March 2016

Transcript

March 2016

ITALIAN TIMES
THE
Published 11 times annually by the Italian
Community Center
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
www.ICCMilwaukee.com
MARCH 2016 • VOL. 37, NO. 9
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
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MILWAUKEE, WI
Permit No. 5716
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Viva Il Carnevale
– CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED –
Hail to the Royal Court of Carnevale 2016! From the left: Il Gran
Maresciallo John Alioto (at podium), La Nonna and Il Nonno Carol and
Ray Martinez, La Regina and Il Re Maria and Salvatore Purpora, Il
Principe and LaPrincipessa Thomas Blaubach and Claire Elliott, and La
Piccola Principessa and Il Piccolo Principe Isabella Vella and Charles
Bartolone. Missing is Il Vescovo Frank D’Amato (who is actually behind La
Get ready to indulge
in ‘A Taste of Italy’
on Sunday, Apr. 17
by Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
Make sure you, your family, relatives and friends are ready to
chow down at the Italian Community Center’s 21st annual “A Taste of
Italy” on Sunday, Apr. 17. As anyone who has been to it previously
knows, it’s an Italian food spectacular that you definitely don’t want to
miss.
Cosa c’è dentro?
What’s inside?
President Vella’s message page 2
Karen Dickinson appointed
as director-at-large
page 2
Easter events and
Italian classes
pages 4-5
Bill Jennaro’s Festa interview
included in new book
page 7
Italian organizations
seek your support for
upcoming fundraisers
page 8
UNICO scholarships
available
page 9
Glorioso’s celebrating
70th anniversary
page 15
Hon. Antonin Scalia,
1st Italian American Supreme
Court Justice, dies
page 14
A kid from Porticello
Sezione Italiane
page 17
pagine 18-19
Happy St. Patrizio’s Day page 20
Italian Easter eggs
page 24
As always, there will be free
admission and free parking for the
event, which runs from 11:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m.
Great food, low prices
Count on a magnificent variety
of delicious Italian food being available throughout the building for
truly low prices. Food and beverage
tickets will be sold in a set of
seven for just $10. Single tickets will be $1.50 each. “It’s an
exceptional deal as anyone who has
ever attended can attest to because
of the ample size of our servings,”
said Taste of Italy Chair Ann
Romano.
She added that almost every
entrée, sandwich, salad, soup,
Italian specialty item, dessert and
beverage – except one – will be
available for one ticket. The lone
exception will be calamari fritti (deep-fried squid). Calamari
will be sold for two tickets.
“Because of the high price we have
to pay for the product, we really
don’t have a choice,” Romano said.
“Since calamari is such a big
favorite, we wanted to find a way to
keep it on our menu.”
The full menu includes pasta
with red sauce, meatballs, Italian
sausage, arancini (rice balls), manicotti, calamari, breaded pork tenderloin, olive salad, Italian lettuce
salad, sfingi (sweetened fried bread
dough), sub sandwiches, pizza, sfinciuni (Sicilian style pizza), Italian
Please turn to page 5
Regina Maria). Close to 300 people attended the Italian Community
Center’s 37th annual Il Grande Carnevale, held on Feb. 6. This year’s
theme was “Viva Il Carnevale!” Many more photos from the pre-Lenten
costume and mask ball can be found on pages 10-13. In case you are wondering, Carnevale in 2017 will be on Saturday, Feb. 25. (Times photo by
Tom Hemman)
Celebrate Saint
Joseph’s Day at ICC
luncheon on Mar. 18
In keeping with its long-standing recognition of the Feast Day
of St. Joseph, the Italian Community Center is proud to
announce its annual St. Joseph’s
Day luncheon, which, this year,
will be held on Friday, Mar. 18 at
noon.
Both ICC members and nonmembers are invited to attend.
The costs are set at $17 per member and $20 per non-member.
Reservations – required by Monday, Mar. 14 – can be made by
filling out the form on page 6 and
sending it with a check or money
order to the ICC, 631 E. Chicago
St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. It can
also be done by calling the ICC at
414-223-2180 and making a credit
card payment. St. Joseph’s Day
luncheon flyers with a reservation
form can also be filled and submitted to the ICC.
“Our celebration – the 24th
annual – will serve as a joyous
preview to the actual observance
of St. Joseph’s Day, which is Mar.
19,” said chairperson Mary
(Mineo) Winard.
ICC Chaplain Fr. Tim Kitzke,
Pastor of Three Holy Women
Parish and other east side and
downtown Milwaukee churches,
will be present for the invocation,
perform the blessing of the beautifully decorated altar as well as
all of the attendees and the bread
and fruit bags that each person
will receive at the close of the
luncheon.
ICC President Giuseppe Vella
will welcome attendees and act as
master of ceremonies.
As in past years, pianist John
Puchner is volunteering to play
Italian songs and music appropriate for the occasion during the
serving of the lunch.
The St. Joseph’s Day tradition
includes a meatless meal. Winard
reports that the ICC menu for the
A message from Giuseppe Vella,
Italian Community Center President
Based on the comments I’ve
heard, I’m certain that everyone
who attended our Carnevale had a
good time. It was an outstanding
evening to celebrate our heritage
and to spend quality time with our
families. As I have said in the past,
FAMILY is what the ICC is all
about.
I want to thank our chairpersons Joanne Czubek and Rosemary
DeRubertis and their committee of
volunteers for making Carnevale a
marvelous event.
I also want to thank all of our
Carnevale sponsors and all those
who advertised in the program
book.
St. Joseph’s Day luncheon
The ICC is hosting its annual St.
Joseph’s Day luncheon on Friday,
Mar. 18. Chairperson Mary Winard
is busy putting together a wonderful program. I want to encourage
everyone to participate, especially
since your President is named
Giuseppe!
Mark your calendars, get your
reservations in, and let’s celebrate
and remember a day that has been
long been part of our heritage.
Easter events
The ICC has two family events
built around the Easter holiday
that I’d like to draw to your attention.
The first is our children’s Easter
party on Saturday, Mar. 19, hosted
by our Avanti Committee. It’s not
just a wonderful time for the kids,
but parents and grandparents, too.
The second event is our Easter
Sunday brunch on Mar. 27.
Business Manager Laurie Bisesi
has put together a bountiful buffet
menu. If you are looking for a good
place to come after church and celebrate Pasqua with your family and
friends, then make sure you make
reservations for the brunch.
Details on both events appear in
this issue.
“A Taste of Italy”
On Sunday, Apr. 17, our 21st
annual “A Taste of Italy” is scheduled. This event is our second
biggest fundraiser, superseded only
by Festa Italiana. It is imperative
that all of our members and Italian
societies and clubs support this
event.
Chairperson Ann Romano and
her committee are planning a spectacular day of Italian food, music
and family fun. New details can be
found in this issue.
Festa Italiana
While many of us are looking
forward to the end of winter and
our first spring-like day, there are
many of us at the Italian
Community Center looking ahead
to the middle of summer, particularly to the weekend of July 22-24.
That is, of course, the weekend of
Festa Italiana. Planning for our
39th annual Festa is well underway.
I can report that we will have
the carnival returning this year.
We heard a lot of positive comments about the carnival operation
Festa Patrol looking
for volunteers
Ralph Busalacchi, manager of
the Festa Patrol, is seeking volunteers to serve on his crew during
Festa Italiana, July 22-24.
Volunteers on the Festa Patrol
serve as first responders to a variety of situations on the festival
grounds, ranging from security
and first aid to lost children. They
strive to keep order along parade
and procession routes and work to
ensure that Festa’s guests experience a pleasant and safe family
event.
Those interested in volunteering should contact Busalacchi at
414-483-1562 or email him at:
[email protected].
last year. We believe it was an
overall positive on our bottom line.
Support our clubs and societies
The family that we speak of
extends well beyond the ICC and
Festa and includes the clubs and
societies that promote and carry on
our Italian heritage. It is essential
that we support them in the same
manner as they have and continue
to support us.
There are five events scheduled
over the several few months by our
Italian clubs and societies to which
I will draw your attention.
The first is the Pompeii
Women’s Club Palm Sunday
Breakfast Buffet on Mar. 20 at the
ICC. The Pompeii Women have
been longtime supporters of the
ICC. The Palm Sunday Breakfast
Buffet is this organization’s biggest
fundraiser each year.
Next is the Pompeii Men’s Club
Good Friday Fish Fry Buffet on
Mar. 25 at the ICC. Always one of
the best-attended Good Friday fish
fry dinner events in the city, it is
the club’s most essential fundraising activity.
Fans of Frank Sinatra – and we
know there are many of you – will
want to be in attendance for the
“Tribute to Sinatra” concert, hosted
by the Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the
Order Sons of Italy in America on
Saturday, Apr. 2. As a major
fundraiser, the organization is hop-
ing for a full house that night in
our Pompeii Grand Ballroom.
La Società Santa Rosalia di
Santo Stefano Quisquina is holding
its annual Spring Dinner Dance on
Saturday, Apr. 23 at the Hilton
Milwaukee City Center. Easter
Seals Southeastern Wisconsin has
been chosen as the beneficiary of
proceeds from the evening.
The Milwaukee Chapter UNICO
National and the Milwaukee Ladies
of UNICO join together to host
their annual Scholarship Banquet
on Tuesday, May 17. Information
on how students of Italian descent
can apply for these scholarships
appears in this issue.
Look for full details on all of
events mentioned here in this
issue.
Buona Pasqua!
– Giuseppe Vella
ICC President
Karen Dickinson
appointed to ICC Board
Karen Dickinson was appointed
as a director-at-large on the ICC
Board at the board’s Feb. 11 meeting. She is completing the unexpired term of Henry Piano, who
resigned for personal and professional reasons.
The appointment was made in
accordance with the ICC Bylaws.
In the fall 2015 election, five candidates ran for four open directors’
positions. The bylaws require that
the next highest vote-getter – after
the four who were elected –automatically fill any vacated director’s
seat, should one occur. Since
Dickinson was the fifth highest
vote-getter in the last election, she
was in line to fill the vacancy.
Her term will last through Oct.
31, 2016.
Dickinson has been active in the
ICC, chairing the Holiday Boutique
last November, co-chairing the
Casino Night the last two years,
chairing
the
Membership
Committee for three years, as a
Festa driver for entertainers for
seven years and a volunteer for “A
Taste of Italy.”
The Board now has a full complement of officers and directors for
the remainder of the 2015-16 term.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
631 E. Chicago St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916
(414) 223-2180
Published 11 times annually
Publisher . . . Italian Community Center
ICC President . . . . . . . . .Giuseppe Vella
Newspaper Committee
Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . Blaise DiPronio
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas Hemman
Advertising Sales
Manager . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas Hemman
Advertising Sales
Representative . . . . . . Faye Ann Kessler
Editorial Contributors, Reporters
and Columnists . . . . . . .Blaise Di Pronio,
Angela Castronovo, Donato Di Pronio,
Barbara Collignon, Roberto Ciampi,
and the late Mario A. Carini
Staff Photographers. . . . . . .Joe Spasiano,
and Tom Hemman
For advertising information, please call
(414) 223-2180 or send an e-mail to:
[email protected].
Copyright 2016
The Italian Community Center, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
PAGE 2 – MARCH 2016
Karen Dickinson was sworn into
office at the Feb. 11 Board meeting
by ICC President Giuseppe Vella.
(Photo provided Mary Anne
Ceraso-Alioto)
All advertisements must be in accordance
with the rules and requirements as determined by editorial policy. Paid advertisements are not to be interpreted as an
endorsement by the Italian Community
Center or its newspaper, The Italian Times.
In addition, the Newspaper Committee
reserves the right to reject ads based on editorial policy approved by the Board of
Directors of the Italian Community Center.
The Italian Community Center is a member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee
Association of Commerce, Visit Milwaukee
and the Historic Third Ward Association.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
One bylaws amendment sails through,
the other gets partial approval
by Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
A new amendment to the Italian
Community Center’s Constitution
and Bylaws that makes each director-at-large a member of a standing
committee was approved without
debate by members who attended
the Jan. 21 general meeting.
However, a proposed two-part
revision to Article IV, Section 10
was met with significant debate,
resulting in just one of the two proposed amendments being approved.
Until the Jan. 21 meeting,
Article IV, Section 10 read: “Any
member of the Board of Directors
absent without excuse from two
consecutive Board meetings shall
be deemed to have resigned from
the Board.”
The Bylaws Committee proposed
this two-part amendment:
“a). Any member of the Board of
Directors absent, with or without
excuse, from more than three (3)
Board meetings in a term year of
office shall be deemed to have
resigned from the Board.
“b). Any member of the Board of
Directors absent, with or without
excuse, from more than four (4)
general membership meetings in a
term year of office shall be deemed
to have resigned from the Board.”
The rationale of the Bylaws
Committee was “members of the
Board of Directors, officers and
directors, are elected by the members to conduct the business of the
Italian Community Center.
Multiple absences reduce the effectiveness of the position of the
absentee.”
ICC members approved the former amendment, but defeated the
latter. While getting a slim majority of the votes cast, the latter did
not come close to the two-thirds
majority needed to pass an amendment.
Director Joe Campagna, Jr. led
the charge against both of the proposed revisions, stating that he
believed neither amendment was
necessary. He said he favored keeping Article IV, Section 10 intact
because it allowed a board member
All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in
the April 2016 issue of The Italian
Times must be submitted to the
editor no later than Tuesday, Mar.
8.
