Murph the Surf and other Somerville nicknames
*

No one’s name was safe from the teasing kids unleashed on each other back in the day – everyone’s first or last name became a source of adolescent  taunting.
They called me Jimmy the Pimmy. I still don’t know what a pimmy was but it  sure used to tick me off. Then there was  my family’s name. The teasing came pretty easily.  It  was “Del Monte Beans”, or “Del Ponte Fruit.”
One of my particularly cruel nicknames  was “Jimmy the mini- (insert  rhyming derogatory slur for Italians).”  With the  last name of Wood , “woodpecker” seemed appropriate. My pal Scott Leake…well, need I say more? They also called him “sneaky Leaky.
Some nicknames were okay. Knowlton Brown, who worked at the YMCA for years was  known  affectionately as “Brownie.” Jane was “Jungle Jane” and “Jane Jetson.” My dear friends the Baldassari’s had their nickname built right into their name (you figure it out). Phyllis was “Philadelphia Cream Cheese” and “Phyllis Diller.” Chris, Michelle and Andrew heard…”Maoili ravioli!”  Teddy Bates had a few good nicknames as did Mike Bonanno.
Everyone named Sullivan, Fitzgerald and O’Brien became “Sully” “Fitzie” and “O’B.” Those were automatic nicknames. Murphy’s were “Murph”, “Murph the Surf” and even, ”Murph the Smurf.”
We  sometimes assigned names for how we thought people looked also. I remember my dad went to school with a guy named “Stretch.”  There was a very fair and decent  police officer that we dubbed “ Barney Fife.” Of course none ever said it to his face!
My friend Tony was known as “Ton.” And to this day, I don’t know why our friend Steve became known as “Harry.”  I was talking to my friend Charlie, who we now call “Chucky,” and he never knew that Harry’s real name was Steve.  I bet a lot of you  Somerville readers know  “Joe the Toe.” All I remember is that he lost a toe somehow, a long time ago, and thus, his nickname was created.
That reminds me of the mean names my brother and sister used to call me. Because one of my ears folds over on the top, they called me Dumbo. They got punished when they called me that. My aunt Marie was known as “Wee  Wee”  because someone somewhere couldn’t pronounce Marie.
I have a friend who we have been calling “Bones” for years and it’s not for the reason you think. When he was only 4 years old, he got hit in the head five times in one hockey game playing goalie.  His brother later noted  that after a haircut his head looked like a bone.
A couple of our friends’ nicknames were “Bolo”, “Ment” and “Bone Rack.”  Don’t forget Moose Mason.
Sister Margerlaine  became Sister Margerine. Teachers had a lot of cruel  nicknames. My friend Pat (by the way   happy birthday) was Patrick Joseph, so he was known as PJ. He actually had a band called the PJ Five. There was DJ Sullivan too. I think everyone has a friend named DJ. I had two friends named Richy Collins. One  became known as “The other Richy Collins.”
Nicknames could be cruel when we were kids, but today,  we can laugh about them.
I have a friend, that to this day still calls me “Del Panty.”

*
***

*
You can hire Jimmy for all your music, DJ, and party needs! Weddings, retirement parties, anniversaries, divorces, and hosting for any event. Jimmy will entertain alone or with a band (The Sleddogs!). and remember, when you hire Jimmy…… Johnny C, Larry The Caterer, Concetta, and Blanche come along at no extra charge! By the hour! Call 617-623-0554 for details.

*
____________________________________
You can email Jimmy directly at jimmydel@rcn.com.

When the Green Line extension finally rolls through Somerville in five years, it will be justice for a community overlooked and abused by transit decisions for more than 50 years.
But there will be pain too. Housing costs in once affordable neighborhoods will skyrocket and thousands of Somerville families will likely be displaced by rising rents.
Just as troubling, businesses that have been a mainstay in Ball Square and the Inner Belt will be demolished and taken by the state in eminent domain proceedings.
Bob Rosselli has worked at Ball Square auto repair for 40 years. To make way for a Green Line stop in the neighborhood his business will be sacrificed. In the Inner Belt, a maintenance facility will displace MS Walker liquor distillery, an 80-year-old business with 300 employees.
A city is partly a collection of its memories – Somerville residents are likely to give directions by referring to “the old Broadway theater” or “the old Star market” depending on how long they have been here. Progress has casualties: in this case, they’re longtime businesses and employers. In the future, it will be something else.

