Pasta Bene Rolls On As Tutto Bene

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—After more than 30 years as Pasta Bene, owner Benjamin Albanese has changed the name to Tutto Bene to better match the evolution of the business that has grown from initially selling handmade ravioli to a full-service caterer and restaurant.
“It’s all good—that’s what it means—Tutto Bene—it’s all good. It’s not just pasta anymore,” Albanese said.
The name change came several weeks ago, and includes a new sign for the restaurant at 1050 Pearl St. and a brightly painted car that advertises the new name change.
What will remain the same, Albanese, 58, said, is the same high standard and quality of the pasta, ravioli, tortellini and other homemade specialties served at the restaurant, catering and retail side of the company.
Albanese, 58, who worked as a Brockton City Solicitor for more than 10 years, said he launched Pasta Bene when he was a young student attending law school. He tended bar, went to classes and began hand-rolling ravioli and sold them from a corner stand in a cheese shop.
His sisters helped roll ravioli as the business grew and grew and grew— and as he went on as a professional lawyer, the business continued to expand, eventually opening in a building across the street that now houses White’s Pastry.
The business moved into its current location about 12 years ago, and recently renovated an adjacent space for functions and private parties, and rebuilt the bar and dining room.
On most Thursday nights, Berklee College of Music Professor Steve Heck and Albanese’s wife Lynne play organ and perform a mix of popular music, rhythm and blues, and old favorites.
Back before Ben and Lynne were married 17 years ago and had their children Alexandra, 14--who often sings with Heck and Lynne--and Ben, 12, Lynne took her shot at fame and fortune and headed out to California, where while she didn’t hit the big time, had the opportunity to sing with the famous Righteous Brothers in a club they owned in Los Angeles. (Pictured above with Heck playing organ, and with husband Ben)
Staff at Tutto Bene, many who have been there for 10 years or more, said they enjoy working at the restaurant and believe it is one of the best places in the area for Italian food, creative American cuisine, Sangria made fresh everyday and a stylish, urban atmosphere that draws judges, lawyers, area business owners and 30-and 40-somethings looking for a sophisticated night out.
“I love this place,” said Joe Niccoli, owner of Niccoli Bros. Oil, who with several employees stopped in to visit his favorite wait staff. (Pictured at right with staff member Carly Gerry)
Tara Hasomeris, a Brockton native whose 30th birthday party was a hot topic of comment at the restaurant, laughed as she philosophized about the milestone, and poured a glass of Sangria. (Pictured below)
“We really have fun here—you have to have fun, because before you know it you’re turning 30,” Hasomeris said.
Canton resident Teresa Mackie, who has been with Albanese for over 10 years, said it’s been a great place to work while she raises her children.
“It’s really like a family,” Mackie said. “There are people of all ages, but everyone gets along and we have a good time,” she said.
Tutto Bene's hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Evening dining: Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Lunch: Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Retail store: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Click here to visit Tutto Bene's website.
(Pictured at top, Kitchen Manager Omar Sodevilla, and second from top, Prep Chef Emmanuel Barria)

SBA Johns, Nelson Highlight Urban League Biz Summit

BrocktonPost
BOSTON--The National Urban League and Small Business Administration will host a free small business summit, Saturday, July 30 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
The summit will include the opportunity to network with industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs while accessing resources to help your business grow.
A featured panelist for the free portion of the conference is SBA’s Massachusetts Director Bob Nelson, who will speak about the state of entrepreneurship and financing programs.
Nelson's discussion will be held from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.
This session will describe growing trends in the Massachusetts innovation economy and provide financial and technical assistance programs geared toward helping business access capital and new market opportunities.
There will also be a luncheon presentation by SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns. (Pictured above)
Johns joins the summit from SBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Johns is Deputy Administrator of the US Small Business Administration, where she contributes to management of the agency and development of SBA policy.
Johns was nominated by President Obama on December 17, 2009 and confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate June 22, 2010.
Johns session will take place from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
There is a fee for Johns' presentation.
There will also be a matchmaking session when purchasing representatives from Fortune 500 companies will provide their available contracting opportunities to conference registrants in advance of this session.
Armed with this information business owners will decide which companies they would like to meet with and have five minutes to pitch their ideas.
From 2 to 3:30 p.m. there will be a new entrepreneur "pitch session," when participants that have been in business for under a year or are thinking of starting a business will have the opportunity to enter the pitch competition.
Finalists will be chosen before the conference and will pitch their ideas to a panel live for a chance to win $10,000 towards their new small business venture and admission to 100 Urban Entrepreneur’s eight-week business-mentoring program.
A more complete agenda for this conference can be found at: http://www.nul.org/conference/2011/schedule/free-open-public-small-business-matters-entrepreneurship-summit.