All materials can be emailed to
editor Tom Hemman at [email protected], sent to The
Italian Times, 631 E. Chicago St.,
Milwaukee, WI 53202. For further
information, call 414-223-2189.
ICC’s 24th annual St. Joseph’s
Day Luncheon
Friday, Mar. 18
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Reservations required.
Details in this issue.
ICC’s 3rd annual Casino Night
Friday, Sept. 9
the ability to serve and deal with
unforeseen circumstances that may
arise during the course of a term of
office.
ICC member Quentin Oliva
echoed the same sentiment.
Director Susie Christiansen said
she was a firm believer in having
board members attend as many
meetings as possible, so she favored
the amendments.
After a lengthy discussion, the
amendment on board meeting
attendance was approved by about
67% of the members who voted, but
they defeated the general membership meeting attendance proposal.
The new amendment, Article IV,
Section 20, which was easily
approved, reads: “Each director
shall serve as a member of a standing committee of the Italian
Community Center.”
The Bylaws Committee provided
this rationale for the addition to
the bylaws: “This amendment
ensures that the Executive Board
has an ongoing knowledge of the
activities of each standing committee of the ICC.”
Have news or advertising
for our April issue?
ICC’s Children’s Easter Party
Saturday, Mar. 19
Noon – 2 p.m.
Reservations required.
Pompeii Women’s Club Palm
Sunday Breakfast Buffet
Sunday, Mar. 20
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
No reservations accepted.
Pompeii Men’s Club Good
Friday Fish Fry Buffet
Friday, Mar. 25
4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
No reservations accepted.
ICC’s Easter Sunday Brunch
Sunday, Mar. 27
Reservations taken on the halfhour between 10:30 and 2 p.m.
ICC’s 21st annual
“A Taste of Italy”
Sunday, Apr. 17
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Details in this issue
ICC’s 39th annual Festa
Italiana
Friday, July 22 – Sunday, July 24
Summerfest Grounds
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ICC’s 3rd annual Festival di
Danza e Cultura
Friday, Oct. 21
ICC’s 2nd annual Holiday
Boutique
Saturday, Nov. 26
GIUSEPPE, MARIA & LUIGI VELLA
PROPRIETORS
EASTER SPECIALS
Fancy Breads with Easter themes Puppa cu lʼova (buy 4, get 1 free) Italian Cookies, including
CUCIDATI (Italian fig cookies) Place your order early!
1101 E. BRADY ST., MILWAUKEE, WI 53202
PHONE (414) 272-4623 • FAX (414) 272-1456
WWW.PETERSCIORTINOSBAKERY.COM
TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7 AM - 5 PM; SUNDAY, 7 AM - 1 PM. CLOSED MONDAYS.
MARCH 2016 – PAGE 3
Children’s Easter party set for
Saturday, Mar. 19 at ICC
By Rose Anne Fritchie
Plans are in motion for a funfilled children’s Easter party at the
Italian Community Center on
Saturday, Mar. 19, beginning at
noon. The Avanti Committee is
happy and excited to host this
year’s party, the theme for which
will be Festa di Pasqua, or Easter
Carnival.
We can assure all who attend
that it will be an entertaining,
“crazy good” time. The atmosphere
will be that of a carnival or county
fair and will be tons of fun for
everyone. As the children arrive,
they will be given tokens to be used
for the carnival games and the Ice
Cream & Popcorn Shoppe.
At noon, all guests are invited to
enjoy a delicious, buffet-style lunch
consisting of mini hamburgers,
mini corndogs, penne pasta, platters of healthy munchies like carrots, pickles, celery and fresh fruit.
There will be chocolate or white
milk for the youngsters and coffee
for adults. And for dessert, we
hope the carnival-goers stop at the
Ice Cream & Popcorn Shoppe for an
ice cream sundae and a sweet treat.
After lunch, the games
begin! The ballroom will be filled
with the sights and sounds of a festival, with carnival games such as
the Quarter Toss, Ring Toss,
Bowling Balls Push, Lollipop Pulls,
Topple the Cans, Bean Bag Toss,
and this year, because of the generosity of an ICC Member, SO
ICC Childrenʼs Easter Party & Lunch Reservation Form
Names of boys attending
Saturday, March 19 • Noon to 2:00 p.m.
age
Names of girls attending
age
Name(s) of adult ICC members attending: _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of children attending:
Number of adults attending:
Total amount enclosed: $
x $15.00 per member
=$
_ x $20.00 per person = $
Make your check payable to: Italian Community Center. Mail this form with your payment to:
ICC, Attn.: Easter Party, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Deadline: Mar. 16, 2016.
MUCH MORE. The children will
also have an additional chance to
win special prizes by participating
in the guessing jars contest. Street
artists will be painting faces, and
balloon hats will be created for anyone interested in wearing a special
Easter hat.
During the festivities, we anticipate a visit from the Easter Bunny
who will greet all of the children
LENT, ST. JOSEPH’S DAY, EASTER
In the midst of winter, we enjoy comfort
foods. Try the satisfying recipes from my
cookbook.
When I was a little girl, I can remember
visiting my Nonna on cold winter days and
the aroma from her kitchen would warm your
soul. Her house always gave me a warm
feeling because she was always cooking. I
have several meatless recipes for Lent and
St. Joseph’s Day (bread crumbs symbolize
sawdust of St. Joseph the carpenter).
Create a new Easter tradition by making one
of my easy, unique recipes.
Send $12 (free S&H) to: FRANCENA, 125
Boyce Road, Centerville, OH 45458. Call
937-433-7313 or email [email protected].
and lead them in a parade through
the carnival. The children are welcome to wear their new hats and
fill the room with the joyous noise
of their musical instruments. The
parade will end at the stage where
the Easter Bunny will have treats
for all youngsters to take home.
The costs are set at $15 per
child (ages 11 and under) and $20
per adult. To ensure that all chil-
dren receive their special treats,
only advance reservations will be
accepted. All pre-paid reservations
must be received by Wednesday,
Mar. 16. Attendance at this event
is limited to ICC members, their
children, grandchildren or greatgrandchildren.
Please use the form accompanying this article to make your reservations.
The spring semester of a free
weekly series of Italian classes for
children between the ages of 6 and
12 will begin Saturday, Mar. 19, at
the Italian Community Center. The
class, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m.,
will continue for eight weeks, with
the final session on May 7.
WisItalia as Wisconsin’s 2009
“Italian Teacher of the Year.”
Tarantino Woytal has been leading
the children’s class at the ICC since
the early 1980s. Over the years,
several hundred youngsters have
participated in the free class.
To register for the spring semester, please complete the form
accompanying this article and mail
it to: Children’s Italian Course, c/o
ICC, 631 E. Chicago St.,
Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Since
there is no enrollment fee, parents
can also register their children in
person any time during the semester.
For further information, contact
the ICC office at 414/223-2180, or
Enrica Tarantino Woytal or Pietro
Tarantino at 414/481-0170, or via
email at [email protected].
ICC’s free children’s
Italian class begins on
Saturday, Mar. 19
The course is intended to provide children with an introduction
to the Italian language and the culture of Italy. Besides learning some
basic words and the Italian alphabet, the children also make drawings for holidays and special occasions and receive a snack during
each Saturday session.
The instructor is Enrica
Tarantino Woytal, who also leads
the ICC’s Italian classes for teens
and adults. She was honored by
Free Children's Italian Course Registration Form
(For children ages 6-12)
at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
Parent(s) Name ________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________
City _______________________ State _______ Zip ___________
Phone No.: ______________ Email_________________________
Children's Names & Ages: _______________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Send this form to: Children's Italian Course, c/o ICC,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Come to the ICC
for your Easter
Sunday feast
The Italian Community Center invites its members and the public to an
all-you-can-eat Easter Sunday brunch in the Pompeii Grand Ballroom.
Easter is Sunday, Mar. 27.
Brunch prices are $24.95 for adults and $14.95 for each child under the
age of 12. Pre-paid reservations are required.
The ICC is taking reservations on the half-hour, starting at 10:30 a.m.
with the last reservations taken for the seating at 2 p.m. Please call 414223-2180 with your credit card handy to reserve your time and table. You
can also sign up for the brunch by stopping in at the ICC reception desk on
weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Italian Times has been asked not
to put a reservation form in the newspaper because of a history of late submittals of these forms on which people request seating times which have
long been filled.
If you’re interested in the earliest reservation times – 10:30 a.m., 11
a.m., 11:30 a.m. or noon – you should act promptly as these slots sell out
the quickest.
As always, the Easter brunch menu is extensive and sure to satisfy
everyone’s cravings. It includes black pepper and garlic crusted sliced
prime rib; bone-in Virginia maple ham; southern fried chicken; chicken
scallopini; baked cod with lemon beurre blanc; roasted vegetable lasagna;
cheese tortellini; penne pasta; marinara sauce; Alfredo sauce; rice pilaf;
fire roasted corn; arancini (rice balls); garden fresh greens; creamy Caesar
salad; farfalle pasta salad; seasonal fruit with mint; Italian olive salad;
antipasto; cottage cheese; baby red potato salad; omelettes made-to-order
(including egg whites and Egg Beaters);
applewood smoked bacon; sausage; pancakes; lyonnaise potatoes; French toast; artisanal breads (assorted dinner rolls, butter
croissants, fresh bread, bagels, danish and
muffins); homemade fruit pies; tortes; cannoli; tiramisu; Italian cookies; fruit juices; coffee; tea; and milk.
Free parking is available in the lot south
of the building.
Help make ‘A Taste of
Italy’ a fundraising
success by attending
or volunteering
from page 1
wedding soup, lentil soup, chicken
pastina soup and desserts such as
cannoli, Italian cookies, éclairs,
spumoni, gelato and pizzelle
(Italian wafer cookies). To wash it
down, there will be coffee, beer,
wine, soda and water. A more
descriptive menu will appear in the
April issue of The Italian Times,
published in late March.
All hot and cold entrée items
plus pizza, salads and sandwiches
will be available in the Pompeii
Grand Ballroom. Desserts will be
sold in the Festa Ballroom. Look
for beverages on sale in both rooms.
There will be plenty of seating
available throughout the building
and in the Courtyard, providing
that the weather cooperates.
While you eat, enjoy live performances. Romano said the entertainment lineup for the Festa
Ballroom includes Tradizione
Vivente: The Italian Dance Group
ICC’s Italian classes being
offered for adults and teens
starting Tuesday, Mar. 15
This spring, the Italian
Community Center will offer an
introductory class (Italian I) as well
as an Italian II class, both starting
Tuesday, Mar. 15.
Both courses will be held on 10
consecutive Tuesday nights, with
the final classes on May 17.
Instructor Enrica Tarantino
Woytal described Italian I as being
for those who want an introduction
to the language and the culture of
Italy. The introductory course will
run from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
The Italian II course will begin
at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9:15 p.m.
“Italian II is ideal for those who
have completed our introductory
course and are ready to learn more
about the language and culture of
Italy,” Tarantino Woytal said.
Enrollment is open to ICC members and the general public. There
is a limit of 25 students per class.
The fee for each course is $100 for
an ICC member and $110 for a
non-member. The fee does not
include the course textbook.
To register, complete the form
accompanying this article. Checks
or money orders are payable to the
Italian Community Center.
Registration will be accepted up to
the start of the Mar. 8 classes if the
enrollment limit has not been
reached. People can also stop in at
the ICC office, fill out the registration form and make their payment.
Tarantino Woytal began teaching children’s Italian classes at the
ICC more than 35 years ago. She
has been offering classes for adults
and teens for more than 30 years.
Editor’s note: The starting and
ending dates of the spring semester
classes were originally reported in
the February issue as being
Tuesday, Mar. 8 and Tuesday, May
10, however, since publication of
that issue, the instructor changed
the dates to what they appear in
this article.
Ann Romano
of Milwaukee and vocalists Charles
Evans and Jayne Taylor, each
doing their own shows. The Sicilian
Serenaders will be playing in the
galleria.
Giant raffle
There will be a four-prize raffle
held in conjunction with the event.
The prize list is: 1st – a diamond
cocktail ring (valued at $1,100),
courtesy of Ted Glorioso and
Glorioso’s Gold Imports & Diamond
Center; 2nd – $500 cash; 3rd –
$300 cash; and 4th – $200 cash.
Raffle tickets will be $2 each or
seven for $10. The drawing will be
held at the conclusion of the day’s
activities.
Marie and Jim Schwindt, raffle
chairs, mailed tickets to ICC members in early February. “We hope
our members will not only buy raffle tickets, but sell as many as they
can to family, friends and co-workers,” said Marie Schwindt.
Ingredients for success
Since the beginning, “A Taste of
Italy” has successfully served as a
major fundraising activity for the
nonprofit Italian Community
Center. It has succeeded because of
outstanding volunteer support,
generous donations of food and supplies, monetary donations and a
large public turnout.
“All of our societies and food and
beverage booth chairs have
received a letter from me asking for
their support again this year and to
tell us how many volunteers they
will have,” Romano said. “Tony
Zingale is serving as the volunteer
coordinator again this year. If anyone has any questions about volunteering, please contact Tony or me.”
Registration form for
Italian I course & Italian II course
Name(s) ___________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________
Phone No. ___________________Email _________________________________
I am (we are) enrolling in:
Italian I course Number of persons enrolling.
Italian II course Number of persons enrolling.
