Panepinto Jewelers
Ron Panepinto Karen Panepinto-Minarcik 700 Sansom St. • Phila., PA 19106 Tel: 215-923-1980 email: info@panepintojewelers.com www.PanepintoJewelers.com
Jim Stevenson 9371 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILA., PA 19114
215-698-7000 PhillyRecord.com
Vol. Vol. VIIVIII No.No. 3 (Issue 7 (Issue 328)384)
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TheThe OnlyOnly Union Union Newspaper Newspaper Reporting Reporting South/Southwest South/Southwest Philly Philly TheThe WayWay It Deserves It Deserves
February January 12, 16, 2015 2014
Sword of Justice Me ‘N’ Mo Rolls To South St.
PARAMOUNT in martial arts, Judge Vince Melchiorre shows his skillful use of a katana during practice. Photo by Maria Merlino
by Maria Marlino Common Pleas Court Judge Vincent Melchiorre, 57, struggled as a child with learning. “I flunked the 4th grade at St. Edmond’s School,” he admits. “I couldn’t read or write. I was dyslexic. I got jumped a lot.” By the time Judge Melchiorre got to Bishop Neumann HS, “it was an all-boys’ school, so I didn’t cut class,” he made up his mind that he wanted to be a carpenter and transfer to Bok. His mother Mary “Linda” wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted him to go to college. She was the first in
her family to speak English and had a great instinct about her son. “There was a transfer student that came to Neumann from New York, Eric Blair. He was a black belt in Shotokan,” reminisces the Judge. “He started a karate club and we’d meet in the cafeteria. The floor was concrete and within three months, I sustained five cracked ribs and a broken jaw, but it gave me the ability to know I could do anything I set my mind to. I made honor roll. My mother thought that was the greatest thing. My mind works in a way that I (Cont. Page 2)
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Black History Month Special Salute Begins P. 4
by Cassie Hepler or four months, he and his sisterThere’s was one thing in-law came up with the idea. that South Street in “We thought, why don’t we Philadelphia was missing. do this?” he said. “She comes And Chef Sandro Frusone up with the specials and people and brother Giancarlo seem to like it.” found and filled that void. The restaurant in Italy was a The same gregarious sign to move on as the elderly chef who used to own sevItalian landlord shut the water eral Italian spots including off. And instead of fighting Gnocchi on lower East with her, Sandro took that as Passyunk just opened inspiration to start something South Street’s first meatnew - in a familiar location. ball restaurant, Me ’N’ Since 1989 until 2005 they HONG KONG meatballs have layers of Asian flavors and Mo Meatballs and More. were renting the space to a tons of texture – including surprise mushrooms at Me ‘N’ Located at 214 South medley of flailing restaurants. Mo Meatballs and More. Photo by Cassie Hepler Street, Sandro rented the The only memorable one, acspace to multiple restaurants for many years while he went cording to a local real-estate regular, was Core De Roma. back to Italy. They now have a well-loved restaurant in West Chester with “I like pasta - all kinds of pasta,” he said. the same name for all the suburbanites. But his favorite is spaghetti - with some red wine. Me ’N’ Mo will have daily specials every day at unbeat“It helps keep myself young,” said Chef Sandro with a able prices. thick Italian accent. “Everything in moderation… which I “$5 for a plate of gnocchi and $4 for a plate of meatballs didn’t learn in America.” is unheard of, but we do it,” he said. (Cont. Page 2) While in Frosinone, Italy after opening a restaurant for three
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