Rumor has it that one of the remaining out of the city potential candidates for Chief of Police is just using Somerville as a stepping stone so he can become Chief of Police for his home city.  We only hope that the mayor as well as the Board of Aldermen can see through this and ask enough questions so we don’t have to go through this process every two years.

*
*********************************

*
Our sincere condolences to the Capuano Family on the passing of Rita Capuano this past weekend.   Rita was a very nice lady and was seen all over, very active over the years especially at Council of Aging events; she was the mother of Congressman Mike Capuano.

*
*********************************

*

Happy birthday to Dellio Sussi of Amelia’s Restaurant who is celebrating his birthday all week long we hear. Drop by and say hello and wish him well, and if we do say so ourselves have something to eat, you will enjoy.

*
*********************************

*

Big Congratulations to Carrie and Mike Holland on the recent birth of their newest daughter Charlotte was born last month weighing in at 7lbs, 2oz, best wishes to them.

*
*********************************

*

Mayor Curtatone’s annual boat cruise is coming up real soon on August 4; join him and many  other Somerville residents enjoying Boston Harbor off Long Wharf. Call Bill Tauro at 617 293-2016 for tickets.

*
*********************************

*

The News is moving to Ball Square, this week and our new exclusive site will be up and running sometime this week as well. For those that missed the regular blogging and commenting on our site, you can now blog and join in, and share your view on all the issues going on here in the city.  The site will allow everyone to see items not previously online such as Ms. Cam’s Olio and ‘Villens on the Town, the SCATV schedule and more. You can even download the entire paper as printed off our web site. We are going to be doing and upgrade as well over in Cambridge and look for us to break into Medford within a month as well.

*
*********************************

*

We’ve seen candidate for State Senator, Dave Carnevale, out in the streets of Somerville – in particular Winter Hill – and we hear he’s getting a great reception. We know his opponent won’t be knocking door to door now will she? We love to see a debate between the two of them, her and her 35 years as a career politician and him as a 25 year old first timer, out on the streets running on new ideas and new energy.

*
*********************************

*

Skyline Dry Cleaning in Ball Square finally opened after going through hoops to get their permits, they opened last Friday and the owners are so pleased that business has been very very good, they thank all those that have come in. Go to our front page for a coupon with a 25 percent off price. We need to support new business here in the city. We wish them well, especially since they are one of us now in Ball Square.

*
*********************************

*

Head over to the Washington Street Art Center at 321 Washington Street on August 7 for the opening reception of an exciting new art show, Stitched by Danielle Festa. The Washington Street Art Center houses Gallery 321; hosts studio space for more than twenty visual artists; and presents exhibitions, concerts, film series, and other art initiatives. The Center participates in Somerville Open Studios each May, and in an annual open studios and craft fair in December. The Washington Street Art Center is between Union Square and Beacon Street; a five-minute walk from Union Square and a ten-minute walk from Harvard Square (two blocks from Beacon Street). The Center is near or on the following bus routes: 87, 83, 86, and 91. Parking is free and ample.

*
*********************************

*

Thirty-eight residents from Somerville are riding in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, the nation’s most successful athletic fund raising event, to raise money for cancer research. This is a great event and we thank all the riders for their sacrifice and dedication.

*
*********************************

*

Redbones is firing up its portable smoker for a traditional Southern Pig Pickin’ and fund raiser for The Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC) on Monday, August 2 (rain date is August 9). The  event takes place on Chester Street in front of the restaurant from 6 to 9 PM and features slow smoked pork pulled off the bone with all the fixin’s. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and, this year, $5.00 for kids under 10 (last year – $10) for a family friendly evening out.  Proceeds from ticket sales go to the SHC.  Information available at 617.628.2200 and www.redbones.com. The first Pig Pickin’ was such a success that Redbones owners Robert Gregory & Caryn Whitney made it an annual event and fund raiser for the Somerville Homeless Coalition, a non profit with head quarters just steps away from Redbones.   By adding the community component, the Pig Pickin’ became closer to its Southern roots and social ritual.  Pig Pickin’s are frequently political or church gatherings in the South;  they are always reason to come together, where ever there is space available, and spend hours smoking a pig until it’s ready for the pickin’ to begin. Redbones custom made ‘pig rig’ will be fired up in front of the restaurant early Monday morning (August 2) and whole hogs will go on the spit for six to 10 hours of slow roasting. Folks are encouraged to stop by for look and everyone is invited to come later for pork picked off the bone, loins, butts, bellies and cracklin’s plus sides of slaw, corn on the cob, greens, corn bread and watermelon and a choice of drinks including beer.  For entertainment,  there will be live music by The SAPS and other local bands.