CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Second Fire Of The Week In East Wareham... Power Down

The Lobster Pot in Wareham, during happier times.

"Everything in town with a siren" is at the Lobster Pot battling a fire.

The Lobby is a popular local landmark, and is well known for scoring a fat review from the Phantom Gourmet. A seasonal business, they had just opened up after a winter in warmer climes.

This fire comes, er, hot on the heels of a massive 5 alarm blaze that destroyed an old Ocean Spray warehouse just 200 yards down the road. Officials are still investigating both blazes.

My source couldn't ask the cops for info because "I had a quarter on me," but there didn't appear to be much damage to the structure. There was a ladder running up to the roof, and a few ambulances were on the scene. "Kitchen fire," said my husband, who never cooks.

Power is out all up the Cranberry Highway, and any businesses within a half mile are closed.

More info to come, once Ana gets down there with her camera... we now take you back to your regularly scheduled programs.

Update: Looks like they got off easy... I'm hearing that they're open now, and power is restored.

A friend of mine was down there today, getting the story. It was an electrical overload, did no damge, and they were cooking again that night. No injuries, praise be.

Chatham Police arrest man trying to sell W2s and personal information; Yarmouth officer recognized for saving man's life

Chatham Police arrest man trying to sell W2s and personal information

CHATHAM - On Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 12:15 p.m., the Chatham Police Department, in a joint investigation with the United States Secret Service, arrested Kevin J. O'Brien, 59.  O'Brien was arrested at his residence on Old Queen Anne Road in Chatham after a search warrant was executed. 

O'Brien was charged with Identity Fraud and Larceny (Over $250) by Single Scheme.

He was found in possession of approximately 400 W2 tax forms and was arrested after he attempted to sell the W2 forms to an agent of the U.S. Secret Service. 

O'Brien was alleged to have taken possession of these documents from the Town of Chatham Transfer Station, where he was employed.  At this time he has been suspended, without pay.  The investigation is ongoing as to how the documents arrived at O'Brien’s place of work. 

O'Brien was arraigned today,  Wednesday, at Orleans District Court where he pleaded not guilty and is being held on $20,000 cash bail. His next court date will be Friday, April 23, 2010.  

Release and mugshot courtesy of the Chatham Police Department.

Yarmouth officer recognized for saving man's life

YARMOUTH - On Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 1 p.m., Yarmouth Police Patrol Officer Kalil Boghdan observed an elderly man choking on food at the Ardeo Mediterranean Grille in South Yarmouth.  Patrol Officer Boghdan immediately came to the aid of the man and performed emergency first aid, which cleared his airway and saved his life.

On Wednesday, March 31, 2010, Lt. Steven Xiarhos, the Patrol Force Commander, spoke with Charles H. White, 85, of South Yarmouth who reported that he is feeling fine and is very grateful for Officer Boghdan’s quick and decisive action.

In light of the incident, Patrol Officer Kalil Boghdan was presented with the following performance recognition award:

For excellent performance in the proper use of emergency first aid while demonstrating a high degree of professionalism, training, and decision making that reflects great credit upon law enforcement, the Yarmouth Police Department, and the citizens that we serve and protect.

Courtesy of the Yarmouth Police Department.

Harwich High School to stage "Jesus Christ Superstar" in April

Show will run Wednesday through Saturday, April 7-11

The Harwich High School Fine & Performing Arts Department is presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber's renowned rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.  The contemporary setting of the biblical story of Jesus Christ and his followers has wowed audiences ever since it was first released in 1971. Still today, the show stands on its own in theatrical history, moving audiences everywhere.

The talented cast of the high school's Fine & Performing Arts Department has put together an awe-inspiring rendition of the Broadway masterpiece.  The show runs Wednesday, April 7th, through Saturday, April 10th. Performances are at 7:30pm each night at Harwich High School. There is a special matinee performance at 3pm on Saturday, April 10th as well.

Tickets are on sale now at the high school from 12pm-3pm by calling 508 430-7207. The cost is $10.00 for Adults and $5.00 for students. There is a senior citizen discount of $5.00 for the Saturday matinee show.

Cape Wind signs agreement to buy Siemens 3.6-MW turbines

New business for the state: Siemens to open a U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston
1,000 of the 3.6 megawatt turbines have already been sold

Cape Wind announced today it has entered into an agreement with Siemens to supply 130 of its 3.6-Megawatt (MW) turbines for America's first planned offshore wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod Massachusetts and, at the same time, Siemens also announced plans to open a U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston.