Course fee: ICC Member - $100.00; Non-Member - $110.00
Make payment to: Italian Community Center, and send to: ICC, c/o Italian Class,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Enrollment in each class is limited to the first 25 students who send in this registration form with full payment.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ICC carrying on a tradition brought here by
Italian descendents with celebration of
Saint Joseph’s Day luncheon on Mar. 18
from page 1
observance will include pasta con
sarde e finocchio (pasta with sardines and fennel), eggplant artichokes, tossed salad with grapefruit, Italian bread and coffee, tea
or milk. There will be a special
dessert.
“We hope to see all of you who
have been so faithful in attending
our past St. Joseph’s Day celebrations at this year’s luncheon,”
Winard said. “We look forward to
seeing you with many more firsttime guests.”
St. Joseph’s Day tradition
St. Joseph’s Day, officially Mar.
19, is marked with celebrations
The ICC presents the St. Josephʼs Day Luncheon
Friday, Mar. 18 • Reservation Form
Name(s): ___________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________
City: _________________________________ State: ________________
Zip: ____________________ Phone: ____________________________
Number of ICC members attending: ___ @ $17.00 per person = $
Number of non-members attending: ___ @ $20.00 per person = $
Pre-paid reservations must be received by Monday, Mar. 14th.
Tables of 10 available. Please list the people at your table:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Weʼre attending and wish to make an additional donation to the event.
contribution.
Besides my payment for reservations, Iʼm sending a $
We are unable to attend, but wish to contribute $
tradition in the high standard of the past.
to continue this
Checks payable to: St. Josephʼs Luncheon. (One check preferable for
all at same table.) MAIL TO: Italian Community Center, Attn.: St.
Josephʼs Day Luncheon, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
across Italy. (See article on page 20
for the history.) The late-ICC
Historian Mario A. Carini said
Sicilian immigrants, who followed
the observance in their hometowns,
brought the tradition with them
when they settled in Milwaukee
starting in the late 1880s.
Winter championship
playoffs set for Mar. 7,
spring bocce leagues
begin one week later
The winter season for indoor
bocce leagues at the Italian
Community Center concludes with
the championship playoffs on
Monday, Mar. 7. The first place
teams from each of the five leagues
plus three teams with the best
overall runner-up record will compete in the playoffs.
A report on the tournament and
picture of the championship team
will appear in our next issue.
About spring leagues
Competition in the spring
leagues will get under way the
week of Mar. 14. There will definitely be teams competing in senior citizens’ leagues on Tuesday
and Thursday afternoons and in
mixed couples’ leagues on Monday
and Wednesday nights. If sufficient interest is expressed, there
will be a Thursday night mixed
couples’ league in the spring. (In
the past, there has not.)
Each team plays once a week
over an eight-week period provided
that there is an even number in
the league. Each league seeks a
maximum of eight teams.
Please note: Recently both the
daytime seniors’ leagues and the
evening couples’ leagues have had
difficulty filling eight-team rosters.
New players and new teams are
encouraged to join.
If you’re interested in registering a team to play in a spring
league, here are a few things you
need to know. There are two sets
of registration fees – one for those
who are not members of the ICC
and one for those who are ICC
members. The non-member registration fee is $40 per person per
league season. A discounted registration fee of $30 per person per
league season is offered to an ICC
member. Each team must consist
Calendar of Events
February 24 – March 30, 2016
Wednesday, Feb. 24
• Pompeii Women’s Club general meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 2
• Pompeii Women’s Club Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 7
• Italian Community Center winter bocce championship playoffs, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 8
• Abruzzese Society meeting and spuntino, 7 p.m. Dues collection.
• Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National meeting, 7 p.m.
• Opening night of spring semester of weekly Italian II class at the
Italian Community Center, 7:30 p.m. Details in this issue.
Thursday, Mar. 10
• Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 14
• Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 15
• Opening night of spring semester of weekly Italian I class at the
Italian Community Center, 5:30 p.m. Details in this issue.
• Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO general meeting, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 16
• Order Sons of Italy in America/Filippo Mazzei Lodge Board
meeting, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 17
• Italian Community Center membership dinner, 5:30 p.m.
• Italian Community Center general meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 18
• Italian Community Center’s St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Luncheon,
noon. Details in this issue.
Saturday, Mar. 19
• Spring semester starts for free weekly children’s Italian class, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 20
• Pompeii Women’s Club Palm Sunday Breakfast Buffet, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 22
• Italian Community Center Culture Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 25
• Pompeii Men’s Club Good Friday Fish Fry Buffet, 4 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 27
• Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter!
• Italian Community Center’s Easter Sunday Brunch. Reservations taken
on the half-hour starting at 10:30 a.m. with the last seatings at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 29
• Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 30
• Pompeii Women’s Club general meeting and dinner, 6:30 p.m.
Daily and weekly classes and activities
• Bocce leagues. The winter bocce season will wrap up with the championship playoffs on Monday,Mar. 7. The spring season will begin the week
of Mar. 14. Details in this issue.
• ICC’s free Children’s Italian class. Spring semester starts on Saturday,
Mar. 19 and continues for 8 consecutive Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m.
• ICC Italian classes for teens and adults. Spring semester starts on
Tuesday, Mar. 15 and continues on Tuesday nights through May 17.
Italian I at 5:30 p.m. and Italian II at 7:30 p.m. Details in this issue..
• I Bei Bambini, The Children’s Italian Dance Group. This children’s folk
dance group practices weekly on most Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the ICC.
New dancers welcome. For details, visit www.tradizionevivente.com.
• Tradizione Vivente, The Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee. This folk
dance group practices weekly on most Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the ICC. Visit
www.tradizionevivente.com for details. Ballate con noi! Dance with us!
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Festa interview with Bill Jennaro
part of new book by Umberto Mucci,
We the Italians web portal founder
A recently-published book entitled “We the Italians, Two Flags, One
Heart, One Hundred Interviews about Italy and the U.S.,” by Umberto
Mucci includes an interview he conducted with former Milwaukee County
Judge William A. Jennaro about Milwaukee’s Italians and Festa Italiana,
the summer festival hosted by the Italian Community Center.
Mucci is the founder and CEO of the web portal “We the Italians,”
(www.wetheitalians.com). The interview with Jennaro was published in
“We the Italians” in July 2014. The Jennaro interview and 99 other interviews conducted by Mucci appear in his new book.
The
book
can
be
downloaded
in
pdf
here:
https:drive.google.com/open?od=0B10NSOv-_eOZWUR1UjNBNHFOOEU.
Persons downloading the book through the above address are eligible for
a special 20% discount, courtesy of Mucci.
People can also buy the book on Amazon, without the discount, in print
or as an ebook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1522898700/sr=83 / q i d = 1 4 5 2 2 6 5 5 5 3 / r e f = o l p _product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1452265553&sr=8-3.
Jennaro, now an award-winnng Milwaukee attorney , is a past president
of the Italian Community Center and past chairman of Festa Italiana. In
recent years, he has served as chairman of Festa’s gondola rides, its VIP
Day for people with disabilities, and on the Festa Steering Committee.
The interview that Mucci conducted with Jennaro appears below.
Afterward, details on We the Italians web portal are provided.
* * *
Among the more than 300 festas that every year celebrate Italy in the
U.S., a number that seems impossible but instead is real, today our interview will bring us to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let’s face it, this is not the
first city that comes to our mind when we think about the American places
of the Italian emigration and probably it isn’t even in the top 10.
Still, every year a huge, impressive Festa Italiana shows with a big success, an incredible interest, love and passion for Italy, something that we
the Italians who live in Italy wouldn’t imagine. This year, the festa will be
from July 18 to July 20. We’ve talked about this with Bill Jennaro, former
chairperson of the Festa and now “just a volunteer”, as he humbly said to
us, with a patience, a kindness and a love for our country that you don’t
find every day.
Bill, thank you very much for your time. Please tell us something about Festa Italiana in Milwaukee
Festa Italiana Milwaukee is a celebration of Italian heritage and culture
and food, and it is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan – one of
the five great lakes of the U.S. The location, the Summerfest grounds, is a
permanent facility where events are often organized. The people who operate the grounds are an organization called Summerfest, very nice people.
The director of the grounds is half Italian, his mother was from Calabria.
He is a very nice man and very helpful to us.
Each summer there are many ethnic festivals at this facility: Italian,
Polish, German, Irish, Mexican, Indian, Arab; plus a pride festival, so eight
festivals every summer. The oldest is Festa Italiana, first established
almost 40 years ago. It is outgrowth of four street festivals in the summer
time in Milwaukee. Each year, there would be these festivals in what’s
called the Italian district in Milwaukee, the “Little Italy”. This was the oldest neighborhood in the city. People who came were not only Italian. People
Umberto Mucci
Bill Jennaro
came there because they enjoyed the culture, the food and the music.
Then, in the mid ‘50s, a major urban renovation started, because of
expressway construction, right in the middle of the Italian neighborhood.
Italians were displaced because of the government’s acquisition of their
properties and their houses. And so the festivals stopped. There were no
people living there anymore. People in Milwaukee, especially - but not only
- of that area, which as a political district was called the “third ward”,
missed the festivals, so came out the idea of having a new bigger festival on
the new Summerfest grounds which were being developed on the lake
front. Italians came together and made this happen, despite the loss of an
Italian neighborhood.
Both Italian organizations and Italian individuals worked together.
When it was announced nobody knew if this idea would have been successful, but it was. We now have over 100.000 people attend each year. The festival is a three-day event.
The success of Festa Italiana led other ethnic groups to consider a similar event to celebrate their culture too. The mayor of Milwaukee, Henry
Maier (he’d been mayor for 28 years), of German heritage, called together
all the German associations, and there was plenty of them, because
Germans are the first ethnic group associated with the heritage of
Milwaukee and actually of the whole State of Wisconsin. So the mayor
pushed to have a German festival, using these words: “If the Italians can
do it, we can do it”! And so the next year a German festival was organized,
and then a Polish one, and then the others I mentioned. But we the
Italians were the pioneers.
So, what happens during the Festa?
We have 2,000 volunteers to help us with everything that happens during the three days; we have 40 food and wine vendors and five different
stages for music, Italian and not. Every year we try to have a musical
group from Italy. And, obviously, on Sunday we have a mass. This year, we
are excited about bringing Patrizio Buanne from Europe to headline our
festival.
We have a cultural exhibit area dedicated every year to a different
regional culture of Italy, with costumes and traditions, handcrafts and
tourism. This year, our guest will be Lombardy. There is a bocce tournament, there’s a parade, and a stage which is completely dedicated to children. We have Italian movies. We have a section dedicated to genealogy
researches. And of course, food and Italian cuisine play a very important
role during the entire three days of the event.
We have a protected area right on the water – called a lagoon - into
Lake Michigan and we have four gondolas. We also have an exhibition
about opera music and another one with pictures of Italians who came to
Milwaukee long time ago, which is a beautiful display. We even have a
replica of the Roman Colosseo!
Every year, literally hundreds of festivals and feasts celebrate
Italy all over the United States in big cities and in small towns. In
probably every state, there is at least one event like this. What’s
the meaning of this incredible series of yearly events with always
thousands and thousands of people, not necessarily all of Italian
heritage?
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THE ITALIAN TIMES
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Italian Society and Club News
Pompeii Women request
your support for Palm
Sunday Breakfast Buffet
Attention, please! Mark your
calendars for this year’s Palm
Sunday, Mar. 20th. That’s when
you will be able to enjoy the
Pompeii Women’s Club 18th annual all-you-can-eat Palm Sunday
Breakfast Buffet, from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. at the Italian Community
Center. The event is an essential
fundraiser for the organization.
Club members are pleased to
announce the menu: pancakes,
eggs, ham, sausage, hash browned
potatoes, fresh fruit, danish, pastries, juice, milk, coffee and tea.
Prices are $10.50 for adults and
$5.50 for children, 4-12 years old
and free for children, 3 and
younger. No reservations are
taken. The event will take place in
the Pompeii Grand Ballroom.
As in past years, there will be a
bake sale, opportunity gift baskets
to bid on and various raffles.
Among the prizes will be a boy’s
and a girl’s bicycle.
There will also be a coloring contest and face painting for the
youngsters, each free of charge.
A surprise visit by the Easter
Bunny will delight all of the children. Don’t miss this special fun
day for the little ones.
Moms, don’t miss this day, all
this and no work for you!
Hope to see you on Sunday,
Mar. 20th.
– Mary (Mineo) Winard
P.R. Person for
Pompeii Women’s Club
Help make the Pompeii
Men’s Good Friday Fish Fry
a successful fundraiser
The Pompeii Men’s Club will
hold its annual Good Friday Fish
Fry Buffet at the Italian
Community Center on Mar. 25.
Your attendance is key to the success of the event.
The buffet serves as the organization’s biggest fundraiser, and
net proceeds benefit its extensive
charitable giving in the community.
This is an all-you-can-eat buffet and will be served from 4 to
7:30 p.m. The cost will be $15 for
adults, $8 for children ages 4 to 10
and free for youngsters age 3 and
under.
Available on the buffet will be
breaded and baked cod, potato
pancakes, baked potatoes, French
fries, popcorn shrimp, mostaccioli
with red sauce, coleslaw, tossed
salad with various dressings,
Italian bread, watermelon
wedges, coffee, tea or milk and
dessert. A full range of condiments will be available to accompany the meal.
Free parking will be available
in the lot south of the building.
