Monica’s Mercato Imported and Domestic Products on Salem Street is owned and operated by the Mendoza family of the North End

The North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council will discuss and vote on four agenda items at their monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, February 13 at 7pm in the Nazzaro Community Center.

Robert Griffin has filed an application with the Zoning Board of Appeal for a zoning variance to expand the first floor unit living space into the basement at 9 Noyes Place.

David P. Veo, Trustee of Salada Realty Trust has filed an application with the Zoning Board of Appeal to allow the conversion of the existing retail space at 139-145 Richmond Street to a sandwich shop with take-out.

Daniel D’Elia and Ralph Verrocchi have filed an application with the Zoning Board of Appeal to change the allowed use of the former Contrada’s Coffee Shop, 396 Hanover Street from store with take-out to restaurant with take-out and for a CV 7-Day License for the new owners. The new business will be called “My Cousins Place”.

Lucca Restaurant, 236 Hanover Street has filed an application with the City of Boston Transportation Department for a valet parking permit.

The next NEWNC monthly meeting will be held on Monday, March 12 at 7pm at the Nazzaro Community Center.

Chief baker Ben Tock is shown with a variety of breads still warm at Bricco Panetteria early Saturday morning.

Down a nearly hidden alley off Hanover Street and set back among a host of brick buildings whose walls rise high above it, almost obscuring its entranceway, there is a new bakery.

Bricco Panetteria is one of the newest North End incarnations brought to life by Frank DePasquale. However, it is his head baker, a young man named Ben Tock, who is helping the panetteria to makes its mark in the very competitive world of bread baking.

Tock, 22, says he has a passion for baking and that his effort is to keep it natural.

He is a young man living out a dream in a panetteria where he calls the shots.

Early Saturday morning, Tock was directing his fellow baking assistants as they prepared baguettes for the oven.

Frank was selling breads at the front of the nearly blinding white bakery which is walled with perfectly white subway tiling and fitted with stainless apparatus including the oven, a $250,000 piece of art work imported from Europe.

One by one customers left with baguettes, and a host of artisan designed and made breads of all kinds.

The scene is that of a room bathed in white, with shining stainless steel, thick wooden cutting surfaces, flour spread about and the breads, appearing baked a perfect light brown on the top, dark and rich with real crust, and when broken open, just the right amount of softness inside.

The Bricco baguette is perfection –perfectly constructed, baked just right and exquisitely light but slightly thicker than a traditional French baguette. That is the key to a fine baguette, that it be light as a feather, fabulous to crack open and wondrous to the palate when filled with thinly sliced genoa or prosciutto.

He touched a hot baguette with his hands and held it up as though examining a work of art.

“Think about slicing this bread, opening it up, and putting on it meatballs and a bit of sauce or chicken parm. This bread is perfect for that,” he aid.

Tock said that at this time in his baking career his hands understand what the dough is telling him, that he knows intuitively how to add character and flavor to his products.

“I don’t mean to overdo how much I love doing this, but I feel like I am the God of bread,” he added.

Tock said the panetteria’s ingredient base meets the promise of finely baked breads everyday. He said he uses only unbleached and unbromated flour that is not chemically treated

“I am responsible for the finished product. I decide how much time the breads should be baked, how hot the oven must be, what exact combination of ingredients is necessary,” said Tock.

He said the aim of Bricco Panetteria was to become acknowledged in Greater Boston as the very best bread.

Frank DePasquale  was a bit more contrite.

“I am honored that North End residents are coming here to buy their fresh bread. This says more to me about the quality of the product than anything else,” he said.

“We’re not competing with anyone. We are doing our own thing and we are trying to do it right. I think we are succeeding,” he said.

Check it out. Make your own judgment.

The olive bread is to die for.

Find the alleyway at 241 Hanover Street.

You’re in for a slice of heaven.

Three agenda items will be discussed and voted on at this Thursday’s North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association monthly meeting will be held at the Nazzaro Community Center, 30 North Bennet Street at 7pm.

Robert Griffin has filed a zoning variance to expand the first floor unit living space into the basement at 9 Noyes Place.

Nick Varano has filed an application with the Licensing Board for a CV 7-Day Malt and Wine License for Nick Varano’s Famous Deli, 66 Cross Street.