Siemens signed a reservation agreement with Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Ltd. for the construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm off the British coast. The agreement, by far the largest ever reached for offshore wind turbines, involves 140 Siemens 3.6-MW turbines for delivery in 2009 and 2010.

Some critics of Cape Wind have insisted that there were no 3.6 MW turbines available for the project, but this announcement ends that argument for good.

"We are pleased to be working with Siemens which is a market leader in offshore wind and we are thrilled Siemens is bringing clean energy jobs to Massachusetts by opening up its U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston. This agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens represents a major step forward to jumpstarting the American offshore wind industry and increasing energy independence, creating a healthier environment while producing hundreds of green energy jobs," said Jim Gordon, Cape Wind President.

The Siemens 3.6-MW offshore wind turbines are an industry ‘workhorse' with 1,000 units sold and 150 units installed and successfully operating.

"While the onshore wind industry is well developed in the U.S., the United States offshore wind resources still offer a vast, untapped source of renewable energy potential. The final approval of the Cape Wind offshore wind farm will be key to the success of the offshore wind industry in the U.S.," Randy Zwirn, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, Inc. stated.

Project approval will provide new jobs for maritime trade members

"The final approval of the Cape Wind offshore wind farm will be key to the success of the offshore wind industry in the U.S." Randy Zwirn, President and CEO of Siemens Energy.

"We understand that the Department of Interior is working hard to provide certainty to the project and we look forward to the decision. It will signal to manufacturers and investors alike that the United States is a sustainability leader in its support for a clean, reliable energy supply and green jobs creation," added Zwirn.

Zwirn also said Siemens, "will lay the first cornerstone of its U.S. offshore wind headquarters with the opening of an office in Boston on June 1, 2010, allowing the company to be closer to its U.S. customers. Another reason it makes sense for us to open an office in Massachusetts is the forward thinking leadership of Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature in trying to make the state a global leader in clean energy development."

Gerard Dhooge, President of the Boston & New England Maritime Trades Council, AFL-CIO, welcomed the news of the agreement between Cape Wind and Siemens, "Skilled maritime workers are ready to get to work to help install these wind turbines offshore Massachusetts and to build America's first offshore wind farm. Thirty to fifty percent of the members of the Maritime Trades Council are currently out of work so we need these jobs now more than ever."

Project will supply 75% of Cape's electric needs

Since power ends the national grid system at the point of origin, which for Cape Wind is Yarmouth, the 130 Siemens turbines would easily supply most of the electicity needs for Cape Cod on a day like today when the wind was blowing a steady 12 knots (14 MPH) on Horseshoe Shoal where the site will be built at 11:30 Wednesday when this story was published.

Siemens is the leading provider of offshore wind turbines for almost 20 years, since the world's first offshore wind farm installed in 1991 in Vindeby, Denmark to the world's largest offshore wind farm, Horns Rev II in the North Sea. Siemens Wind Power also has a strong presence in the U.S. with approximately 1,000 employees and more than $100 million invested in two manufacturing locations for onshore wind turbines.

Cape Wind completed State and Local permitting in 2008 and is awaiting a final Federal permitting decision from U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who has recently stated he will make his decision by the end of April.

Joe Malone on Fox News Strategy Room Thursday

Congressional Candidate Joe Malone to Appear on Fox News Strategy Room

Joe Malone to appear on FOX News with Heher Nauert Thursday, April 1 at 10:30 am.

Joe Malone, Congressional candidate in the 10th District in Massachusetts, will be a guest on the Fox News - Strategy Room on Thursday, April 1st at 10:30 am.

The streaming national web program will feature Fox anchor Heather Nauert as the interviewer for the live segment with Malone.

Malone said, "I look forward to telling a national audience about our campaign and my pro-free enterprise philosophy."

The Strategy Room is the web's most talked about live show. Join us weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an always entertaining discussion of the day's top stories, plus a variety of hour-long shows on topics like business, health, technology, and entertainment.

Send Fox your e-mails at strategyroom@foxnews.com.

Offshore oil wells to multiply like locusts; Gov. Patrick to give 4Cs commencement address; Mornings with Mailer; Bourne landfill proposal scraped; Falmouth wind turbine contract signed; Tourism through time; Why is a pit bull like a Prius?