As usual, the event will feature
a money raffle. The prizes are: 1st
- $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $150, 4th
- $100, 5th - $75, 6th and 7th $50 each and 8th – 10th - $25
each. Raffle tickets will be $2 each
or seven for $10 and can be purchased at the ICC office reception
desk or by contacting club president Tony Baudo at 414-324-6347,
chairman John A. Sanfilippo at
414-282-2667 or Tony Zingale at
414-444-4689. Tickets will also be
sold at the Good Friday event.
There will also be opportunity
gift baskets to bid on and a 50/50
cash raffle.
The Pompeii Men’s Club Fish
Fry is one of Milwaukee’s best
attended on Good Friday.
The Pompeii Men’s Club charitable outreach has benefited the
Italian Community Center along
with several other local organizations, among them the Sojourner
Truth House, Children’s Hospital
of Wisconsin, the Ronald
McDonald House, and Special
Olympics
of
Southeastern
Wisconsin.
The club also has strong ties to
Three Holy Women Parish. It was
founded by members of the
Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church,
the predecessor to St. Rita of
Cascia Church on Cass Street.
Three Holy Women Parish carrying
on St. Joseph’s Day tradition
The Christian Women Society of
Three Holy Women Parish will
present La Tavolata di San
Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Table) on
Sunday, Mar. 13 in Scalabrini Hall
at St. Rita Church, 1601 N. Cass
St., following the 10:30 a.m.
(approximately 11:30 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.).
The annual event celebrates the
Feast of St. Joseph, which take
place six days later on the Roman
Catholic calendar. It is open to the
public.
The Christian Women Society
will fill the table with meatless
dishes, breads and desserts, all of
which will be available for purchase. Attendees will receive a free
bread roll and a small bowl of pasta
with a traditional meatless sauce
(with or without sardines).
A raffle will be held for the
chance to win one of many prizes,
including restaurant certificates.
The drawing will take place at 2
p.m. Winners need to be present.
Money raised through the food
sale, raffle and free will offerings
are donated to charitable causes.
La Tavolata di San Giuseppe
celebrates an event in Sicily, when
the people prayed to San Giuseppe
to send rain during a severe
drought. When the rain came, starvation was averted and the people
prepared a banquet in thanksgiving to St. Joseph.
OSIA Mazzei Lodge to
present ‘Tribute to Sinatra’
at ICC on Saturday, Apr. 2
The Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the
Order Sons of Italy in America
(OSIA) will present “A Tribute to
Frank Sinatra” starring Chicagoland crooner Jim Bulanda on
Saturday night, Apr. 2, at the
Italian Community Center, 631 E.
Chicago St., Milwaukee. Doors
open at 4:30 p.m.
Opening for Bulanda will be
Jayne Taylor, a talented local
vocalist, who will take the stage at
5 p.m. Bulanda will perform from 7
to 9 p.m.
The event will take place in the
Pompeii Grand Ballroom. Tickets,
which are available for $10 per person, must be purchased in advance.
Tickets can be obtained at the ICC
during regular business hours or by
contacting Ralph Busalacchi at
414-483-1562.
Food and beverages will be
available all night. The staff of
Cafe La Scala, the ICC’s public
restaurant, will be on hand to take
orders beginning at 5 p.m. An
Italian American buffet will also be
available in the ballroom.
About Bulanda
Bulanda can easily step into the
shoes of any major Las Vegas
entertainer. He is a vocalist who is
most appreciated and famous for
his impressions of Dean Martin
and, of course, the “Chairman of
the Board,” Frank Sinatra.
He started singing at the age of
seven to entertain his large Italian
family. Throughout his 20s, he regularly sang in church as a cantor. Parishioners soon took notice of
Jim’s beautiful, velvety smooth
voice, and he was often asked to
sing at weddings.
In the early 1990s, Bulanda ventured into the nightlife. He could
frequently be seen singing and dab-
Jayne Taylor
Jim Bulanda
bling in comedy at Chicago’s local
comedy clubs. Patrons at these
clubs remarked on his remarkable
singing voice and encouraged him
to develop his vocal talent. For the
next three years, Jim polished his
Sinatra classic songs and developed
a nightclub act that includes a
repertoire of 70 classic songs. He
began his professional singing
career in 1994, performing in
nightclubs in Chicago and northwest Indiana. He has performed in
places such as Chicago’s East Bank
Club, The Merchandise Mart,
Salvatore’s and Chicago’s famous
Omni Ambassador East and The
Pump Room. He has entertained
audiences as large as 3,000 and has
traveled as far as Nevada and
Arizona to perform. In the spring
of 2001, Bulanda was sent to Las
Vegas by Chicago’s WXRT radio
station to perform in the Fremont
Street Experience Talent Showcase.
For more information or for
bookings, Jim can be reached at
219-718-7503 or visit his website,
www.tributetofrank.com.
Jayne Taylor
Jayne Taylor will perform a
selection of popular international
songs, including some Italian
favorites. Taylor, who won Festa
Italiana’s 2007 “Italian Idol” contest, has received numerous
awards and has hosted and produced her own local access TV
show.
She is also scheduled to perform
at the ICC’s “A Taste of Italy” on
Sunday, Apr. 17.
Last summer, she headlined a
country music/rockabilly program
with Geoff Landon for the ICC’s
Courtyard Music Series. In
December, she sang at the Roma
Lodge in Racine. In November, she
put people in the holiday spirit at
her annual Christmas program at
the Sunset Playhouse in Elm
Grove. Vocalist Pete Sorce joined
her that night.
UNICO Ladies invite newcomers
to Mar. 15 meeting
The Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO will hold its first meeting of 2016 on
Tuesday, Mar. 15 with dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m.
President Carla Pellin welcomes all interested ladies to “come and join
us. We will be sharing the calendar of events for the year. We will present
ideas for our dinner meetings, the annual Scholarship Awards Dinner and
summertime fun.”
To attend this meeting and have dinner, please contact
Sophia Michalovitz at 414-731-7693. Cost is $20, and ladies that includes
dessert. Bring your sweet tooth and happy attitude and enjoy an evening
with friends.
Please notify friends and family about the UNICO scholarships. See the
article in this issue of The Italian Times. The application is available at
https://sites.google.com/site/uticomilwaukee/, click on “Documents.” That is
where students will find the application.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Milwaukee UNICO organizations will
award scholarships for the 80th
consecutive year in 2016
Continuing a program started 80 years ago, the Milwaukee Chapter
UNICO National and the Ladies of UNICO will award several scholarships this spring to high school seniors of Italian descent. The exact number of scholarships to be presented had not been determined as of press
time.
To be eligible, applicants must attend a public or private school in
Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha or
Walworth counties. Additionally, the student must hold an academic
standing in the top 20% of the graduating class and/or a relative standing
in the upper 20% on a college aptitude test (ACT or SAT).
The spirit of this scholarship is to help Italian American seniors with
financial needs. Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised
of non-Italian descent dignitaries from the Milwaukee area. Financial
need, scholarship, community/school involvement and personal character
are the criteria by which the applicants will be judged.
Obtaining a scholarship application
Applications will be available on the Milwaukee UNICO website,
https://sites.google.com/site/uticomilwaukee/. Click on the documents link
found on the sidebar.
Application deadline – Apr. 1
Candidates must submit their applications by Friday, Apr. 1, to:
Scholarship Director of UNICO Milwaukee, 10625 W. North Ave. Suite
300, Wauwatosa, WI 53226.
Applicants may be contacted to attend a personal interview at the
Italian Community Center during school hours on Friday, Apr. 15.
The scholarships will be presented at a banquet on the evening of
Tuesday, May 17. The recipient or his/her representative must be present
to accept the scholarship award.
The Milwaukee UNICO scholarship program has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships over the past 84 years.
The Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National is celebrating 85 years in
existence in 2016. The organization awarded its first scholarship in 1936.
The Ladies of UNICO celebrated their 50th anniversary as an independent civic and service organization in 2013.
UNICO National offers scholarships for
undergraduate and post-graduate studies
to students of Italian ancestry
Application deadline is Apr. 1, 2016
Students in the United States who are of Italian ancestry and are interested in pursuing either an undergraduate or post-graduate education may
apply for UNICO National scholarships.
UNICO National offers four $6,000 undergraduate scholarships, several
post-graduate scholarships and three scholarships for Ph.D. candidates.
Presentations are made to recipients at events hosted by local UNICO
chapters across the nation in the spring. They are also recognized in the
UNICO National Convention Journal, published for the 94th national convention which will take place July 17-31, in Cambridge, Md.
The criteria that UNICO National uses in selecting its recipients are
quite similar to those used by the Milwaukee Chapter in choosing local
awardees.
The four undergraduate scholarships are designated as the Theodore
Mazza Scholarship, the Major Don S. Gentile Scholarship, the William C.
Davini Scholarship and the Alphonse A. Miele Scholarship. These awards
do not require the applicant to specify a collegiate major. The Mazza scholarship was established to commemorate the contributions of the late
Theodore Mazza of Milwaukee to both the national organization and the
Milwaukee Chapter.
Additionally, there are several awards for matriculated college students,
post-graduate and doctoral candidates:
• Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship. The UNICO
Foundation, Inc. will grant up to a maximum of $6,000, paid out at $1,500
per year, for a graduate scholarship. The awardee must be initiating graduate study, full-time, at an accredited college/university program in the
United States. A candidate must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.
• Dr. Benjamin Cottone Memorial Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation,
Inc. will grant a $5,000 scholarship, paid on award, to a student pursuing
graduate education at an accredited medical school in the United States. A
candidate must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.
• Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships. The
UNICO Foundation, Inc. will provide grants valued at $2,500 each, paid on
award, to students attending accredited prelicensure or graduate nursing
programs in the United States. Preference is given to applicants demonstrating financial need. A candidate must be a United States citizen. This
program is open to nursing students of all ethnicities.
• DiMattio Celli Family Study Abroad Scholarship. The UNICO
Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $1,250 each, for study in
Italy. Candidates must be currently enrolled, full-time, in an accredited college or university in the United States, pursuing a degree. The study
abroad program must be eligible for credit by the student’s college/university. An applicant must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.
• Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation will provide two literary scholarships, valued at $1,000 each. Application for this
program will be open to matriculated college students. Terms of submission
require the candidate to present, in writing, an original short story or essay
celebrating their Italian heritage.
• Guglielmo Marconi Engineering Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation
will grant a scholarship valued at $1,250 paid on award to a sophomore,
junior or senior student enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United States majoring in engineering. An
applicant must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.
• Robert J. Tarte Scholarship for Italian Studies. The UNICO
Foundation will provide a scholarship, valued at $1,000, to a student
enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United
States pursuing Italian Studies. A candidate must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities.
• Louise Torraco Memorial Scholarship for Science. The UNICO
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students
enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United
States pursuing study of the Physical Sciences or Life Sciences. A nominee
must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of
all ethnicities.
• Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation will grant two
scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled full-time, in an
accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing a
degree. A nominee must hold United States citizenship. This program is
open to applicants of all ethnicities.
• Ralph J. Torraco Fine Arts Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation will
grant two scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled fulltime in an accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing a degree in the Fine Arts. A nominee must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities. A nominee must
reside in the home state of an active UNICO Chapter. Online degree programs are not eligible for UNICO scholarships.
Application forms for all UNICO National scholarships are available by
contacting Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National President, Rose Anne
Fritchie at [email protected]. The deadline for submitting applications,
except as noted above, is Friday, Apr. 1.
La Società Santa
Rosalia invites you to
Spring Dinner Dance
The Santa Rosalia Society is holding its 2016 Spring Dinner Dance
and invites all to attend. The event will be held on Saturday, Apr. 23 at
the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., in downtown
Milwaukee.
The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. followed by
dinner an hour later.
The costs have been set at $65 per Santa Rosalia Society member or
$70 for each member of the general public. Children, 12 and under, can
attend for $20 each. These costs include entry, dinner, dessert and
music. Advance registration is required. Space is limited. If you are
interested in attending this event or would like to be added for the society’s mailing list for any future events, please contact Joann Stern at
[email protected] or 414-526-4388.
Following the society’s tradition, a portion of the proceeds from the
event will benefit a local organization. This year, Easter Seals
Southeastern Wisconsin has been chosen as the beneficiary.
The Enzo Scarano Band will perform danceable music for all ages.
Come out and enjoy a great dinner, music/dancing and some fun
drawings. “This event is a crowd pleaser,” Stern said. “Come for date
night, or meet some friends and family for dinner.”
There will be a number of drawings held during the evening. Anyone
interested in purchasing advance raffle tickets should contact Joann
Stern at the email address or phone number appearing above.
La Società Santa Rosalia di Santo Stefano Quisquina (Santa Rosalia
Society), founded in 2005, is a non-profit, charitable organization that
promotes preservation of cultural traditions, family and giving back to
the community.
More information on Easter Seals can be found on its website at
http://www/easterseals.com/wi-se/our-programs.
Viva Il Carnevale – Feb. 6, 2016
Maria and Sal Purpora were honored as La Regina and Il Re of the Italian
Community Center’s Il Grande Carnevale. Behind them are Il Vescovo
Frank D’Amato and Sister Mary Purgatory Marie Lieber, who placed the
sashes and crowns on the Royalty and presented bouquets of roses to the
female members of the court.
Il Principe Thomas Blaubach and La Principessa Claire Elliott
La Nonna and Il Nonno Carol and Ray Martinez
La Piccola Principessa Maria Vella and
Il Piccolo Principe Charles Bartolone
Times photos by Tom Hemman
Ready to serve as Il Gran Maresciallo was John Alioto. He did a sparkling
job keeping the evening’s festivities on schedule. Decked out as a butler,
he was part of a murder comedy cast that won the group prize in costume
competition.
