Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Sopranos actor creates the most popular sandwich at Pauli's Restaurant on Salem Street in the North End.
You could almost say North Reading resident Paul Barker was born in a North End shop. His grandfather started Pace’s Grocery on Salem Street in the North End of Boston in 1966 where Paul worked when he was a child. His father bought Caruso’s Market on Salem Street in the 1970s, his mother started Nicole’s Restaurant just across the road in the 1980s and his uncle started J. Pace & Sons on Cross Street around the same time. So Barker grew up helping out in family businesses and – when he wanted to start his own – knew this was the neighborhood for him. What makes this restaurant stand out? “I worked here most of my life and thought the community needed something different,” said Paul who opened Pauli’s at 65 Salem Street on June 1, 2011. “I…
Monday, August 27, 2012
Dina Metrano will be featured in the October issue of Shape Magazine.
Reading Memorial High School graduate Dina Metrano will be featured in the October issue of Shape Magazine in an article about how exercise helps depression. Metrano is a group exercise trainer and director at PUMPS Fitness in Wakefield, a women's facility fitness center. Working with women constantly allows her to see how they benefit from exercise. "The easiest excuse women have is, 'there's no time' when in fact, we all have time, you need to make time," she said. Exercising saved her, she said, by creating natural endorphins. In the article in Shape, she shares personal experiences and hopes that will inspire other women. "The article is going to be great, inspiring for lots of women who suffer from depression but don't know/…
Monday, August 20, 2012
Kevin Newhall produced a video to educate the community on Youth Services.
North Reading resident and Boy Scout Kevin Newhall has been working with Youth Services and Norcam since January on a video that promotes Youth Services and their programs. Newhall is hoping that this project, along with working toward badges and other requirements, will help him become an Eagle Scout. Newhall first joined the Boy Scouts in 2005. His dad was his inspiration and very involved in his Boy Scout career, he said. The 18-year-old had also been involved in Youth Services since 2007, so when it came time to complete a project to become an Eagle Scout he decided to do something to benefit the program. "North Reading Youth Services was always a major mpart of my life," Newhall said. "It gave me a lot and helped me as a person. It …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Johnny Barbas is part of the band Joy Island, who will be featured on the E! reality show Opening Act.
Reading Memorial High School graduate Johnny Barbas is part of the band Joy Island that will be featured on the E! reality show Opening Act next Monday. Barbas, a drummer; Bri Summers, a DJ from North Carolina; and Josh Bissel, a singer from Maine make up the band Joy Island. Earlier this year, the band signed up for a television show, but never heard back. So they packed their bags and were ready to move to Los Angeles to try to make it in the music industry. The night before they were ready to leave their manager called to let them know that the TV show they had signed up for, may come through after all. He asked them to stick around for a few more weeks to find out. They decided to "roll the dice," Barbas said, and the band postponed …
Monday, July 30, 2012
Amina Meho was one step away from making the 2012 Olympics.
Amina Meho has been swimming since she was two-years-old, and just barely missed her chance to compete in the 2012 Olympics. Meho, 21, began swimming competitively at age 10. Her father, an Olympic swimmer, moved to the United States from Lebanon to teach swimming, and of course, taught Meho. “My life is surrounded by swimming, which I can’t complain. I love it,” she said. She started swimming at the Woburn YMCA, and eventually moved to the Burbank YMCA for more serious training. “I wanted to get better and competed there from my freshman year of high school until senior year,” she said. She now swims at UMASS Amherst, where she used to own the 50 free record (23.55), however last year a freshman broke her record by a tenth of a second …
Monday, July 23, 2012
Charlene Bazarian was featured in the August issue.
Reading resident Charlene Bazarian was featured in the August issue of Good Housekeeping magazine for her weight loss. Bazarian went from 208 to 119 pounds by eating a better diet and exercising regularly. Bazarian grew up in Reading and has always lived in town. She is a mom of three, lawyer and owner of a DJ service, Rick Obey’s Entertainment. She has also started her own Facebook page, FBJ, that offers fitness advice to readers. “I wear a lot of hats,” she said. Throughout her weight loss journey, she lost 89 pounds. She started at 208 pounds and now weighs in at 119. She was an average size throughout her high school and college careers, but while attending law school she put on weight. Then, after having her children, she put on even …
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Sergeant Encarnacao has been a police officer since 1999.
North Reading Police Detective Thomas Encarnacao was recenlty promoted to sergeant. The position is a provisional-temporary appointment. After he passes an exam in October, he will be considered for the permanent position. After growing up in North Reading, Encarnacao decided to join the police force in town in 1999. He was influenced by his brother and childhood friend's father, who were both police officers. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a masters in criminal justice with a concentration in police administration. Earlier this year, he was named Officer of the Year for 2011 by his peers. He is excited about his promotion to sergeant and taking the next step in his career, he said. "Fortunately, I have had many …
Monday, July 9, 2012
Sergeant Romeo was promoted to provisional Lieutenant Detective last week.
Sergeant Thomas Romeo was recently promoted to Lieutenant Detective in the North Reading Police Department (NRPD). The position is a provisional-temporary appointment. After Romeo passes an exam in October, he will be considered for the permanent position. Romeo grew up in North Reading, graduated from North Reading High School and has a masters degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England College. He also served as an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Western New England College. Romeo, a North Reading resident, joined the NRPD in 1985. He was promoted to detective in 1994, and eventually to patrol sergeant in 2008. "I served as the shift supervisor and traffic and safety supervisor," he said. He has been …
Friday, June 1, 2012
Coach Russell has more than 400 wins, and was awarded Coach of the Year for the Cape Ann League.
North Reading High School softball Coach Walter “Rusty’’ Russell has coached softball for 27 years, and now has more than 400 wins. According to Boston.com, Russell has developed the softball program to be one of the best in Massachusetts. Throughout the past 27 years, Russell has won over 400 games; two state championships, in 1999 and 2007; one Eastern Massachusetts crown and 19 Cape Ann League titles. His 400th win happened when the Hornets beat Manchester Essex last week. His current record, according to the NRHS Athletic Director Dave Johnson, is 402-168. "Coach Russell, he's got a very fiery spirit, which I think is very infectious to the kids. He is a very competitive person and he works real hard to put his team in a position to …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Leahy will be recognized for her work with Creative Arts and the Reading Girl Scouts.
A local business owner is scheduled to receive two awards Wednesday night for her contributions to two local organizations. Leslie Leahy, owner of the Hitching Post on Haven Street, got the call from Creative Arts first. She will receive the organization’s Founder’s Award. The award is given to a person or organization who embodies the goals and objectives of Creative Arts, according to Executive Director Jennifer Hart: to support the community, understand the importance of the arts and to help make them available to everyone. Leahy has helped Creative Arts in ways big and small, Hart said. Leahy has held “fundraisers for us, donates items to our auction each year and holds shop nights” at the store for the organization, Hart said. She …
Diana Hall
10:23 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Dina is such a wonderful roll model. When I was done taking a class with Dina I felt so good stress was gone I could go on with the rest of the day feeling great I would be sore for a few days but I love that feeling because I new in the end in time I would get the results that I was looking for..I look at everything you do having 4 boys. It makes me want to be you with all that energy and … more ›