TODAY's quote: "You're cooking this turkey like a Christian!" - Norman Mailer.

Obama To Let Offshore Oil Wells Multiply Like Locusts

The Green movement will despise President Obama's decision to open portions of the Gulf and offshore regions from Delaware to the Carolinas to drilling. The oil industry will love it.
   "To set America on a path to energy independence, the president believes we must leverage our diverse domestic resources by pursuing a comprehensive energy strategy," said a statement provided by an administration official in a document published by CNN.
   The ability to drill in the areas ends a ban of over two decades that kept oil companies from exploration of new fields. The announcement will pit liberal Democrats who mostly disapprove of threats to the environment against Republicans who claim that new exploration and drilling are the only way to find supplies that will bring down America's reliance on foreign crude... 24/7 Wall Street.

U.S. proposal would allow oil drilling off Virginia
5-year plan would open Alaskan, Gulf waters

The Interior Department will announce a proposal Monday to allow oil and gas drilling in federal waters near Virginia that are currently off-limits and permit new exploration in Alaska's Bristol Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, according to people who have seen or been told about drafts of the plan.

Is this the future for George Bank?

The department issued a news release yesterday that was lacking details but said that it had finished a five-year plan that will include a "major proposal for expanded oil and natural gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf." Department officials declined to describe the plan.

Congress would still have to agree to open areas currently off-limits before any drilling could take place off Virginia's coast. Every year since 1982, after an oil spill off Santa Barbara, Calif., Congress has reaffirmed a moratorium on drilling off the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coasts... Washington Post.
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Why a pit bull is like a Prius
Like canine attacks before them, even minor or dubious Toyota accidents are becoming part of a big, scary story

What could pit bulls possibly have in common with Toyotas? Pit bulls, after all, tend to be smaller and furrier. And whatever you do, never try to wash and wax a pit bull. Still, there is a connection. Both have been at the center of "misinformation cascades," in which false "facts" roll downhill until they become avalanches, sweeping away everything in their path...

A 70-year-old Cape Cod woman became something of an international celebrity after driving her new RAV4 into a doctor's office, sustaining minor injuries. She wouldn't talk to the media. But her kids did.

"She had her foot on the brake," the woman's daughter told one paper. "All of a sudden, the car accelerated." Her son told another paper, "She was going to park. She put on the brake, and next thing you know, the car accelerated into the building."

But the woman was cited by police, and an officer told a local paper that "authorities initially found the gas and brake pedals to be working properly." And, by the way, neither child was in the car... Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Gov. Patrick to speak at 4Cs commencement on May 27

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will deliver the commencement address during commencement ceremonies of Cape Cod Community College on Thursday May 27.
    The college's 48th commencement ceremonies will be held at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. Bourne Courier.

Group Retracts Landfill Partnership Proposal

In December of last year, the Waste to Energy Reclamation Company, or WERC, approached the Bourne Board of Health and the Bourne Board of Selectmen proposing to form a public/private partnership that would take over the operation of the landfill.

This Tuesday, one of the members of that group, Wings Neck resident Gerard J. O'Brien, hand-delivered to selectmen a letter withdrawing that proposal.

The letter said that WERC spent almost a year reviewing landfill operations, not just to develop its operational model and partnership proposal, but also to develop a good working relationship with the town.

One of the reasons for its withdrawal of its offer, that letter said, was the "adversarial" and "dismissive" way the town met the group's proposal, one that was made orally, but never reduced to a formal written submission... Bourne Enterprise.
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Mailer, who was married to Norris for 27 years, explained his infidelities as part of the creative process.

Mornings with Mailer: Eat, pray, shove
Cooking with Mailer in two new memoirs

Fascinating, absolutely fascinating. So after all the roarings and the thumpings and the garlands and the scandals, after all the sex and the jazz and the fires on the moon and the women's-libbers howling for his blood and the glass bouncing off Gore Vidal's head, the old lion ends his days in comfortable domesticity on the crooked fingertip of Cape Cod, nibbling teriyaki-infused oatmeal and reading baseball statistics on the crapper. Ah, Life - what would we do without you?

