Everett MA – Everett Leader Herald

Hazy, Hot and Hummus

Beat the summer heat with this middle eastern inspired delight

By JOSH RESNEK

If you don’t care for chickpeas or hummus, which is made from chickpeas, then stop reading.

If you like hummus – and I love hummus – then here’s perhaps the quickest, easiest, sweetest, best tasting, healthiest lunch you can eat.

First, you need hummus.

Lately, I’ve been buying Boar’s Head Hummus.

Yes. This is the same Boar’s Head that produces the kind of fine smoked beef products and delicatessen meats that tend to give more hearts attacks and stents than long-lasting health to those who eat such products.

Boar’s Head Hummus is a cut above all others I’ve tried at the supermarket.

It’s about $4.50 for a small container (available at Stop and Shop) which is good for three small meals, as long as you have the rest of the healthy products required.

The sweet science

Broadway Boxing Club trainers Dennis Wilcox (thumb up) and Joe Ricciardi (center) surrounded by the many boxers training for free at the new boxing center at the old Everett High School building. (Contributed photo)

Broadway Boxing Club open to interested fighters

By LORENZO RECUPERO

If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing in the ring, get your gloves and inner fight readyas a first-of-its-kind boxing center is now open for all Everett residents to attend — free of charge.

Whether you’re 13, 30, or maybe older, the Broadway Boxing Club at the site of the old Everett High School, is welcoming all to train with certified USA Boxing trainers and former amateur boxers, Dennis Willcox and Joe Ricciardi, who have been running the club together since it opened to residents in May.

“Both Joe and Myself were amateur boxers and he had a gym in Saugus. He would train professional boxers and we talked about getting together to offer it to the youth of Everett and that’s how it came to be,” Said Willcox, who said he presented the idea to the city and was offered the space at the former site of the Wellness Center.

“The free program is offered for all ages, but the best time to get started with boxing is between the ages of 12-13. So we really want to encourage all the interested youth in the city to get involved,” said Willcox.

COVID variant back to haunt US, cases spike locally, nationally

JULY 18: A CHA medical professional gives a COVID vaccine to a person at First Baptist Church. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

By JOSH RESNEK

Massachusetts announced more than 770 new cases of the COVID virus this week.

Just when we thought we were over with the virus that derailed our lives for longer than a year, it appears to be attempting a comeback in its old form and with new strains.

A number of new cases were reported in Everett and in neighboring cities and towns – nothing like when the virus was out of control – but enough to make the clear thinking people among us stop and to think.

Could it happen again? Is it happening again right now?

This comes against a backdrop of life returning to a new normal and of life being different for many of us than in the years before the virus changed our lives.

Most men and women working for larger corporations in big buildings have not returned to work and will likely not be returning for a long time.

We are a nation now that works from home or by ZOOM meetings.

Capone momentum building

July 17: Mayoral candidate Fred Capone, right, enjoys a laugh with a guest at his birthday bash at Anthony’s Saturday. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

By JOSH RESNEK

If there were any thoughts that Fred Capone’s campaign is all about smoke and mirrors they were dashed Saturday evening at his birthday party fundraiser.

The event drew more than 250 Everett people from all walks of life to Anthony’s in Malden where Capone delivered impassioned, extemporaneous speeches in two rooms packed with supporters setting out what he is hoping to do when he is elected the mayor of Everett.

“I promise to lower your taxes, to hire more firefighters, and to send police into the neighborhoods,” he told the crowd, which filled an indoor ballroom and a large, tented area next to it.

The heartiest round of applause followed his comments about the changing city under the present administration. What he referred to as development out of control is significantly altering livability in the city.

“Development is good,” he said in so many words.

“But what we have is uncontrolled over-development throughout the city. Future development needs to be controlled,” he added.

Capone’s remarks were delivered with confidence, calm, and his to-the-point language was delivered without notes.

No jackpot for Encore June revenues

JULY 17: Encore looking down Dexter Street past the newly acquired piece of property on the right Wynn bought. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

Casino analyst, Wynn execs surprised by earnings drop, wonder if post-pandemic boom over

By JOSH RESNEK

A slight downturn in June earnings at Encore Boston Harbor has casino analysts and Encore executives wondering what exactly happened.

June figures came in almost $400,000 less than May’s figures, which were up dramatically over April’s.

Business had seemed robust for most of May and into June, with huge gains in income.

June’s final figures showed Encore generating $52.5 million in table games and slot machine revenues.

This was down from May’s $52.9 according to a release of the figures by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on July 15.

By contrast, MGM Springfield’s earnings tumbled by $1 million from May to June.

MGM Springfield’s earnings went from $21.2 in May to $20.2 in June.

Plainridge Park Casino also dropped $1.1 million from May to June, reporting figures of $12.4 million in May and $11.3 million in June.