SportsSmart Program Gives Area Athletes Concussion Baseline Test

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--A new partnership between Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital and five area high schools will help athletic trainers, coaches and school nurses provide orthopedic care, medical Care, physical therapy and concussion baselines for all athletes at the schools.
Participants from Brockton High School, Cardinal Spellman, Whitman-Hanson High School, Stoughton High, and East Bridgewater High will be a part of a new program, SportsSmart, that along with numerous services will include an ImPact test that creates a medical baseline of the student's brain in case of a concussion.
Brockton Hospital officials said in a prepared statement the ImPact program is used to create baselines for athletes, so when they experience a concussion, there is a way to measure against their normal reaction time.
The test shows a combination of memory, spatial recognition, color recognition, word recognition, reaction time and irritability.
Officials said a concussion cannot be "graded" because the same hit to the head affects different people in different ways.
Every athlete at a professional level performs the ImPact test as a baseline, officials said.
Schools in the ImPact testing program, which was launched earlier this month, will receive access to free impact testing by a certified impact consultant, and clinically managed pre-season conditioning, and 24/7 access to emergency medical care, radiology services, physical therapy-rehabalitation services, orthopedic surgeons, and a SportSmart medical director.
Also offered as a part of the SportSmart program are free educational forums for CEU credits for athletic directors and athletic trainers, presented by experts, including Dr. Ken Lawson,SportSmart Program Director and Chief of the Emergency Department at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital.
Forum topics will include preseason nutrition and hydration, traumatic brain injury, and sudden cardiac arrest.
Many of these forums will be open to parents and teachers.
Bill Buckner, former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager of the Brockton Rox, is the program's spokesperson.
For more information, please visit www.MySignatureCare.org/Concussion.
Photo above, courtesy Brockton Hospital. Pictured are members of Stoughton High's sports staff and officials from Brockton Hospital. From left to right: Dr. Ken Lawson, Stoughton Athletic Director Ryan Donahue and athletic trainer Jen Dowd, Stoughton Nursing Director Pat Small, Brockton Hospital Program Coordinator Linda McAlear, and CEO Kim Hollon.

Eastern Bank Opens New Brockton Location

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Eastern Bank will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting Thursday at its new location at 1313 Belmont St.
The event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
There will be refreshments and hors d'oeuvres.