Who were the Carnevale
raffle winners?
Il Vescovo (The Bishop) Frank D’Amato greeted Carnevale guests and
gave a blessing to the youngest in attendance.
One of the last activities at Il
Grande Carnevale 2016 was the
drawing of winning tickets in the
cash prize raffle associated with
the pre-Lenten costume and mask
ball.
The winners were:
• 1st prize: $500 to Yvonne
Zaffiro.
• 2nd prize: $300 to Mike
Crowe.
• 3rd prize: $100 to Gwen
Lavin.
• 4th prize: $100 to Renee
Bosnjak.
Raffle chairs Marie and Jim
Schwindt thanked everyone who
purchased tickets.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Times photos by
Tom Hemman
Outfitted as the mighty matador and Carmen, the flamenco dancer of
opera fame, Joe and Ann Zambito won first prize in Carnevale’s costume
competition. The couple received The Pfister Hotel Sunday Brunch for
two, a Milwaukee County Zoo package and four Festa Italiana tickets.
Decked out as characters from the 1985 mystery comedy Clue, this group won the group/theme prize in the
Carnevale costume judging. Their prize was a pizza
party at Cafe La Scala, the public restaurant at the
Italian Community Center. From the back, left to
right: Sam Abraham, Rose Anne Fritchie, John Alioto,
Laura Burgardt, Scott Burgardt, Maureen Stone, John
Morgan, Jenna Alioto, Elizabeth Ceraso, Mary Anne
Ceraso-Alioto, Maura Morgan, Jenna Hamden and Sam
Alioto. Not pictured: Andy Vila.
Taking home first prize in mask competition was Sheila Vivi, who is seen
here with Wayne Kitzerow. Her prize included a 60-minute “Relax Me
Massage” at The Pfister Hotel’s Well Spa, a gift basket and four Festa
Italiana 2016 tickets, which takes place July 22-24 on the Summerfest
grounds.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Craig and Marie Lieber received second prize in costume competition
dressed as Geppetto and his
wooden puppet, Pinocchio. They
were given a Discovery World
membership, a $50 certificate for
Divino Wine & Dine Restaurant
and four Festa Italiana tickets.
Pianist John Puchner performed
during the cocktail reception. With
him is his son, Anthony, Il Piccolo
Principe (The Little Prince) of
Carnevale 2015.
The second prize in mask competition was awarded to Paul Strain and
Gerry Geischer. The couple received a $30 Cafe La Scala gift certificate, a
gift basket and four Festa Italiana tickets.
Times photos by
Tom Hemman
Carnevale General Chairs Joanne Czubek (left) and Rosemary DeRubertis
escorted ICC President Giuseppe Vella during their grand entrance into
the ballroom.
Rosa and Santo Tumminello captured third prize in mask competition.
Their prize included a Glorioso’s Italian Market gift box and four Festa
Italiana tickets.
A spectacular sweet table, in honor of La Piccola Principessa Isabella
Vella, and courtesy of her family and the Brady Street bakery they own,
Peter Sciortino Bakery, was enjoyed by Carnevale attendees.
Here are several volunteers who were responsible for the creation of the
festive decorations that adorned the ballroom and galleria for the celebration of Carnevale. From the left: Jon Mueller, Pamela Mazza-Mueller,
Christina Ziino, Ann Zambito, Santa Mazza, Marie Lieber, Craig Lieber
and Frank D’Amato. Missing are C.J. Lieber and Ryan Lieber.
Salvatore Vella (left) and ICC Vice President Dean Cannestra waved the
flags of the United States and Italy during the Grand March, which featured the Royal Court and all those in costumes and masks.
Carnevale Royalty joined with Tradizione Vivente in the Tarantella
Tipica. The couple passing through the outreached arms La Regina Maria
Purpora and Tradizione Vivente Director Mark DeSanctis are La Nonna
Carol Martinez and her husband and Il Nonno Ray Martinez.
The Bill Sargent Big Band performed danceable music throughout the
evening.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
I Bei Bambini performed a fast paced number, Tutti x Tutti, before the
serving of sumptuous dinner. The Children’s Italian Dance Group rehearses at the ICC on Monday nights. They are directed by Susie (DeSanctis)
Christiansen and Ashley DeSanctis.
Times photos by Tom Hemman
The judging of the participants in costumes and masks can be a difficult
job, especially when there are so many creative ones like there were at
this year’s Carnevale. This year’s judging panel is seen here with
Rosemary DeRubertis, one of the two Carnevale general chairpersons.
Seated, left to right: Pamela Mazza-Mueller and Andrea Parsons. Standing
Karen Dickinson, Rosemary DeRubertis and Bill Dickinson.
Bartolotta Fireworks presented a brief, but colorful and tremulous
pyrotechnics show before the opening of the sweet table. Bartolotta has
been doing the fireworks show at Carnevale for many years. The Genesee
Depot company has been part of the ICC hosted Festa Italiana since its
inception in 1978.
The Reverend Mike Hammer,
Coordinator for AIDS Ministry for
the Archdiocese of Milwaukee,
delivered the invocation. Behind
him is Il Gran Maresciallo John
Alioto.
Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee, performed two
dances during the Carnevale program, Vai, and Tarantella Tipica.
Midway through the second number, the members of the Royal Court participated in the dance.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Carnevale General Chairpersons Joanne Czubek and Rosemary
DeRubertis are seen here alongside the sweet table that was set up in the
galleria. Czubek designed the centerpiece for this table and many other
centerpieces for the event.
Justice Antonin Scalia – 1st Italian
American appointed to U.S. Supreme
Court – dies at age of 79
Antonin Gregory Scalia, the first
Italian American to be appointed as
a justice on the United States
Supreme Court, died Saturday,
Feb. 13 of natural causes. He was
79.
Appointed to the Court by
President Ronald Reagan in 1986,
Scalia was described as the intellectual anchor for the originalist
and textualist position in the
Court’s conservative wing.
Scalia was born Mar. 11, 1936 in
Trenton, New Jersey. He was the
only child of Salvatore Eugene
Scalia, an immigrant from Sicily,
and Catherine Louise (Panaro)
Scalia, who was born in Trenton to
Italian immigrant parents.
Salvatore was a graduate student
and clerk at the time of his son’s
birth, and, later became a professor
of Romance languages at Brooklyn
College. Catherine worked as an
elementary school teacher.
Salvatore and Catherine’s son
attended public grade school. After
graduating eighth grade, he
obtained a scholarship to Xavier
High School, a Jesuit military
school in Manhattan, New York
City, where he finished first in his
class of 1953 and served as valedictorian.
Scalia obtained his law degree
from Harvard Law School and
spent six years in a Cleveland
(Ohio) law firm before he became a
law school professor at the
University of Virginia. In the early
1970s, he served in the Nixon and
Ford administrations, eventually as
an Assistant Attorney General. He
spent most of the Carter years
teaching at the University of
Chicago, where he became one of
the first faculty advisers of the
fledgling Federalist Society.
In 1982, Ronald Reagan
appointed him as judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Court.
The late Justice Antonin Scalia
Four years later, Reagan nominated him to the U.S. Supreme Court.
His nomination was approved by
the Senate on Sept. 17, 1986. Scalia
succeeded William Rehnquist, a
The Carnevale Committee and the Italian
Community Center thank you for your support
and contributions to Il Grande Carnevale 2016
in making this a wonderful event.
Tom and Barbara Balistreri
Bartolotta Fireworks Co., Inc.
Susan DeSanctis Christiansen
Discovery World Museum
Divino Wine & Dine
Festa Italiana
I Bei Bambini
Italian Conference Center
Marie & Craig Lieber
Tony Machi
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee County Zoo
Anna Pitzo
Betty Puccio
John Puchner
C.W. Purpero, Inc. – Sam & Phil Purpero
Sal & Maria Purpora – Papa Luigi’s Pizza
Schaff Funeral Home
Kyle Schwindt
Peter Sciortino Bakery
The Pfister Hotel
Tradizione Vivente
Well Spa at The Pfister Hotel
Joe & Ann Zambito
Please accept our apologies if your contribution was received
after the printing of this newspaper.
Milwaukee native and former Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court.
Scalia served on the Court for
nearly 30 years, during which time
he established a consistently conservative voting record and ideology, advocating textualism in statutory interpretation and originalism
in constitutional interpretation. He
was a strong defender of the powers
of the executive branch, believing
presidential powers should be paramount in many areas. He opposed
affirmative action and other policies that treated minorities as special groups.
Scalia met his wife-to-be on a
blind date while he attended
Harvard Law School. He and
Maureen McCarthy were married
on Sept. 10, 1960. Both were devout
Roman Catholics. The couple raised
nine children, five boys and four
girls.
He enjoyed opera and often
attended performances with fellow
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal member of the Court.
Lezzeno to hold
Palio dei Falo
The city of Lezzeno on Lake
Como in the Lombardy region of
Italy hosts the Palio dei Falo, an
annual bonfire held in the middle
of March. Citizens have participated in the bonfire since the 1100s,
when it is thought that the city
was attacked and burned by residents of neighboring Como.
Some historians also suggest
that the bonfire commemorates the
widespread burning of witches during that time. Participants organize into groups and compete as to
who can create the biggest blaze.
The bonfires are famous for lighting up the shores of Lake Como.
For your
Wedd ing
Reception
and
Rehearsal
Dinner
The Italian
Conference Center
located at the
Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
You'll welcome our attention to
detail and the way our staff goes
out of its way to meet your every
need. Your guests will love the setting, the food, and easy access and
parking.
Our wedding specialists will work
closely with you to make certain
that your day is everything you
dreamed it would be. They'll even
assist with floral arrangements,
music, photography, ordering the
wedding cake and other extras.
Call David or Kim Marie now for
available dates and a tour.
(414) 223-2800
www.italianconference.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Glorioso’s Italian Market celebrating
70th anniversary in 2016
by Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
This past Valentine’s Day
marked the 70th anniversary of
Glorioso’s Italian Market, the venerable grocery/deli on Milwaukee’s
Brady Street known for its quality
Italian food and exceptional customer service.
Opened on Feb. 14, 1946 in a
small and, at that time, rented grocery at 1020 E. Brady St.,
Glorioso’s grew into an East Side
institution and a destination for
visitors from around the world.
Today, the family-run business can
be found in significantly more spacious digs at 1011 E. Brady St.
The founders of the original
store were three brothers – the late
Joe, Eddie and Ted. Joe, recently
back home from service in the
United States Army during World
War II, was the buyer. Eddie handled deliveries. He also had another job at the Heil Co., which helped
to provide needed extra cash to buy
the grocery’s inventory. Ted was
just a teenager. Every day, he
cleaned the wooden floors, stocked
the shelves and loaded the basement storeroom with goods hauled
through windows.
Today, Ted is the owner. Eddie is
semi-retired but often can be found
working behind the deli counter.
Joe, the oldest of the three, died on
Oct. 15, 2013 at the age of 91.
Asked what he remembered
about the original grocery, Ted
said, “It was very small. We paid
rent. Everything we carried was
Italian except for a few things, like
the soaps. We were open six days a
week from 6 in the morning to 10 at
night and closed on Sundays (like
other groceries back then).”
Was there any significance to
opening on Valentine’s Day? “No,
not really,” Ted said. “It was just
time to open.”
From the very beginning, many
family members have worked at
Glorioso’s. Among the relatives who
helped out the brothers in the early
years were their sister Rosalie,
their brother Chuck, and their
Auntie Bessie. The latest estimates
are that more than 70 family members have worked at the store at
one time or another.
The business was started with a
$1,000 loan from their father,
Felice, a fruit peddler, a produce
man, who worked with Felice on
Glorioso’s Italian Market at 1011 E. Brady Street opened in December 2010.
the old Commission Row in
Milwaukee’s Third Ward, and a
150-pound provolone grand cheese
that, it is said, the brothers turned
into cash, slice by slice.
Asked if he and his brothers
knew they would succeed, “It was a
crap shoot, like any other business.
You never know.”
Of course, they did succeed. By
1952, Ted was running Trio’s Pizza
and later a restaurant. More
recently, he has operated Glorioso’s
Gold Imports & Diamond Center,
above the original grocery. Joe’s
son, Felice, and Ted’s son, Michael,
are the managers of the grocery.
Even as the neighborhood
changed, with many of the Italian,
German and Polish families moving
on and other ethnic groups replacing them, the Glorioso brothers and
their store remained constant. “We
kept a loyal following of shoppers
who valued our products and service,” the late Joe Glorioso told The
Italian Times in 2006 when the
market celebrated its 60th anniversary. He said they valued the
imported Italian oil, pasta, cookies,
The deli at Glorioso’s Italian Deli
canned goods, cannoli and bread
from nearby Sciortino Bakery,
freshly made sausage and variety
of cheese as well as the intimate
feel of a neighborhood market.
As an anchor on Brady Street,
Glorioso’s has played a major role
in its rejuvenation due in large part
to its support and allegiance to the
area, which led other property own-
Glorioso’s Bros. Market in 1946. (All photos provided by Glorioso’s Bros., Inc.)
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ers to realize the hidden value of
Milwaukee’s lower East Side.
After 64 years at its original
location, the grocery and deli operations were moved across the street
to a much larger building (20,000
sq. ft. on two levels compared to
3,100 sq. ft.). The building was previously the home of the Brady
Street Pharmacy and the Astor
Theater.
