) traffi c fl ow around the station; April 2018. Charlestown, MA 02129 enhance pedestrian, bicycle This meeting is accessible For more information, please and customer safety; increase to people with disabilities and visit mbta.com. THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 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 16, 2018 Saint Jan Sarkander by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari COMMODUS, The Bastard of the Roman Empire We all know by this time that had given birth to serpents. The Roman emperors often adopted twin brother, named Antoninus, sons as successors and often died at the age of four; but honored those sons by bestow- as for Commodus, even from ing their own names upon them early childhood he was cruel, or, at times, even the names of dishonorable, debauched, and illustrious ancestors. We are appeared to have inherited all reminded that these were still the vices of his mother. At the pagan times in old Rome and age of twelve, his cruel and ancestor worship was a rec- brutal nature really surfaced ognized part of their religion. when he ordered that his bath The eighteenth emperor of the keeper be cast into the furnace Roman world and the one that because the bath water was not now occupies our attention was hot enough. Fortunately for the popularly called Commodus bath keeper, a compassionate or Commodus Antoninus. slave in charge of the furnace Eventually, he bore the full title burned a sheepskin instead and of Commodus Lucius Aelius the resulting stench satisfi ed Aurelius Antoninus. He was Commodus as Hercules, Commodus that the job had the natural son of Faustina, Capitoline Museums been done. the wife of Marcus Aurelius, During his early adulthood, he but, in fact, a bastard child to Commodus was probably showed no regard for decency or the emperor. There seems to conceived in a haystack, but expense, kept a brothel for his be no question regarding the was born in Lanuvium, near the personal pleasure, and had it illegitimacy of his birth, as most Appian Way, on August 31, 161 continually staffed with women historians tell of his mother’s A.D., and it was a sad day for of unusual beauty. He also escapades with the Roman the civilized world. He was one developed an attraction for the gladiators and of his birth out of twin boys; when pregnant, of her adultery. his mother dreamed that she (Continued on Page 10) Jan Sarkander was born Seizing the opportunity to on December 20, 1576, in brand him a spy and thus Skoczow, Poland. He was the explain the lack of attack by the 25th Annual son of Georg Mathias Sarkander the Polish troops, his enemy, and Helene Górecka. He had the Protestant Moravian leader one sister and three brothers. von Bystritz, denounced Father His homeland was in the Jan as a traitor. Sarkander was midst of the turmoil of the arrested, taken to Olmütz, and Protestant Reformation and tortured for a confession — both confl icts between the neighbor- for revenge and to get him to ing countries only aggravated break the seal of the confes- the situation. Sarkander went sional and supply damaging to the Jesuit college in Olomouc information about his patron and started his philosophy stud- and parishioner Baron von ies there. He completed them in Labkowitz. Prague with a doctoral disserta- Father Sarkander was cov- tion. In 1609, he was ordained ered in flammable material and sent to work in Moravia. He and was set on fi re. He did not was assigned to parishes with die outright; it took a month particularly strong Protestant until he died of the injuries he movements in the hopes that sustained. Lighted candles as his talents would help stop the well as feathers soaked in oil faithful from leaving the Church. and sulfur were placed on him Catholicism was struggling with and ignited. The rack was used Lutheranism. on him on February 13th and The year 1618 saw the start again on the 17th and 18th; the of the Thirty Years War between torture would last two to three Catholic and Protestant armies. hours each time. He was racked When Protestant forces occu- so severely that his ligaments pied Hollenschau, Sarkander tore and his bones broke. He AT THE was briefly exiled to Poland, gave his tormentors nothing. but returned to minister to his After long suffering, he died on DCR’S STERITI oppressed parish fl ock. Polish March 17, 1620, in Olomouc. MEMORIAL RINK forces moved into the area in In 1720, his remains were APRIL 27 1620 and battle seemed immi- exhumed and were deemed to 561 Commercial St., Boston nent. Sarkander visited the be incorrupt. fi eld commander, carrying the Jan Sarkander was canon- 2018 PARTICIPANTS 2O18 Blessed Sacrament in a mon- ized by Pope John Paul II in RESTAURANTS strance as a shield and chas- 1995. The Feast of Saint Jan Accardi & Son Neptune Oyster tisement. No battles were fought Sarkander is celebrated on Albert A. Russo Imports North Square Oyster 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the area of Hollenshau. March 17th. ŶƟĐŽ&ŽƌŶŽ Pagliuca’s ƌŝĂdƌĂƩŽƌŝĂ Paul W. Marks to benefit Artu Pauli’s Aqua Pazza Piantedosi Baking and other NOBILE INSURANCE ĞŶŽƩŽͬĞŶĞǀĞŶƚŽƐ Prezza ALBANO F. PONTE, CEP Bricco Rocco’s Cucina & Bar neighborhood Cafe Paradiso Rosaria Financial and Estate Planning Carmelina’s ^Ăŝů>ŽŌ charities Email [email protected] Espresso Plus Salumeria Italia MC BILLY COSTA Il Molo Taranta Vocalist VANESSA SALVUCCI and Dancing Phone 617-320-0022 J. Pace & Son Terramia Raffles and Silent Auction La Summa dŚĞ>ŝǀŝŶŐZŽŽŵ Tickets: $79 through April 17, MICHAEL F.