That teriyaki oatmeal, by the way, was his own creation. Teriyaki, we learn from Dwayne Raymond's memoir Mornings with Mailer (Harper Perennial), was the nectar of Norman Mailer's declining years. "What about teriyaki, butter, and raspberry jam?" he muses at one point in the book. "Could we mix them together and then fry a thin breakfast steak in it? How would that taste?" ("He asked this," comments Raymond, "as if I somehow secretly knew how it would taste and was keeping the answer from him")... Boston Phoenix.
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Vintage Views: Tourism through time

Not until the 1850s when Henry David Thoreau wrote of its solitude, its windswept sands lapped by the ever-changing sea, had many people even heard of Cape Cod. Early on sportsmen - hunters and fishermen - would come from Boston and New York for the outdoor life by the sea; others would come each summer for the spiritual revivals offered on the sandy shores.
   Word spread from these returning visitors, and gradually the tents of the campers were replaced with wooden cottages and socialization became as important as spirituality by the sea.
   The railroad was the prime architect of the opening of the Cape to tourism.
   In 1845 the Old Colony Railroad's main line was completed from Boston to Plymouth and a journey which had taken seven hours by packet boat to Barnstable or two days over land by stagecoach, took only five hours... Harwich Oracle.

Solaya Wins Falmouth Wind Contract
Will save town $175,000 to $500,000 annually

The Solaya Energy Division of Lumus Construction has been awarded a contract by the Massachusetts Town of Falmouth to erect a 262-foot high wind turbine. The 1.65-megawatt (MW) wind turbine manufactured by Vestas will be located at the Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility. Solaya Energy will furnish, construct and install the Falmouth Wind Energy Facility 2 Turbine and all associated equipment at the site as well as commission the turbine on completion.

"At Solaya Energy, we're firmly committed to helping municipalities like Falmouth harness natural energy resources," said Sumul Shah, CEO of Solaya Energy. "Cape Cod is a region particularly well suited to wind power, and the Town of Falmouth has taken a strong leadership role in making renewable energy a priority."

The turbine is expected to generate between 3.1 and 4.2 million kilowatt hours annually, approximately 30% of the Town's municipal energy utilization. According to Heather Harper, Assistant Town Manager of Falmouth, the turbine will save Falmouth from US $175,000 to $500,000 annually depending on production.

The overall project cost is estimated at approximately $4.9 million. The turbine is funded by ARRA-Federal Stimulus and managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection-State Revolving Fund through a 0% Loan with 100% debt forgiveness. RenewableEnergyWorld.

Chapter 96-Yom Kippur-Part 3

Copyright 1995

By David Rojay

THE LONG BRIDGE RUNNER

Book One/THE MIDWEST

As Yom Kippur approached, Gurion began thinking about Daniel.  He knew the Reeves’ family had moved to Evansville; but little did he know that Daniel delivered newspapers next door to Dr. Finkel’s office.  As Gurion was only in the office twice a week and never on Saturday when Daniel collected, he never saw the boy ride his bicycle up to the drycleaners next door. 

He wondered why Daniel was so much on his mind as he prepared to sing Kol Nidre.[i]  Did Daniel, with his resemblance to Abe fill some vacuum? 

But as Gurion stood on the bema[ii] in front of the expectant Congregation, he, of course, saw no sign of Daniel.  Instead, a capacity audience filled the Synagogue.  No one in the audience had heard him sing but he could feel the rising expectation.  In just over a minute, the sun would start to set and with that, the first chords of Kol Nidre would be played by the great pipe organ in the Synagogue’s balcony.  He looked up, waiting, looked up, as the chandelier hanging from the middle of the great dome seemed to sparkle with a thousand lights.  The Choir stood nervously, a Choir of professional singers all hired for this special night.  Gurion smiled a little smile; they were, without exception, Christians.   

At that precise moment, he heard the G Minor Chord, then the D Major Chord and the onward march of the Chord Progression.  The Rabbi stood beside him and raised his arms upward and the entire Congregation stood.  Only then did Gurion see Kimberly off to his right about three rows back.  She wore one of her navy blue suits with red piping.  “She is beautiful,” he thought as he sang,  “Kol nid-re   ve-e-so-re   va-cha-ro-me   v’-ko-na me   v’chi-nu-ye   v’-ki-nu-no---- ush   vu----.”

Now the Chorus entered with its short interlude.  His voice felt good, it was low in his diaphragm and well placed.  He would have the support he needed for the high notes that followed, the notes that offered him a chance to daven[iii]……. “Voy   voy   voy   voy   voy   vu-----    voy   voy   voy   voy   voy.”   