The new market has allowed the
Glorioso family to greatly expand
its deli and prepared food operations, offer a much larger selection
of groceries (especially Italian
cheese, pasta, olive oil and other
food), beer, wine and, for the first
time, liquor. The store has the
largest selection of Italian cheese in
the state. The family has brought
back Trio’s Pizza, using the original
family recipe.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary and thank the local community for years of support, Glorioso’s
has planned events and promotions
throughout 2016. It kicked off Feb.
12-14 with a three-day sale on
Glorioso’s brand products and an
Italian music performance by the
Lake Mandolin Orchestra.
“We’ve been able to maintain the
commitment to the product and our
customers in keeping with the tradition started 70 years ago,” Ted
said. “As a family and a company,
we’re proud to be celebrating this
amazing milestone.”
Thanks for your donations to ICC
The officers and directors of the Italian
Community Center wish to thank and acknowledge all those who pledged, fulfilled a pledge, or
contributed to the building fund.
To obtain information on how to make a donation, please call 414-223-2808.
The following donations were received
between January 11 and February 9, 2016.
In memory of Peter Frank Sorce
His parents Peter T. and Kathy M. Sorce and his
sister Christina Sorce
Castrovinci
Carmen Schlotthauer
In memory of Peter Machi, Sr.
Frank and Nina Galioto
In memory of Lorraine Zingara
Paul and Rose Iannelli
Elizabeth Hermann
In memory of Dominic H. Frinzi
F. William (Bill) Russo
In memory of John Rosenberg
Elizabeth Hermann
In memory of Vincent S, Azzolina
James and Linda Spataro
In memory of Sharon A. (Sardino) Plotkin
James and Linda Spataro
In memory of James Dominic Ghiardi
Anthony T. Machi
In memory of Betty Thomas
Elizabeth Hermann
“Happy 95th Birthday” to Catherine and
Tony Gazzana
Elizabeth Hermann
Festa interview with Bill Jennaro
part of new book by Umberto Mucci
In memory of Salvatore and Rose
from page 7
thousands and thousands of
people, not necessarily all of
Italian heritage?
I have been in Italy a number of
times, and every time I go to Sicily.
I have seen festas throughout all of
Italy. It seems that every town has
its own festa. This has a lot to do
with religion. Every room in my
house had a picture of San Rocco –
my mother’s Saint. She was from
Bari in Puglia, while my father was
from Sicily. Every Italian immigrant did so and was and still is
very proud about the adoration for
his or her saints, as a way to show
the love for their community. This
is why there are many festivals and
feasts around the United States
like “Festa Italiana”. For the
Italians, even if they are gone from
Italy, Italy is not gone from them.
I also enjoy San Gennaro Feast
in the original Little Italy in New
York, because of my family name
which originally was Gennaro and
became Jennaro in 1921, when in a
commercial, a painter who had to
write my grandfather’s family
name drew a G that seemed like a
J. From that point on, we were the
only Gennaro with a J.
What’s the story of the
Italian
emigration
in
Wisconsin?
The majority of Italian immigrants in Milwaukee had Sicilian
heritage. In Kenosha, not far from
here, many came from Calabria.
Here in Milwaukee, there also was
a group from the Dolomites, in the
very north of Italy. This last group
was representing a different kind of
emigration. Some of them already
spoke English. They had school
education and integrated faster and
easier than the others. Then they
moved and created a new district in
Milwaukee, called Bay View, on the
southeast shore of the city of
Milwaukee overlooking Lake
Michigan.
The Sicilians were mostly uneducated. They came in to what was
the Irish district at that time,
downtown Milwaukee, and the
Irish really didn’t like these Italian
people, so different from them.
They wanted these Italians out,
and did nothing to hide this sentiment. Still, in time what once was
the Irish district ended up being
the Italian district, Milwaukee’s
Little Italy.
But even if these two groups of
people, one from northern Italy and
the other from southern Italy, were
made by immigrants coming from
the same country who landed in the
same city, they didn’t speak to each
other. They were two separate
colonies and have been for many,
many years.
How about the actual presence of Italians in Milwaukee
and in the whole State, either
Italian Americans or Italians
born in Italy and now working
or studying there? Are there
many of them, and who are
they?
Well, the migration stopped
after the half of the 1920s because
of the quota system introduced by
the U.S. After that, the numbers
went
considerably
down.
Milwaukee does have a good Italian
American community, made by the
sons and daughters and grandchildren of those who came here at the
beginning of the last century. We
are the successful generation, who
had the possibility to have a better
life thanks to the sacrifices of those
who came at the beginning of the
20th century, until the mid ‘20s.
And besides, many, many Italians
who passed from here, then moved
to other places in the United
Apply conventional wisdom when planning your next
business conference, banquet or meeting. Hold it at the
ITALIAN CONFERENCE CENTER
LOCATED AT THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
The Italian Conference Center offers . . .
• First rate conference, convention, banquet &
meeting facilities for groups from 4 to 1,400.
• Professional planning assistance.
• Outstanding food service.
• Handicap access & convenient parking.
• Easy access to freeway & downtown.
For professional assistance in coordinating your event, call
David or Kim Marie at (414) 223-2800 or
or visit www.italianconference.com.
Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI
Just a block west of Summerfest in the Historic Third Ward.
States, or elsewhere.
There are not a lot of newcomers
recently arrived from Italy, not at
all. There are a few professors, doctors. It’s a completely different kind
of emigration, either for the number of those who came here and for
their education and skill.
Wisconsin is just next to
Minnesota, where recently the
Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to rename
Columbus Day to Indigenous
Peoples Day. Do you think that
this is something that could
one day happen in Wisconsin,
too? What’s your thought about
this?
A lot of bad things happened to
Native Americans at the hands of
the non-native Americans, whoever
they were, and very, very few of
them were Italians. The Italians
were the explorers, but not the conquerors. So whoever is trying to put
this on Columbus’ shoulders and
blame him for everything is not
doing the right thing, because
blaming the wrong man is not justice at all.
I don’t know if this is something
that could happen here in
Wisconsin, too. It may, but I don’t
know. We do have a state holiday
to celebrate Christopher Columbus.
Actually my grandfather, my mother’s father, was one of those who
were there when the state holiday
was declared by the governor at
that time. We do have a large
Native American community in
Wisconsin because Andrew Jackson
when he was president moved a lot
of Native American people from
New York and Pennsylvania to the
Midwest. But I don’t know if there
has been a tentative plan to do so
here as in Minneapolis.
* * *
We the Italians is a web portal
where everyone can share, promote, be informed and keep in
touch with anything regarding
Italy happening in the U.S. Every
kind of content can be found in its
repository, with videos and news,
meetings and resources, businesses
and events, festivals and associations telling who, where and when
to eat, watch, listen, read, sing,
talk, share, play, wear, drive,
drink, like and be Italian in every
single one of the 50 States.
We the Italians proclaims,
“Before us there wasn’t a website
dedicated to those who live in the
US and like Italian people, food,
art, culture, fashion, language,
music, cinema, sport, business, creativity; for those who want to meet
other people with the same passion
for Italy; for those who believe that
the union between Italy and the
U.S. is really the perfect storm, and
that’s the reason why our name
puts together the Italian people
with the American constitution.
Italy needs to be promoted by
the web, Italians are always
American people’s best friends, the
Italian American community has so
many things to express and share.
That’s why We the Italians is here
to stay!”
To subscribe to We The Italians,
go to www.wetheitalians.com. The
interview appearing below was
done by Umberto Mucci, the
founder and president of We The
Italians.
from page 6
of at least four players, with one
player designated as team captain.
Each league is interested in having
eight teams, which allows every
team to compete each week of the
season.
Team registrations are available
from the league coordinators: Dan
Conley (Monday night), Craig
Lieber and Carole Casamento
(Tuesday afternoon), Tony Tarantino (Wednesday night) and Anna
Pitzo (Thursday afternoon). The
forms can also be obtained by contacting the ICC office at 414–2232180.
The forms must be submitted
with full payment for all players by
Wednesday, Mar. 9.
St. Augustine Church in New
Diggings, Wis., is one of at least 20
church buildings in the upper
Mississippi River valley designed
and erected under the supervision
of Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, a
Dominican missionary and amateur architect.
Mazzuchelli was born in Milan,
Italy in 1806 and came to the
United States at age 22. His original missionary work focused on the
Green Bay area, but in 1835 he
transferred his efforts to the lead
mining areas of the Upper
Midwest.
In Wisconsin he founded congregations in Prairie du Chien, Potosi,
Schullsburg, and New Diggings.
The Sinsinawa Dominican
Sisters in Sinsinawa, Wis., are
seeking to promote the beatification of Mazzuchelli. Visit their web
site: www.sinsinawa.org.
Bocce update
Fr. Mazzuchelli: An Italian missionary
built churches in Wisconsin in 1800s
THE ITALIAN TIMES
A kid from Porticello
by Blaise Di Pronio
The last big wave of immigration from Italy to America took
place in the 1950s and ‘60s followed
by a tapering off to a trickle in the
‘70s. Most settled in the big northern manufacturing cities with
Milwaukee being no exception as
its then multitude of breweries and
factories made it a viable destination.
The little Sicilian fishing village
of Porticello (Little Port in It.),
located on the outskirts of big city
Palermo, saw a disproportionate
number of its departing citizens
relocate to Milwaukee. Of these
Porticellesi, quite a few were lastnamed Carini – a popular family
name in the Palermo area probably
due to its proximity to the nearby
sizable town of (what else?) Carini
(which has a current population of
about 38,000).
During the post WWII immigration exodus, Italy’s birth rate was
quite high (compared to today’s
minuscule number) and thus the
departing families were usually
large. One such family was that of
Giuseppe and Francesca Carini
who left Porticello with their five
sons and two daughters in 1966.
The youngest of the brothers was
14 year-old Pietro (Peter) – the
man we know today as the owner of
Milwaukee East Side’s popular
restaurant, Carini’s Conca d’Oro,
and also an ICC member and a
Festa participant.
Like most Italians, Peter was
first exposed to food preparation in
his mother’s kitchen where food
was prepared by instinct, touch
and, ultimately, taste. No recipes
needed, just good memories and
fresh ingredients. As he got a little
older, he also started making pizzas in his father’s eatery in Sicily.
He was to revisit his pizza making
prowess a few months ago as
explained below. His father’s
knowledge and his mother’s passion when it came to cooking stuck
with Peter when they all transitioned to Milwaukee.
Once settled in the Beer City, it
did not take Peter long to find a
On Golden Bay
by Blaise di Pronio
Su conca d’oro
On his shell of gold
Regio decoro
Emblem of his control
Spira Nettuno
Mighty Neptune shines
In the partial chorale above,
found in his opera, Idomeneo,
Mozart celebrates Neptune’s
throne of gold and shaped like a
seashell. The Milwaukee restaurant, Carini’s Conca d’Oro, doesn’t
celebrate the King of the Sea, but
rather the Horn of Plenty basin by
the shores and land of Palermo by
the Tyrrhenian Sea.
In Italian, conchiglia means
seashell. Its derivative conca
refers to a basin or bowl shape.
Historically, the Conca d’Oro of
Palermo refers to the triangle
shaped land and basin-like bay
area that lies between the two
mountain slopes abutting the city,
creating a beautiful natural har-
bor. The lands above the bay were
once very fertile plains which ran
into the bay, which was watered
by the many rivers flowing down
the mountains with their many
nutrients. As a result, the zone
produced many agricultural and
aquatic riches for Palermo so it
thus earned its golden name. (Its
English equivalent idiom/expression would be: the “Horn (not
Conch) of Plenty”. The Italian
expression for this idiom would be
“Corno dell’Abbon-danza” (or also
“Cornucopia”).
Unfortunately, a lot of the fertile area has been replaced by
Palermo’s ever growing urban
sprawl which continues heading
inland. But the bay is as beautiful
as ever as you will see from the
pictures and paintings at Carini’s
own golden Conca which will provide its visitors a menu of “plenty”
and “abbondanza” without the
need to ever leave Milwaukee.
kitchen that was calling him. At
the age of 16, he began working in
the kitchen at the Milwaukee
Athletic Club. At the MAC, he was
exposed to and trained in all
aspects of food service and within a
few years he rose to the position of
Executive Chef which he held until
1984, when he was recruited and
hired away from there by Zorba’s
food operation. He stayed with
Zorba’s until 1991, at which time
he took on a similar position with
Niko’s.
In 1996, Peter’s American
dream came to full fruition when
he and his wife Jan (a Milwaukee
native he met at the IV A Go Go –
IV for Italian Village for those who
mercifully forgot) and with the help
of his brothers and sisters, opened
their Sicilian style restaurant:
Carini’s Conca d’Oro- named for a
famous bay by Palermo’s shores by
the Tyrrhenian Sea. (See side article about this bay.)
The restaurant quickly built a
reputation around its traditional
Sicilian and Italian dishes concentrating on frutti di mare (fruit of
the sea), veal, chicken, pasta and
the house specialty of spiedini.
With hard work and a great product, success was inevitable and it
has continued to the present with
the ongoing help and participation
of all members of Peter’s family at
one time or another, as needed.
In 2015, Peter’s early experience
with pizzas back in Sicily came full
circle when the restaurant imported a Naples-made Acunto Mario
pizza oven in order to offer the
Neopolitan style pizza as it was
gaining popularity in the U.S. and
which usually features charmarked bottoms, soft, wet centers
and sparse but tasty toppings. The
oven heats up to over 900 degrees
which means it can cook a 12-inch
pizza in about 90 seconds!. They
come in many varieties and have
easily become a big hit.