Daniel D’Elia has filed an application for a new business at Contrada’s Coffee Shop at 396 Hanover Street including take-out, a CV7-Day license is required.

A presentation and discussion will be presented by James W. Hunt, City of Boston Chief Environmental and Energy Services on issues of the sustainability of the North End/Waterfront as a residential community.

The next NEWRA meeting will be held on Thursday, March 8 at 7pm in the Nazzaro Community Center.

If you are a businessman here or are seeking to come to this neighborhood with a plan you presently can expect to wait many, many months before anything meaningful will come of your request.

The present structure of early non-binding permitting in this neighborhood forces business owners wishing to change some aspect of their operation and those wishing to own a business in the North End, to appear before a series of hearings with three different advisory boards.

How many advisory boards does one neighborhood need?

One might well ask this question.

Not only is this time-consuming but it is costly and regressive.

One must bring their architects, lawyers and even bankers to all three of these required meetings which again, are advisory meetings.

Some consideration should be given to the idea that this arcane process needs to be streamlined.

Would it not be better if a few representatives from each advisory group attended one meeting together, make judgments about what was presented by the businessman or businesswoman at that meeting and then go back to their individual advisory committees and report to them and make judgments and votes based on their observations?

We think this would be more democratic.

Even at the State House, the House and Senate will often meet in what is called “convention” to discuss issues of importance to both houses for their cumulative judgment. It saves time and it stops the duplication of effort.

Perhaps leaders in the North End – business leaders, politicians and residents – should have such a convention instead of duplicating effort, wasting time, causing the excessive lawyer’s and architect’s fees that arise from having to appear before three neighborhood advisory boards.

There is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide in the North End of today.

Cutting down on the time spent attending meetings held by competing advisory boards for those wishing to do business in this neighborhood is an idea that should be explored.

Even in the North End, time is money and time is of the essence if we wish to maintain the great success that businessmen and women have achieved here.

No one loses if the process is streamlined.

There is no way to describe the sense of loss we all feel having watched the Patriots go down in the Super Bowl. Were the Giants really better than us? We don’t think so.

There is no crime in being the runner-up in the National Football League. Just getting there should be enough, we suppose.

However, the Patriots are now facing the uncertainty of next year in the knowledge that something must be done to create a team that once again captures the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Winning is what the game is all about. There really isn’t anything else.

Jennie ‘Jay’ Montesano

Of Everett, formerly of the North End

Jennie “Jay” (Navarro) Montesano of Everett, formerly of the North End, died on February 1.

She was the beloved wife of the late Nicholas; loving mother of Joseph and his wife, Doreen; sister of the late Margaret DiFillipo, Josephine Fama and Paul Navarro and is also survived by three grandchildren, Noelle, Nicholas and Joseph.

Funeral arrangements were by the Salvatore, Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, Everett. Burial was at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Boston. roccofuneralhomes.com

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Esmeralda Fellowes

Member of Eastern Star and Telephone Pioneers

Esmeralda (Lopez) Fellowes, formerly of East Boston and Boston’s North End, died on January1 following a long illness. She was 84 years old.

A member of the Eastern Star and the Telephone Pioneers of America, she was the cherished mother of Cynthia L. Fellowes of New York City, Patricia L. Mysior and her husband, George of Owings, MD, Janet D. Bisson and her husband, Gene of Dracut and Mark C. Fellowes and his wife, Rosemary Heffernan of Cambridge; devoted grandmother of Lauren Wetherbee and Amara Bisson, both of Dracut, Lindsay Mysior, Rachel Mysior and Lindsey-Nicole Sassen, all of Owings, MD; dear sister of Gloria T. Woodland of Revere and the late Lilia Leslie. She is also lovingly survived by her great grandson Bentley J. Wetherbee and her brother in law, John E. Leslie Jr. of Revere and by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Cemetery, West Peabody. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Stroke Assoc., NE Affiliate, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-4688 or to the Boston Visiting Nurses Assoc., 500 Rutherford Av., Charlestown, MA 02129.

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Anthony ‘Tony’ Oddi

North End Resident

Anthony F. “Tony” Oddi of the North End of Boston died on January 28.

