The Alewife

Capone's has it fresh, ready

by David S. Saggese

On the birthday of  Rome, April 21, an Italian fresh pasta and specialty foods store opened in North Cambridge, at 2285 Massachusetts Ave.

Jennifer Capone Hegarty Capone, the manager of Capone Foods Cambridge with imported bottles of imported lemonade.

Alewife Photo by Neil W. McCabe

“We’ve had a great response from the neighborhood, it seems like everyone’s happy to see us here,” said Jennifer Capone Hegarty, the manager of the family-owned and operated Capone Foods Cambridge.

Her parents Albert and Mary Capone have operated Capone Foods Somerville in Union Square since the early 1980s and have been on the lookout for a high-traffic second location for the last few years, she said. “We’ve  been looking for a space to buy. We like the Mass. Ave. address.”

Capone Foods specializes in both home-made and imported goods. The imported goods include a large selection of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, dried pasta coffee, chocolates and cheeses, she said. The store has arranged for fresh bread every day delivered from Brookline’s Clear Flour Bakery.

The front counter is set up so customers can sample the fresh bread and olive oils, her mother said.

Jennifer said the Union Square store is still the base of operations.  The home-made items, such as the lasagna, sausage, empandadas and sauces are prepared at that kitchen be six cooks who have been with the family for many years. Then, they are shuttled to the North Cambridge store. “The recipes are all developed by my father, he trains everyone on how to do everything.”

Some of the items are more popular than others, she said. The most popular items are the ones that people can throw in the microwave for and easy high quality meal, she said. “People stock up on those or they stop in on their way home from work.”

Another dimension is the company’s wholesale business, she said. “We sell to restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and local places like the Fresh Pond Market--we definitely keep ourselves busy.”

Business has been slow through the summer months, but Capone said she believes will pick up in the coming months.

Brownsberger speaks to contributors of The Alewife

State Rep. William N. Brownsberger, D, 24th Middlesex District spoke at the July 27 contributors meeting of The Alewife held at the back table of Porter Square Books.

Check out the video now.

Check out the video now.

Patrick, Brown honored by local Scouts

by David S. Saggese

The Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which includes the city, honored June 26 the state's first lady and the founder of a local college at their 24th Annual Good Scout Luncheon held at Harvard Square's Charles Hotel.

The Lady Baden-Powell was presented to Diane B. Patrick, the wife of Gov. Deval L. Patrick, for her work as a woman within the community who has made a significant impact on the youth through her service to others and community leadership. The Good Scout Award was present to educator Eileen M. Brown, the chancellor and founder of Cambridge College, to recognize how she as an individual sought no reward for service other than the satisfaction of aiding others in the community and in the nation, said Janet L. Cormier, one of the event organizers. “Everyone seemed happy and very pleased with the event. It was an impressive ceremony.”

The Cambridge Good Scout Luncheon was attended by Scouts of all ages, their family members and members of the Cambridge business community, said Cormier.

Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves and Denise A. Jillson, the executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, made the presentations, she said.

The luncheon also included a presentation on the Venture Scouting program by Maya Deborst, the president of Cambridge’s Troop/Crew 56, which is a new co-ed group founded inside the council, she said. “She did a fabulous job speaking about venture.”

The event sponsored by the Harvard Square Business Association, she said. Proceeds from the Cambridge Good Scout Luncheon support Scouting programs serving Cambridge boys and girls, she said. “Everything ran on time.”

'Comedy Madness' tonight

Comic and artist Janet Cormier brings her "Comedy Madness" show to Central Square's All-Asia restaurant tonight.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $5.

The featured poet will be Chad Parenteau and the Comedy lineup will include Erin Judge, Marc Balsch, Chis Nesmith and Steve Duval.

Gooch leads Rindge Towers Tour

by David S. Saggese

The property manager of Federal Management Company, which owns the neighborhood’s largest affordable housing complex led a June 6 tour of public officials to review the progress and management of the facility.

“As a policy maker, knowing the amount of subsidies that run through here, it’s impossible not to want to see the money re-invested. I hope these buildings are here for a long time, and we’ve really worked to make sure that they are affordable for a long time. We want to make sure that the tenants see consistent re-investment in these buildings,” said City Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, who is the chairman of the city council’s housing committee.

