Josh Resnek – Everett Leader Herald

Steaming It Up On A Hot Summer Day

By Josh Resnek

For weeks I had been wanting a New England summer treat – the kind my father loved, which I came to love, and frankly, which I cannot do without at least several times during an average summer.

I’m talking steamers and clam chowder.

I know. I know. Clam chowder can often be so disappointing.

Steamers, however, always manage to please.

Over the weekend, my wife and I ate at the Barnicle on Marblehead Harbor. I’ve been eating there all my life.

It isn’t the grandest of New England waterfront restaurant venues but it is solid.

The chowder was solid.

What does that mean?

It wasn’t all gouged out of a can and heated up and served as a homemade treat. The chowder was, and has always been, specially made. In recent years, the chowder has gotten better and better at the Barnicle.

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CO2 Supply Issues Cause Cutback At Everett’s Night Shift Brewing

By Josh Resnek

There is a nationwide shortage of CO2 for a variety of complex supply and scientific issues
we do not pretend to understand.

It is the same in Europe and especially in the United Kingdom where CO2 shortages have
been experienced for almost 2 years.

The CO2 shortage locally has just taken its toll at Night Shift Brewing.

Because of a sustained shortage of the gas, Night Shift Brewing reported over the weekend that it is laying off 12 employees on October 1 because there is not enough CO2 to allow the Everett facility to produce beer.

The Everett brewery will be moving a great deal of its beer production to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham and Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket, R.I, according to brewery officials.

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Online Betting OK’D In Last Minute Deal

By Josh Resnek

A last-minute deal the House and Senate worked out during an all night session that went into Monday morning allows both
in-person and online sports wagering, including some college games, and sets up the Gaming Commission as the regulatory body overseeing the practice.

The bill sailed through each branch Monday morning and now sits on Governor Charlie Baker’s desk.

He has 10 days to act on the legislation.

Governor Baker has consistently maintained he will sign the bill into law.

After years and years of stops and starts, online wagering will become a reality here.

The state expects to reap the benefit of hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues.

For the Wynn folks who own and run Encore, sports betting online will be a windfall – a powerful, steady, rich stream of new money coming in without the need of building a new facility.

When you can place your first bet is anyone’s guess.

The Senate’s chief budget writer, Sen. Michael Rodrigues, told reporters Monday that betting could “hopefully” start in time for the fall football season, according to a report carried by MassLive.

“Yeah, I think it will be,” the Westport Democrat said when asked if sports betting will be up and running in time for football season.

“Hopefully. You can bet on in-state football teams, so you can bet on the Patriots.”

Casinos and online betting companies hailed the law’s passage as a win for the state and Massachusetts residents.

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— Eye on Everett —

THE BLUE SUIT

The Mayor’s Blue Suit with Josh Resnek exchanging private conversations about life, politics, religion, economics, immorality and municipal corruption in Everett.

We met Tuesday afternoon in La Perle Restaurant and Bar on Broadway in Everett Square.

This is the former Chinese food place that existed for about
40 years.

It has undergone an extraordinary transition under the operator of the restaurant, Valery Joseph, a young Haitian woman, a mother of two young children and a longtime Everett resident who once ran a restaurant on Bow Street.

This was the first time entering her restaurant in Everett Square.

Joseph spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to rip out the old restaurant in order to create something modern, with high ceilings, a gorgeous long bar with special lighting effects, a state of the art sound system and finer tables and chairs.

The entire effect is the kind of new business Everett needs but that official Everett does not necessarily want.

La Perle specializes in Haitian food, and to be frank, I never really gave a thought to eating Haitian food…that is…until I ordered us up a few treats and tasted them, and frankly, devoured them!

“This is absolutely delicious,” the Blue Suit said to me. He held between his fat fingers a piece of fried okra – a vegetable root. Then he dipped it into a light, fresh sauce before shoving it into his mouth.

“Wow! That’s special.”

Special indeed.

The entire scene inside this restaurant is something to marvel at. It is upper tier, good looking, ice cold with fabulous air conditioning, altogether a nice atmosphere.

“You know what the licensing board did to this place almost six months ago?” I asked the Blue Suit.

“I think I heard about that,” he answered.

“Didn’t they suspend her right to have entertainment and made her shut down every night at 11?” he replied.

“You got that all right,” I said.

“It’s killed the business. At the present time, she’s going out of business,” I added.

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Rep. Joe McGonagle Announces His Candidacy For Re-Election

Dear Residents of Everett,

I write to you today to announce my candidacy for re-election as your State Representative for the 28th Middlesex District. I humbly ask for your support as I seek my fifth term in the House of Representatives so I can continue building upon the successes of my previous tenure and delivering for Everett.

As a lifelong resident of Everett, I have seen this City grow and evolve. Many things have changed since the days I was little kid playing in the street but I have learned to embrace these changes and that the best way I can serve Everett is to grow and evolve with it.

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