The beloved husband of Dolores “Dolly” (Avellis) Oddi, he was the loving father of Carlotta “Candy” and her husband, Anthony Coppola and Cynthia Oddi and her companion, John Wood, all of the North End of Boston; loving brother of Michael Oddi of Everett, Ausunta Petrigno of Medford, Tina Frangiamone of Burlington, Margaret D’Arcangelo of Wakefield, Teresa Iannaco of Everett, Alfredo Franciosa of Florida, Rose Sisti of Florida and the late Donato Oddi and Raphaelle Franciosa. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Cincotti Funeral Home,

Medford. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118.

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Lena Luciano

Of Revere, formerly of the North End

Lena M. Luciano of Beachmont Revere, formerly of the North End of Boston, died on January 30.

She was the loving daughter of the late Peter and Anita (Luongo) Luciano;  beloved sister of Joseph Luciano and Katherine Lucacio, both of Revere and the late Carmen and Dominic Luciano and Theresa Brunco; loving companion of John DelPirore of the North End and is also survived by many cherished nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, (Orient Heights) East Boston. For more information: www.ruggieromh.com

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Josephine Summa

Of  Stoneham, formerly of the North End

Josephine C. (Costa) Summa of Stoneham, formerly of Medford and Boston’s North End, died on January 29.

She was the beloved wife of the late Frank Summa; devoted mother of Patricia Forlizzi and her husband, Peter of Medford and Frank Summa and his wife, Linda of Methuen; loving grandmother of nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren; dear sister of the late Tony and Domenic Costa, Lena Russo, Anna Marotta, Connie Consolo and Rose Vecchia and sister in law of Ann Antonino and Terry Sirignano of the North End.

Funeral arrangements were by the Dello Russo Funeral Home, Medford.   Burial was at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Compassionate Care Hospice, 800 West Cummings Park Suite #3400, Woburn MA. 01801. For obituary or guestbook dellorusso.net

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Louis ‘Lou’ Rizza

Of Medford, formerly of the North End

Louis D. “Lou” Rizza of Medford, formerly of Boston’s North End, died on January 27.

He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia Marie (Young); devoted father of Michael Rizza and his wife, Peggy of Billerica, Robert Rizza and his wife, Donna of Acton, David Rizza and his wife, Patricia of Burlington; loving grandfather of Andrew, Christopher, Bradley, Katlyn, Nicholas, Matthew and William Rizza; brother of Salvatore Rizza and his wife, Gladys of Florida, Anthony Rizza of Medford, Ben Rizza and his wife, Patricia of Dedham and the late Lucy Pistritto and Bob Rizza. Funeral, Medford.

Burial was at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. It has been requested, that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Massachusetts, 147 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116. For obituary or to leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.dellorusso.net

Matt Conti

North End resident and neighborhood activist Matt Conti addressed North End issues in an exclusive interview with the Regional Review.

Conti once an elected member of the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council provided the community newspaper a candid point of view regarding several topics relating to the neighborhood.

Conti is also very active and supports many local non-profit agencies. He is the man behind the very popular website North End Waterfront.com and he frequently contributes articles to the Review.

Questions:

1. Is the North End still an Italian American residential community?

Italian-Americans have been a minority in the North End for years, but I believe the neighborhood will always be a place to celebrate Italian culture and the immigrant experience.

2. Is there anything that can be done to correct the improper placement of household trash on the sidewalks?

The streets are cleaner than a few years ago, but trash is still an issue. Efforts by those in the neighborhood and the City have helped, but there are times when it still gets out of hand. Consistent enforcement and attention by everyone who generates trash is the only answer. Recycling efforts could also be better, in my opinion.

3. Are there too many businesses operating out of the North End?

No. There are actually some areas in the neighborhood where more businesses would be beneficial. A thriving mix of business activity adds vitality to the neighborhood and makes the streets safer.

4. Is there a real rodent problem in the neighborhood?

Yes, but it is better than in the past thanks to successful “hot spot” efforts by city personnel working with people in the neighborhood.

5. Is the North End still one of the safest communities in Boston?

Yes. Neighborhood policing and community involvement have helped keep the North End a relatively safe place. Still, it is a downtown neighborhood where it always makes sense to stay alert and take precautions. Most of the concerns that I hear at public safety meetings relate to quality of life issues.