That 14 year old kid from
Porticello (paintings of which adorn
the restaurant walls and open air
patios) now looks back in gratitude
to his supportive family and his
adopted country and he looks forward with pride and happiness surrounded by his immediate family.
all of whom have joined him in the
restaurant. His three children,
Gregg, Peter and Lisa, can always
be seen coming and going, doing
whatever is necessary at the Conca
d’Oro. And Peter looks on beaming
the biggest smile.
Eastern sunrise
by Blaise Di Pronio
You can usually find some root
word connection between the
Italian and English versions of
Catholic Holy Day names, but
there is an apparent discrepancy in
the names for the upcoming socalled Easter celebration and its
Italian equivalent of Pasqua. The
two names of the same holy day are
diametrically opposed and clearly
discordant. How did that come
about?
The English Easter appellation
comes from a variety of sources:
The old Norse austr refers to the
east; the Anglo-Saxon eostre refers
to the Goddess of Dawn or a sunrise; the Germanic austron also
describes the dawn, and aust refers
to the east and toward the sunrise.
Why the East? That is where the
sun is reborn, where the sun, in
effect, resurrects from the death
and darkness of night, thus representing and symbolizing Christ’s
similar Resurrection from His
death, celebrated during this initially somber but ultimately festive
event.
The Italian Pasqua derives from
the Latin paschalis, Greek pasch
THE ITALIAN TIMES
and Hebrew pashh, all of which
connote a “passing over” with a
specific reference to the Lord passing over or excluding the houses of
the Israelites when the first born of
the Egyptians were killed (one of
the 10 plagues inflicted on the
Egyptians, which resulted in the
freeing of the Jews from their captivity and slavery under the leadership of Moses).
This is commemorated in the
Jewish tradition of the Passover
festival, which includes the offering
of a Sacrificial or Paschal Lamb.
Christ came to be known and
referred to as The Lamb of God (in
that He also was “sacrificed” by His
Father). He was, in effect, likened
to a Passover Lamb.
Thus, one name connotes and
celebrates the sacrificial (Pasqua/Paschal) aspect of the day and
the other the resurrection (Easter)
of the One who was so sacrificed
and the preferred name used was
to be dependent more on geographical reasons (Northern Europe/English versus Southern Europe/Palestine) rather than ecclesiastical
ones.
Here is Peter Carini, chef/owner of Carini’s La Conca d’Oro, prepared
some of his famous calamari for Festa Italiana guests. Carini’s La Conca
d’Oro was one of the food vendors on the Festa grounds. (Times photo by
Tom Hemman)
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Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI
Just a block west of Summerfest in the Historic Third Ward.
La Pagina Italiana
di Senatore Renato Turano
Con l’avvio di ogni nuovo anno ci
ritroviamo a dover fare i conti, da
una parte, con le disponibilità del
governo e, dall’altra, con le esigenze
degli italiani all’estero. Queste
ultime,
tra
l’altro,
non
diminuiscono ma, al contrario,
aumentano soprattutto per via del
numero crescente di cittadini
italiani che decidono di passare un
periodo di lavoro fuori dall’Italia.
Posso dire con soddisfazione che
un primo importante passo è stato
fatto. A fine 2015, il parlamento
italiano ha approvato, con
modifiche, un emendamento che
dispone i seguenti interventi a
favore delle politiche per gli italiani
all’estero per il 2016: 3,4 milioni di
euro per la promozione della lingua
e cultura italiana all’estero e per il
sostegno degli enti gestori di corsi
di lingua e cultura italiana
all’estero; 500 mila euro come
incremento della dotazione
finanziaria per gli Istituti Italiani
di cultura; 100 mila euro per il
funzionamento del CGIE; 100 mila
euro per il funzionamento dei
Comites e del Comitato dei loro
presidenti; 650 mila euro ad
integrazione della dotazione
finanziaria pei contributi diretti in
favore della stampa italiana
all’estero; 100 mila euro in favore
delle agenzie specializzate per i
servizi stampa dedicati agli italiani
all’estero; 150 mila euro per
Rinnovata fiducia
promuovere l’attrattività delle
università attraverso la diffusione
dei corsi di lingua italiana online.
È stato un risultato difficile da
raggiungere e frutto di un lavoro
coeso e coordinato, portato avanti
dai senatori di maggioranza eletti
all’estero insieme al presidente
dalla commissione Bilancio, sen.
Giorgio Tonini. Dispiace, però, non
essere riusciti ad ottenere quanto
inizialmente avevamo chiesto con il
nostro emendamento, ovvero
ulteriori 50 mila euro sia per il
CGIE che per i Comites, un
ammontare totale di 4,7 milioni di
euro per la lingua e cultura,
ulteriori 250 mila euro per gli
istituti italiani di cultura e 150
mila euro per la stampa italiana
all’estero, ulteriori 100 mila euro
sia per le agenzie di stampa
specializzate, sia per i corsi di
lingua italiana online.
Inoltre, bisogna registrare con
rammarico che la commissione ha
anche bocciato l’emendamento 4.90
che chiedeva l’equiparazione degli
immobili degli italiani residenti
all’estero come prima casa per
l’esenzione dal pagamento IMU. Su
questo punto torneremo a batterci,
perché ci sembra paradossale che
quegli italiani che hanno investito
per comprare casa in Italia, magari
anche con l’intenzione un giorno di
tornarci, debbano pagare più tasse
di quelle che pagherebbero se
stessero in Italia. È una politica che
Il malocchio
di Donato Di Pronio
Questo maleficio secondo la
superstizione popolare e anche
secondo concezioni antiche
nell’ambito della storia delle
religioni e della magia dotta delle
culture del passato, è l’influsso
negativo e malefico esercitato da
persona (cioè, da malo, cattivo,
occhio) dedita a pratiche magiche,
con il ricorso a formule
pronunciate o scritte, con la
manipolazione di immagini ed
oggetti (abiti, capelli, ecc.)
appartenuti alla … vittima!, ecc.
I rimedi, le cure, gli scongiuri,
le pratiche, ecc., contro questa
(presunta) sventura … a
disposizione dei creduloni erano e
sono tanti e variano da paese a
paese. Molto comuni sono il
ricorso a maghe e fattucchiere, a
indovini
ed
imbroglioni,
l’appendersi al collo e agli abiti
amuleti di ogni foggia e materia:
cornetti, numero 13, gobbetti,
ciuffetti di pelo di tasso infilati
nella
tesa
del
cappello,
scaramantici minuscoli scapolari
di circa tre centimetri, simili ai
più noti “abitini” e “brevi” (vreghe
o breghe), confezionati con ritagli
di vecchie stole, nei quali vengono
inseriti, a seconda delle “necessità
e dei fini”, immaginette sacre, un
pizzico di sale, un grano di
incenso, frammenti di candele,
qualche capello, pezzettini di
carta sui quali sono scritti
preghierine e scongiuri, ecc.
Dai ricordi di un baffuto
pastore della montagna La
Maielletta in Abruzzo: “Ieri sera
ho dovuto accompagnare mia
nonna (da giorni seguitava a
lagnarsi: non me la sento, non mi
sento in forma) da commare
Filumène per farle levare un
PAGINA 18 – MARZO 2016
malocchio, causa, secondo lei, del
mal di testa che da giorni
l’affliggeva.
‘Terminato
l’intervento’, ho dovuto, mio
malgrado, sottopormi anche io
alla
levatura:
avevo
ingenuamente detto che accusavo
un po’ di emicrania. L’operatrice,
massaggiandomi delicatamente la
fronte, ripeteva delle giaculatorie
di questo tenore: malocchio,
malocchio, corna agli occhi schiatti l’invidia, crepi la malizia.
- Due occhi ti hanno adocchiato due santi ti hanno aiutato: in
nome di Dio e di Santa Maria - il
malocchio se ne và via, ecc.
“Poi ha messo un po’ d’acqua in
un piatto e vi ha fatto colare una
goccia d’olio; la goccia si è disfatta:
il malocchio c’era ed era stato
colpito! Ha sparso l’acqua per la
strada affinché il malocchio
potesse essere calpestato dai
passanti. Ha ripetuto il rito ma
stavolta la goccia d’olio è rimasta
intera: il malocchio era uno solo!
(Con mio disappunto: il delicato
massaggio della cara vecchietta
era
tanto
carezzevole
e
rilassante)”.
“Comare Filomena mi disse che
con alcuni suoi pazienti usava
quest’altro metodo di levatura:
faceva cadere in un bicchiere
pieno per tre quarti d’acqua,
sedici chicchi di grano recitando
solo con il movimento delle labbra
e con la bocca un po’ storta,
misteriose formule. Se intorno a
qualche chicco si formava una
bollicina d’aria, significava che
c’era un malocchio. L’intervento
terminava con la recita del
Paternoster e facendo bere al
liberato dal maleficio l’acqua con
tutti i chicchi di grano!”
Capito?
ha poco senso e che vogliamo
correggere al più presto. Rimane
invariata, invece, l’agevolazione su
IMU, TASI e TARI per i pensionati
residenti all’estero.
Ad ogni modo, considerata
l’importanza delle richieste
avanzate da noi senatori eletti
all’estero e la larga maggioranza
presente alla Camera sia in
commissione che in aula, è stato
incoraggiante vedere dei segnali
positivi dopo anni di tagli e
privazioni.
Ci apprestiamo così ad
affrontare un 2016 pieno di
cambiamenti. Il più grande di tutti
riguarda la riforma costituzionale
che vede una modifica sostanziale
del Senato. Di questo se ne è
parlato a lungo, anche su queste
pagine. In autunno, molto
probabilmente, affronteremo un
importante referendum per
finalizzare la riforma che darà vita
ad un nuovo Senato.
Altre questioni che ci riguardano
più da vicino si rifanno ai Comites e
al Cgie. Con le elezioni avvenute
l’anno scorso di entrambi gli organi
rappresentativi abbiamo avviato un
discorso su una possibile riforma
strutturale degli stessi Comites.
Per i grandi cambiamenti ci vuole
tempo, si sa, ma credo sia
necessario continuare quel discorso
adesso che sappiamo in che
direzione andare. Se aspettiamo di
arrivare a ridosso di un’altra
elezioni tra più di quattro anni, ci
ritroveremo di nuovo impreparati e
fuori tempo massimo. È da piccole
ma significativi cambi che si può
migliorare la rappresentatività
degli italiani all’estero. Io, come
sempre, sarò in prima linea per
assicurare che ciò venga fatto.
Lunedì dell’Angelo
o Pasquetta
di Donato Di Pronio
Pasquetta: questo vocabolo,
diminutivo di Pasqua, è sinonimo
di Lunedì dell’Angelo e spesso,
anche, delle solennità dell’Epifania
e della Pentecoste. Secondo antica
tradizione i Cristiani ricordano in
questo giorno gli avvenimenti di cui
nel successivo brano evangelico.
In Italia, come in tante altre
nazioni, il Lunedì dell’Angelo o
Pasquetta è giorno festivo. Lo si
trascorre, in particolar modo dalla
gioventù, con gite e scampagnate
nei dintorni del paese, pic-nic sui
prati: si fanno fuori, oltre agli
avanzi del pranzo pasquale,
frittate, leccornie varie, dolci e tra
questi, alcuni a forma molto
grossolana e approssimativa di
pupe-bambole, agnelli e asinelli
(regalo delle mamme e delle nonne
ai piccoli), e di cuore (dono delle
ragazze a maschietti e fidanzati).
Dal Vangelo secondo Matteo:
“Passato il sabato, Maria di
Màgdala, Maria di Giacomo e
Salome comprarono oli aromatici
per andare a imbalsamare Gesù. Di
Buon mattino, il primo giorno dopo
il sabato, vennero al sepolcro al
levar del sole. Esse dicevano tra
loro: ‘Chi ci rotolerà vi il masso
dall’ingresso del sepolcro?’ Ma
guardando, videro che il masso era
già stato rotolato via, benché fosse
molto grande. Entrando nel
sepolcro, videro un giovane, seduto
sulla destra, vestito d’una veste
bianca, ed ebbero paura. Ma egli
disse loro: “Non abbiate paura! Voi
cercate Gesù Nazareno, il
crocifisso. E’ risorto, non è qui” (16,
1-6).
La Risurrezione di Gesù viene
commemorata e celebrata la prima
Domenica dopo il plenilunio di
primavera che cade tra il 22 marzo
e il 25 aprile. La Pasqua, festa
mobile, costituisce la massima
solennità dell’anno liturgico e da
essa scaturiscono i giorni santi:
Mercoledì delle Ceneri inizio della
Quaresima, l’Ascensione del
Signore, la Pentecoste, la prima
Domenica di Avvento.
La parola Pasqua deriva,
attraverso il latino pascha e il greco
pasca, dall’ebraico passah, il cui
significato etimologico, ancora
discusso, dai più si ritiene sia
passaggio, passare oltre. Nella
solennità della Pasqua il popolo
Israelitico
commemora
la
liberazione
dalla
schiavitù
dell’Egitto e quello Cristiano la
Risurrezione di Cristo.