This virtuoso flourish of improvisation of tearful silver-toned notes did the trick.  He could sense that he had the Congregation in his hands; now he could sing freely with all the love that was in his heart, “U-d’-ish-   - t’-va-no u’-d-a---- cha-rim – na.” 

The Spanish intervals flew out of him like doves in flight.  Another choral interlude followed and he set himself for the declaration as his voice trumpeted, “Din-dar-no.”  He was home free now, he had cleared all the technical hurdles that had concerned him and he wrapped himself around the music and grabbed hold of it the way a wrestler grabs his opponent.  The most critical member of the congregation would be won over by now.  When he started Kol Nidre for the second time, he was six minutes into the three required repetitions.  This time he sang a little bigger, a little fuller than the first time out.  Now he could finally pray; but “Did he believe in prayer,” he asked himself.  He had prayed on Kristallnacht[iv] but to no avail.  “Don’t loose your concentration, don’t be over confident,” he chided himself. 

Once again it was time for the “Din-dar-no.”  He sang the three notes like a trumpeter, his voice growing stronger and stronger.  He was half way through—nine minutes in.  The Congregation would be getting weary on its feet and he would be growing stronger than ever.  All the practicing had paid off, the running, the dieting, the long night’s sleep; and so as he sailed to the end of the second rendition, he felt as if Henri Russotto had composed this arrangement just for him.

At the beginning of the third round, most of the elderly sat down, as did some children and a pregnant woman to his left.  This was all expected and it did not detract from the awesome power of his voice, a power that roared out into the Congregation and filled his voice with pain and the little cry of great Cantors, a cry full of love, a cry that called forth the soul of Jews everywhere—the Jews of Persia and Azerbaijan and Bukharain and Tashkent and Samarkand and Kandahar, the Jews of Damascus and Aleppo, the Jews of Baghdad and Babylon, the Jews of Yemen and of Ethiopia and Egypt and Lebanon and Istanbul and Turkey and Greece and all the European Jews and the Slavic Jews and the Jews of Libya and Tunisia and Algeria and Morocco, of South Africa and Rhodesia and all the Jews of the Americas and the tiny islands of Jews in Japan and China, in Shanghai and Singapore and Jakarta and Mandalay, in Bombay and Calcutta, the remnants of South Asia and the Jews of Australia and greatest of all, the Jews of Jerusalem—all the Jews, everywhere being summoned to repentance, being summoned from their graves—those who had lived and struggled and loved for millennium, and all those who had suffered at the hands of the Evil One. 

When it was over and the last note had been sung, the Congregation surged to the entrance and a chance in the receiving line.  Gurion stood there beside the Rabbi while Kimberly waited alone on her pew.  She was a little envious of the attention.  Was the feeling she felt what Gurion called “schadenfreude”.[v]   Just then the Rebbetzin,[vi] who had never spoken to her til now, came up to her and praised Gurion.  She was full of accolades but Kimberly did not hear them, she realized as never before that Gurion really was a Jew and tonight he was the Jew.  It was as if a great wall had been erected around him and she was outside the wall alone and shrinking by the minute. 

As the receiving line came to an end, Gurion saw her sitting alone and he came up to her and removed his tallit[vii] and folded it and handed it to his wife and said to her, “Hey, sweetie pie, let’s go home.” 

And so copying the practice of the Orthodox on such a night, they walked together in the warm evening breeze under a starlit sky.  It was only nine blocks to their house by the river.

________________________________________________________________

In the coming year, chapters will change on Wednesday.

Be sure to watch David Rojay on The Dan and Dad Show each Saturday night at 9:30 on Channel 17.  Read A RED STATE HERO by David Rojay on capecodtoday.com.  Read Sea Street—David Rojay’s blog on capecodtoday.com and finally check out David Rojay on YOUTUBE.  For more information, Google “David Rojay”.

Check out my Sea Street Blog:  “Kentucky Lake Solution to the Middle East Crisis.” 

Cape Cod Museum of Art spring art classes begin April 12th

Variety of classes for adults and children, April 12th through June 7th in Dennis

Cape Cod Museum of Art is offering a wide variety of classes and workshops for children and adults in its spring session. The offerings include a clay class for children as well as variety of choices for adults including art history, painting, drawing, pastels, printmaking, calligraphy, film discussion, photography, jewelry making and sculpture and clay classes.