6. In general what is in store for the community?

As throughout its entire history, the North End continues to change. But, it is likely to keep much of its old world charm due largely to its manageable scale and active community. It is great to see more families staying in the neighborhood, a trend that will be helped by an expansion of the Eliot School. An active, mixed-use waterfront has expanded the North End’s core footprint and the Greenway brings untapped opportunities as well. Worth watching are developments currently going up around N. Washington Street.

7. What are your ideas and concerns for the future of the North End?

The next several years will bring attention to the eroding infrastructure of the neighborhood and how we will address overdue renovations of our streets, parks, schools, historical features and community buildings. The trend toward “dormification” and more transient residents is a concern. On a larger scale, it will be important to continue pursuing the elimination of hazmat trucks from our streets and coming to grips with how sea-level rise will impact our basements and waterfront.

8. Please express any other thoughts.

I encourage folks to get involved in one of the dozens of neighborhood and “Friends” groups. These organzations and non-profits continue a history of community involvement where neighbors look out for neighbors.

Thank you to the Regional Review for its work in the North End. The local paper is the lifeblood of a community. And, of course, I welcome folks to visit and contribute to the postings and comments on NorthEndWaterfront.com.

The North End/Waterfront/Boston Police monthly Public Safety meeting will be held this Thursday, February 2 in the Nazzaro Community Center, 30 North Bennet Street.

District A-1 Commanding Officer Captain Bernard O’Rourke, Sergeant Tom Lema and/or Officer Ted Boyle will present a 30 day crime up-date for the neighborhood, crime prevention tips and answer questions from local residents.

Residents can also offer suggestions or report issues of concern.

The monthly meeting starts at 6:30pm and all residents are welcome to attend.

North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) will hold a Wine and Cheese Party, hosted by Shake The Tree, 67 Salem Street. A portion of all sales will go to help build this community program.

NEMPAC provides courses in music, drama and Italian language for toddlers, children and adults and hosts a community theater program for teenagers and community outreach programs to foster neighborhood participation in the arts.

This is the fourth time Shake The Tree has hosted this event and has made a generous donations to NEMPAC.

“Our mission is to provide affordable art related programs to residents of the North End/Waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Becca Griffin, NEMPAC Executive Director.

“By encouraging participation in the arts, we hope to strengthen relationships within the community and to enhance public safety,” Becca added.

The event will take place on Wednesday, February 1 from 7-9pm.

Mayor Kevin White’s death is a moment for all of us to remember him and the days when he managed this city with an iron fist. He was above all, a real Bostonian with his early roots in West Roxbury and his adult life spent on Beacon Hill.

He loved Boston. He loved downtown Boston. He loved the neighborhoods. Above all, he loved the people.

Mayor Kevin White was this city’s guiding force when it was coming to life, literally coming out of a slumber, during a bygone era when everything about this city was changing and coming to life.

He came to power at a time when rich were pitted against poor. Men against women. Old against young. White against black.

The social revolution rising at this time caused the nation to convulse – and Boston convulsed with it.

The Vietnam War was ripping the nation apart. Busing was destined to do its best to ruin the city’s once proud public school system. The challenges facing White when he took office were extraordinary. He was up for all of it. He was never daunted. He was always looking for the next big push to change the face and the fortune of the city.

He was ready for the challenge.

He was the right man at the right time for this city.

He proved it time and again during a long reign when the city evolved largely into a virtual image of what it is today.

He took Quincy Market Place from a one horse, meat market, decrepit reality and turned it into Boston’s signature tourist stop, drawing millions upon millions and having a profound effect on nearly everything else at the time.

He transformed the waterfront from lazy and dead on arrival into another residential and commercial success story.

His greatest credit goes to remaking the non-existent Boston skyline and by rejuvenating the downtown by doing so and for bringing new life to the city and its neighborhoods in a big, big way.

He was a big picture guy with a big picture reputation who dominated this city’s political life from the time he was 38 until he retired from public life 16 years later.

He was a master at understanding a changing Boston and not standing against it- indeed – he welcomed the future, always. He was the brightest and best to nurture the future here.

He judged men and women by what they brought to the table not by their religion or the color of their skin or by the second language they spoke or by their sexual orientation.

In this respect he was truly a man for all seasons, who always did his best for the city he loved until the day he died.

There are no more Kevin Whites coming up the ladder in Boston today.

Our condolences to his family.