Elaine Reiser 2011 ATHENA Award Winner

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Elaine Reiser, Former Director of Helpline at Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. was named the 2011 ATHENA Award Recipient by the Metro South Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, June 16 during a conference and expo at the Shaw's Center in Brockton.
Reiser (pictured above) was director of Helpline at Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc., BAMSI, for 37 years.
MetroSouth officials said Elaine epitomizes the ideals established through the ATHENA Award: powerful dedication; compassion to help women and those in need; spirit of community; the demand of excellence from her staff; and a passionate drive to make Helpline a recognized model across the region.
Reiser initiated and developed the concept of an information and referral service to encompass medical and human service needs for residents of the Greater Plymouth County Area.
In 1976, Reiser brought Helpline to BAMSI where it grew into a multi-faceted information and referral system connecting people in need with housing, medical, and other vital emergency services.
Through this initiative, Reiser has saved thousands of individuals in emergency crises, including the homeless and those living without food or heat.
When the housing crisis became a critical disaster in Brockton, Reiser created and designed BAMSI’s “First Stop Program,” a model of services to help those in at-risk households to prevent future homelessness.
This program has had one of the highest placement rates in Massachusetts with a 97% success rate.
Reiser's work was also instrumental in shaping the state-wide Mass211 initiative, modeled on Reiser’s Information and Referral Program and Helpline.
Over her 36-plus years at BAMSI, Reiser has served as a role model for the dozens of women who have worked for her through the Helpline, as well as those families, primarily women, who have come pleading for emergency help.
In the community, Reiser has worked on numerous mayor’s task forces on health and human Services.
She was a founding member of the MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless and served on the Massachusetts Coalition for Homeless for 20 years.
Reiser also served as president of the United Way of Greater Plymouth County’s Agency Executives, was president of Community Services of Greater Brockton for eight years and Treasurer for 10 years.
Statewide, Reiser has served as president of the Massachusetts Association of Information and Referral Services.
She has received countless honors, awards, and accolades for her exemplary service.
Reiser is now retired and lives with her husband, Ed, in Sharon.
The International ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in his/her business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential. The ATHENA Awards Program was created in 1982 and has expanded to over 500 cities. The Metro South Chamber of Commerce believes in the values underlying the ATHENA Foundation’s philosophy of incorporating the talents and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, communities and government.
Prior recipients of the ATHENA Award include Anne DeMinico, St. Joseph Manor, Sue Joss, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Vanessa Tierny, Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc., Dr. Susan Szachowicz, Brockton High School Principal, Loretta DeGrazia, East Coast Petroleum, Marianne Wroble Cox, WXBR 1460 AM, Shailah Stewart, Brockton Public Schools, Dr. Linda Faria Braun, Adult Learning Center, Christine Karavites, Proteas Customized Consulting, Barbara Duffy, Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc., Noelle Foye, Fuller Craft Museum, Janice Cunningham, E. Bridgewater Police Officer.
As part of the ATHENA Program, there was an expo and conference featuring over 20 businesses and a presentation by Dr. Carol Hardy-Fanta, Director of the Center of Women in Politics & Public Policy at UMass Boston.
(Photo courtesy MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce)

Store Front Improvement Fete June 23

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Mayor Linda M. Balzotti will join Brockton 21st Century Corporation Executive Director Mary Waldron, representatives from the Brockton Redevelopment Authority and local business owner Barry Gaughran to celebrate the completion of the latest Façade Improvement Program project on Main Street Thursday, June 23 at 3 p.m.
The event will take place at 278-286 Main St.
The goal of the Façade Improvement Program is to leverage private investment in the physical and aesthetic improvement of commercial properties with store fronts and enhance the attractiveness of targeted areas within the City of Brockton.
For more information about this event or the Façade Improvement Program, please contact Paul Morrison at 508-586-3887.

Bernardi Auto Group Opens Brockton Showrooms

Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Bernardi Auto Group held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony to highlight the opening of two new showrooms on Manley Street in Brockton.
“The city has been wonderful to work with,” said Jim Carney, Bernardi’s president and owner.
During ceremonies Thursday, June 16 Carney and Mayor Linda Balzotti cut a red-ribbon to officially open new Honda and Hyundai dealerships. (Pictured above left, with Balzotti, center, and State Rep. Michael Brady)
Carney also donated $5,000 to the city’s Brockton After Dark program which offers a host of free activities for youth and teens that takes place during summer nights.
Construction of the two new showrooms began last October.
The Hyundai show room has been open for more than a month. Its grand opening was held Wednesday, June 15 during a private reception.
Carney said the two dealerships employ close to 100 people and he hopes as the business grows that number will be increased to about 300.
One feature of the new Honda showroom is Jimbo’s Diner, (right) a 1950s-style diner that serves breakfast and lunch—meals that will be offered free to customers bringing their vehicles in for service.