Adult classes include: The Provincetown Artist Colony (history of the Provincetown artist colony) with Debbie Forman; Basic Drawing and Acrylic Painting taught by CCMA Curator Michael Giaquinto; Painting Oils with Primary Colors with artist Lance Walker; a Watercolor class taught by award-winning artist Kely Knowles; Figure Drawing with Patrick Blackwell; Discovering Film with Eric Hart of the Cape Cinema;  Drawing & Relief Sculpture with Sarah Holl; Oil Painting for All Levels with Robert Roark; Wheel Thrown Pottery with Nat Doane; Jewelry Making with Jesse Horowitz; Intermediate Digital Photography with Stan Godwin; Dry Pastels with Peter Richenburg; Printmaking with Kate Sidwell; and Clay Treasures for Kids with Jenn Reed.  There will also be a weekend workshop, April 17 - 18: Calligraphy - Design Your Own Monogram with Rick Paulus.

The museum has two open studio forums: Open Studio for Collage with Christy King,  Wednesdays 1 pm – 4 pm and an Open Clay Studio, Thursday evenings, 6 pm – 8 pm and Friday afternoons, 2 pm – 4 pm. These open studio forums are for those who wish to work on projects in a studio environment with other artist for networking, idea sharing and support.

A list of class and workshop descriptions may be found here.

To register by phone, call 508-385-4477 ext.16. To register online, or for a complete listing of classes and workshops, visit CCMA's website at www.ccmoa.org.

Courtesy of CCMA.

Cape Cod Museum of Art, the regional art museum of Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts, is located off Route 6A, 60 Hope Lane, on the grounds of Cape Cod Center for the Arts, Dennis.

Fifty-nine in '84: The greatest pitcher of all time

As the current professional baseball season is about to start, as the players for the famous Cape Cod League are finishing their school year, and as the old geezers of the Cape Old-Timers Softball League (of which I was one) shake off their winter arthritic aches and pains, a fascinating baseball book has just hit the bookstores.

Ed Achorn's Fifty-nine in '84 tells the story of the greatest pitcher of all time, Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn of the Providence Grays, who won a phenomenal 59 games in 1884, when baseball was a grueling sport, much different from what it is today.

The Providence Grays were one of the top two teams in the National League, the other being the Boston Red Stockings, the teams engaging in a serious rivalry much like the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry of today. There were no relief pitchers in those days, and each team may have had two pitchers on whom they could rely, sometimes using them in two, three, or four consecutive games. They played in the cold, in the rain (unless the ballpark surface got flooded out), and through injury. And without gloves or protective headgear.

"Old Hoss" Radbourn's personal goal that year was to pitch and win enough games to give Providence the National League pennant. And he succeeded, winning 59 games in one season, a record that hasn't been broken since and never will be.

Split fingers and torn rotator cuffs were just the cost of playing ball. There were no team doctors, whirlpools, or sympathy from the management. If a player couldn't play anymore, he was released with no benefits and no pension.  Additionally, the players and umpires were in real, constant danger of being physically beaten by fans.

Radbourn played hard, drank hard (a quart a day), took up with a beautiful woman of dubious virtue, and died young with a good-looking corpse at age 43. Sort of the American Dream. Except that he died of syphilis.

Achorn, a lifelong baseball aficionado and deputy editorial pages editor of the  Providence Journal, evokes the Providence of the 1880s perfectly, from the rough and tumble hard-drinking baseball players to the easy women who idolized them.  His research is meticulous, and he brings early baseball to life in the pages of his book.  In fact, my rotator cuff was aching every time I turned a page.

Fifty-nine in '84 is a stirring, enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. If you like baseball, you'll love this book. It's available at all bookstores and from Amazon.com.

Kerry Healey to host Jeff Perry in Quincy on March 31st

Dr. Lisa Antonelli and Dr. John Dalton to co:host the South Shore event

Representative Jeff Perry with then Lt. Governor Kerry Healey at a 9/11 event in 2006 in Buzzards Bay.

Kerry Healey, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, will host a fundraising reception for 10th Congressional District candidate Jeff Perry at 6:30pm, Wednesday, March 31st at the Neighbor Club in Quincy.

The fundraiser, which is also being co- hosted by Dr. Lisa Antonelli and Dr. John Dalton, will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Club located at 27 Glendale Road in Quincy.

Mr. Perry is presently a State Rep from the Upper Cape and is seeking the Republican nomination for US Congressman in the 10th District.