Article and Lack of Photo Do a Disservice to Josephine Viscardi

Dear Editor,
    I was born in Austin on Theresa Street, lived in “the Josephine House” for four years when Clarksville was nothing more than my hood, and as we both grew I was proud to be a part of it. But that’s another story.
    Something’s been gnawing at me for a couple of days after reading your feature article on the history of the Clarksville area “Then and Nau” [Food, Feb. 16]. This bone I have been chewing on is a statement on p.50 where the author so eloquently noted that my Nonna, Josephine Viscardi, sold her properties. There were four properties involved in the sale, not two, protecting them from potential issues with my family or the developer who would have come in for their share of the double-digit profits. The Clarksville Neighborhood Association was wise enough to stop a request for additional parking – in the form of lots – along Waterston Avenue made by the new owners of the properties not long after Nonna died. The owners of Jeffrey’s pose inside this article almost like members of the family, and they should because they were treated like family. Got to that statement concerning my family's politics and all my feelings of pride over the article were history. As for my family and the comment made here about them, frankly I find it tasteless and won’t take up any more space with it because it doesn’t deserve any.
    Second bone. I see pictures of a lot of people in this bit, but where is Josephine? How was she not celebrated here, y'all? How? The Josephine House was a nice gesture, but the lack of mention beyond that rankles me. There was plenty of opportunity to celebrate her efforts to help the new businesses become what they are today. Her business acumen always took a backseat to higher rents, building maintenance, remodels, real estate deals, the works. My Nunnu died in 1972, and she stepped up to the plate, became head of the household, and flourished in business. She helped the new property owners of my heritage tremendously, and someone should have taken the time to say that, but no one did, so I am. Nonna was our family matriarch, our history without her none of us would be here today or be who we are today because she helped each one of us. I can’t even imagine the look on her face if she knew how forgotten she is by the people she helped even when the family didn’t agree with her.