Galluccio said his advocacy for the residents of the Fresh Pond Apartments at 362 and 364 Rindge Ave., dates to even before he as mayor negotiated the terms for keeping the units as affordable housing apartments, when the owner had the option of converting them to the private market in 2000.

Among the other officials on the tour were City Councillor Craig A. Kelley, the other member of the city council who lives in North Cambridge, State Rep. William N. Brownsberger, D, North Cambridge, whose district includes the towers and members of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee.

The two towers have 540 units, mostly two-bedroom, one-bathroom living quarters complete with a kitchen and living room, said property manager Kevin T. Sullivan.

Since 2000, 298 rooms have been renovated between the two buildings, and the company’s goal is to renovate 50 rooms each year, he said.

“I’ve been trying to listen to the immediate crisis issues around rodents and the asbestos issues and security issues,” Galluccio said.

He is also focused on quality of life issues and long term renovations, he said.

Patricia A. Casola, the president of the tenants association, who was on the tour as well, said she was concerned with the presence of asbestos. “We still have issues with asbestos, serious issues with asbestos, and those things have to be addressed.”

Peterson speaks to contributors of The Alewife

DPW Comissioner, Lisa Peterson spoke at the July 13 contributors meeting of  The Alewife held at the back table of Porter Square Books.

Check out the video now.

Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Swimming Pool

Problems at the Pool
by David S. Saggese

Neighbors of the DCR managed Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool on 359 Rindge Ave. are concerned that this summer there will be a continuation of the after-hour illegal activity seen in summers past.

“This is a perennial problem. Kids cut through the fence repeatedly and there have been some thefts. There is also some drinking that occurs outside the pool area,” said State Rep. William N. Brownsberger, D, North Cambridge.

The pool is open 10 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week from late June until mid – August.

The DCR is concerned about the problem, but has to work within budget constraints, said DCR spokeswoman Wendy Fox.

The cost would be too great to have guards at the pool at all hours, and that even though the city police can go by, they might miss any illegal activity, she said.

“It’s a hard thing to stop, it would cost huge amounts to put people there all night,” said Fox.

The North Cambridge Crime Task Force is also concerned, said Shirley Santos, the coordinator for the NCCTF.

“The pool is on the North Cambridge property, so it’s always a concern, she said.

Santos said, “I know that there were some concerns but I’m not sure where it’s coming from.”

The pool has been a popular late-night hang out spot for kids for the last 30 years, said Officer Frank T. Pasquarello, spokesman for the Cambridge Police Department.

Vending 'Spare Change'

A former homeless man, "Spare Change" vendor, John Correia spoke to The Alewife about his experience on the street and his new job at the Porter Square Shopping Center.

Check out the video now.

The Alewife contributors meeting July 6

The Alewife staff, spoke at the July 6 contributors meeting of  The Alewife held at the back table of Porter Square Books. 

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Mass. Ave. convenience store for sale

The convenience store on 2245 Massachusetts Ave., owned by the Hayes family of North Cambridge, is being listed by the C. Brendan Noonan & Company of Cambridge.

"It has been on the market for about two to three weeks," said C. Brendan Noonan & Co. Vice President,  John R. Burns.

The current asking price is $2.5 million, Burns said.

The retail building is 11,505 square feet, and the land value is appraised at $621,300, equaling 54 dollars per square foot, according records at the city assesser's office.

Bread and Butter Konvenience leases the property, said Burns.

The property also contains a first floor living area that is 2,520 square feet, appraised at $544,559, and a paved lot that is 8,800 square feet, appraised at $5,600, according to the same records.

 

Wolf speaks to contributors of The Alewife

State Rep. Alice K. Wolf, D, North Cambridge, spoke at the June 29 contributors meeting of  The Alewife held at the back table of Porter Square Books.

Check out the video now.

Kelley speaks to contributors of The Alewife

City Councillor Craig A. Kelley spoke at the June 22 contributors meeting of  The Alewife held at the back table of Porter Square Books.

Read the article in the July edition of the paper. 

Check out the video now.