The Bully Proof Classrooms Speaks With Tom Cirignano

     Thomas Cirignano has been a contributing writer and also served as an advisory member on The New Bedford Standard-Times Editorial Board. He served two terms on The Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee, and has served on several other town committees and commissions. He is a certified scuba diver, ultra-light aircraft pilot, has owned several motorcycles, and loves boating. A spinal fracture, Scoliosis, and Harrington Rod surgery have now limited his ability to enjoy most of those activities.

     Tom's autobiography, titled, The Constant Outsider: Memoirs of a South Boston Mechanic, offers readers a chilling look at what went on in Southie during the 1970s and '80s; "Whitey Bulger's" reign of terror," as Tom calls it. Due to its time and place in Boston's tumultuous history, along with the situations and people Tom encountered, The Constant Outsider is an exciting story in its own right. But, in his second book, 67 Cents: Creation of a Killer,  the author explores an even more bizarre existence. 67 Cents is Tom's fictional, "what if I took that alternate path of crime and violence," adaptation of his memoir. In 67 Cents, the fictional character, named Nick, says "Yes" to each and every offer that was actually made to the author by the Mob in real life. Those offers were significant, and even included an offer to kill a man for Tom. The hit-man's fee for the murder was very reasonable; just the cost of the bullet. For further information, visit www.TheConstantOutsider.com.