Tra le usanze legate alle
festività pasquali, la seguente va
sempre più in disuso: la mattina di
Pasqua la famiglia per fare
colazione si raccoglie intorno ad
una capiente padella, posta nel
centro della cucina, poggiata su di
un treppiedi, contenente una calda
e soffice frittata (uova, ventrescapancetta di maiale, prezzemolo)
poggiata su di un treppiedi. La si
consuma in fretta stando in piedi
accompagnandola con bocconi di un
tipico dolce della ricorrenza: la
pizza con il lievito (farina, uova,
olio, zucchero, anice, anche un
pizzico di sale), e poi, grandi e
piccoli via alla Messa mattutina,
quella piccola; chi è impedito va
alla Messa grande, solenne, in
genere alle ore 11,00.
Consolato
Generale d’Italia
a Chicago
500 North Michigan Avenue,
Suite 1850 Chicago IL 60611
How to reach us:
Tel: (312) 467-1550/1/2
Fax: (312) 467-1335
E-mail:
[email protected]
Numero di reperibilità
d’emergenza (fuori dell’orario di
ufficio e solo per emergenze:
incidenti, arresti, gravi problemi
medici, ecc.) dagli Stati Uniti:
+1 (312) 909 0304
dall’Italia: 001 312 909 0304.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
La Settimana Santa e la Santa
Pasqua a Porticello 2016
di Maria Concetta Sanfilippo*
La Settimana Santa è la settimana nella quale il Cristianesimo celebra
gli eventi di fede correlati alla passione, morte e resurrezione di Cristo. La
maggior parte dei Cristiani chiama Settimana Santa il periodo, da
Domenica delle palme al Sabato santo, che precede la Pasqua- la Domenica
in cui si ricorda la resurrezione dai morti di Cristo. La Pasqua è la
massima solennità della fede Cristiana e in occidente si celebra ogni anno
la Domenica che segue la prima luna piena di primavera (tra fine Marzo e
Aprile).
La Settimana Santa si apre con la Domenica delle palme, nella quale si
celebra l’entrata trionfale di Cristo a Gerusalemme, acclamato come
Messia. La tradizione risale a prima del IV secolo. La tradizionale
benedizione delle palme a Porticello viene celebrata alla marinnuzza,
nella piazzetta di Padre Pio dove si arriva in processione dalla chiesa. Alla
fine del rito di benedizione, si ritorna in chiesa per la celebrazione della
Santa Messa.
Il Lunedì, Martedì e Mercoledì santo, la Chiesa contempla in particolare
il tradimento di Giuda per trenta denari. Durante la mattina del Giovedì
santo o il pomeriggio del Mercoledì santo non si celebra l’eucaristia nelle
parrocchie, perché in ogni diocesi viene celebrata un’unica messa nella
chiesa cattedrale, presieduta dal vescovo, insieme a tutti i suoi presbiteri e
diaconi. In questa messa vengono consacrati gli olii santi.
Il solenne triduo pasquale della passione, morte e resurrezione di Cristo
inizia nel pomeriggio del Giovedì santo. La sera si celebra la Messa nella
quale si ricorda l’ultima cena di Cristo, l’istituzione dell’eucaristia e del
sacerdozio ministeriale, e si ripete la lavanda dei piedi effettuato da Cristo
nell’ultima cena,che nella nostra chiesa viene fatta realmente e
minuziosamente. Le croci restano velate, le campane silenti, e gli altari
senza ornamenti, eccettuato l’altare della reposizione dove vengono
conservate le sacre specie per l’adorazione e per la comunione del giorno
seguente.
Il Venerdì santo si ricorda il giorno della morte di Cristo sulla croce. La
chiesa celebra verso le tre del pomeriggio la solenne celebrazione della
Passione divisa in tre parte: La liturgia della parola; L’adorazione della
croce, a cui viene così tolto il velo; La santa comunione con i presantificati,
cioè con le specie consacrate la sera prima. Non si fanno infatti
consacrazioni e non si celebra alcuna messa in questa giornata.
Il Venerdì santo è tradizione effettuare il pio esercizio della Via Crucis.
Nella chiesa di Porticello si celebra tutti i Venerdi dal primo di quaresima
fino al Venerdi Santo. La chiesa Cattolica pratica il digiuno ecclesiastico e
si astiene dalle carni come forma di partecipazione alla passione e morte
del suo Signore. In questo giorno è anche usanza fare visita a più chiese per
adorare l’Eucaristia presente negli altari della reposizione, talora
impropriamente detti “sepolcri”.
Il Sabato santo è tradizionalmente giorno in cui non si celebra
l’eucaristia, e la comunione si porta solamente ai malati in punto di morte.
Nella notte si celebra la solenne veglia pasquale, che, nella Chiesa
Cattolica, è la celebrazione più importante di tutto l’anno liturgico. In essa:
• Si celebra la resurrezione di Cristo attraverso la liturgia del fuoco: il
cero pasquale viene portato processionalmente in chiesa; durante la
processione si proclama La luce di Cristo, e si accendono le candele dei
La primavera
di Giacomo Leopardi (1798/1837)*
Primavera d’intorno
brilla nell’aria, e per li campi esulta,
si’ che a mirarla intenerisce il core.
Odi greggi belar, muggire armenti;
gli altri augelli, contenti, a gara iinsieme,
per lo libero ciel fan mille giri,
pur festegiando il lor tempo migliore.
* * *
*Insigne scrittore italiano, poeta delle
più angosciose solitudini spirituali,
cantore sublime dell’infelicità umana.
Le Zeppole di San Giuseppe
Le zeppole di San Giuseppe
sono un dolce tipico della cucina
Italiana e derivano da una
tradizione
antica
risalente
addirittura all’epoca Romana.
Secondo la tradizione dell’epoca,
dopo la fuga in Egitto con Maria e
Gesù, San Giuseppe dovette
vendere frittelle per poter
mantenere la famiglia in terra
straniera e, per questo motivo, i
Romani gli diedero il simpatico
appellativo di “frittellaro”.
Proprio per questo motivo, in
tutta Italia, le zeppole sono i dolci
tipici della festa del papà, preparati
per festeggiare e celebrare la figura
di San Giuseppe. Ogni città,
provincia o regione ha ovviamente
la sua variante delle zeppole ma
l’elemento fondamentale che
accomuna e contraddistingue
questi dolci è che devono essere
THE ITALIAN TIMES
fritti in abbondante olio, proprio
come tradizione vuole. Negli ultimi
anni, però, ha preso piede anche
una variante al forno delle zeppole
che risultano così essere un po’ più
leggere e meno caloriche rispetto
alle classiche frittelle.
Le zeppole fritte di San
Giuseppe
sono un dolce
intramontabile, apprezzato sempre
da tutti e sono tradizionalmente
consumati nella festa del Santo a
Marzo. 19. A Roma, Napoli e la
regione Sicilia, questi piccoli
pasticcini sono venduti su molte
strade e sono talvolta dato come
doni. Nel nostro Centro Italiano, le
zeppole le hanno servito come
dessert nel nostro pranzo annuale
quando festeggiamo la Tavolata di
San Giuseppe.
* * *
Con grazie a giallozafferano.it
fedeli. All’arrivo al presbiterio il cero è incensato e si proclama l’annuncio
pasquale.
• La liturgia della Parola ripercorre con letture dell’Antico Testamento e
il Vangelo gli eventi principali della fede Cattolica.
Segue la liturgia battesimale, nella quale tutti i fedeli rinnovano le
promesse del proprio battesimo, e vengono battezzati, se ce ne sono, i
catecumeni che si sono preparati al sacramento.
• La liturgia eucaristica si svolge come in tutte le messe.
La Settimana Santa è seguita dalla domenica di Resurrezione, in cui
torna a riecheggiare la gioia della veglia pasquale. Tale Domenica è
ampliata nell’Ottava di Pasqua: la Chiesa celebra la pienezza di questo
evento fondamentale per la durata di otto giorni, che si concludono con la II
domenica di Pasqua, chiamata fin dall’antichità domenica in albis.
In tutto il mondo Cattolico, la tradizione popolare della Settimana Santa
consta di numerosi canti, poemi, raffigurazioni e rievocazioni sceniche della
Passione di Cristo, che spesso affondano le loro radici fin dai primi secoli
del Cristianesimo. A Porticello, il Venerdi si fa la tradizionale processione
(la via crucis)in cui vengono portati per le strade del paese la statua di
Maria Addolorata e Cristo in croce. Ad un certo punto del percorso la
processione si divide in due: il popolo che segue la Croce e il popolo che
segue Maria Addolorata, per ricongiungersi nel commovente incontro fra la
Madre ed il Figlio. Anticamente la processione era più spettacolarizzata dai
costumi dei soldati romani,delle pie donne ed altri costumi adeguati; infine
il rientro in chiesa. Da quel momento la chiesa chiama il popolo a non
lasciare solo Cristo mandando dei ragazzini in giro per il paese che al suono
delle campanelle recitano: “u Signuri ca sulu è”- Il signore è solo.
In questo periodo non può mancare l’aspetto festaiolo; la tradizione
culinaria riguarda soprattutto i dolci tipici, come: i pupi con L’uovo
(biscotti a forma di pupi contenenti uovo sodo); pecore di frutta di
martorana (con la farina di mandorle); e la squisita cassata Siciliana(pan
di spagna e crema di ricotta). Per la pasquetta (lunedì di pasqua) è
tradizione passare la giornata in campagna(la scampagnata) dove si
mangia in abbondanza, si accende il fuoco per arrostire salsicce carne di
capretto e pesci e ci si diverte tantissimo.
* * *
*Io Sono una docente di matematica in pensione da un anno . Sono lieta
di collaborare con qualche articolo relativo agli avvenimenti di Porticello,
paese di origine di molti cittadini che vivono sparsi in vari stati d’america,
soprattutto nel Wisconsin.Un caro saluto.
Correction from last issue: Maria’s maiden last name is Sanfilippo.
Her married last name was D’Amato.
Proverbi Italiani
1. Italian: (Dialect-Lazio) Chi da giovane se goerna, ecchj more.
English: (Literally) Who controls himself when he is young, dies late
in life.
Meaning) Those who exercise self-control when they’re young live to
a ripe old age.
2. Un nemico è troppo, cento amici non bastano.
One enemy is one too many, a hundred friends are not enough.
3. Il guaio è che le massime si scrivono per gli altri e raramente per
se stesso.
The trouble is that proverbs are written for others and rarely
for oneself.
4. L’amore è come il vetro - ogni alito l’appanna.
Love is like glass, every breath steams it up.
5. Se la ruota non ungi - la ruota non gira.
If you don’t grease the wheel, it won’t turn.
6. Italian: (Dialect-Liguria) Beata quella ca’ che de vegi a ne fa.
English: (Literally) Blessed are those who also live with old people.
(Meaning) Lucky are those who live in a household that includes old
people as they will be able to learn from their experiences.
Indovinelli
1. Quale parola di 6 lettere diventa corta se togliamo la prima lettera?
2. Che cosa può essere misurato senza essere visto?
3. Nascosta in un tunnel buio attendo il mio momento, ma una volta
tirata i danni saranno irreparabili! Chi sono?
4. Senza bocca e senza piedi arriva sempre dove chiedi. Non ci vede e
non ci sente, ma si muove facilmente. Che cos’è?
5. Sapresti dire quali tre numeri uguali, se sommati, danno 12?
(escluso il numero 4).
6. Possiede una testa, ma è priva di arti e corpo. Che cos’è?
7. Che cosa è più leggero di una piuma, più morbido della seta ma
nessuno è in grado di trattenere per più di pochi minuti?
Risposte – pagina 23
Italian idioms and expressions
1. togliersi lo sfizio.
to satisfy a craving.
2. essere buono come il pane.
Lit.: to be good like bread.
i.e., to be as good as gold
3. essere ricco sfondato.
to be filthy rich
4. Uffa!
Shows you’re annoyed, bored,
angry or fed up with a situation.
5. Che ne so!
Use it when you have no idea
about something. Like: “How
should I know!”
6. Ti sta bene!
Serves you right!
7. leccarsi i baffi
to lick one’s chops
MARZO 2016 – PAGINA 19
Happy Saint Patrizio’s Day
by Blaise Di Pronio
March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day,
celebrated nationwide by the Irish
(and their wannabes) with food and
drink (make that lots of drink).
Well, guess what? Throw out the
corned beef and heat up the pasta e
fagioli. Replace that washed out
orange (in honor of William of
Orange days) in their flag with
Ferrari Red and you end up with
the Italian colors unfurling over the
unlucky Irish. Why you ask?
Because Saint Patrick was Italian,
that’s why!
So let’s settle this once and for
all: Yes, ladies and gentlemen of
the jury, Saint Patrick was Italian!
According to most historians
and the archives of the Catholic
Church, Saint Patrick was born in
Scotland circa 385 A.D. around the
area now known as Kilpatrick (“cell
of Patrick”).
His parents
(Calpurnius and Conchessa) were
Roman diplomats living in Britain
and there to watch over colonies
ruled by the Romans (of Rome,
Maratona di
Roma set for
Apr. 10
In order to avoid conflict with
Palm
Sunday
observations
(Sunday, Mar. 20) in the Eternal
City, the 22nd annual Rome
Marathon (“Maratona di Roma”)
has been moved to Sunday, Apr.
10.
The event, which has become a
huge citywide celebration, is normally held on the third Sunday in
March.
Continued on page 21
Italy, for you doubters). Around the
age of 14, he was captured as part
of a raid by Irish pirates and
brought to Ireland until he escaped
and returned to Britain and his
family at age 20.
After having a prophetic religious dream, he converted to
Christianity. He was later ordained
a cleric and eventually became a
Catholic Bishop. Thereafter, he set
out to take the Gospel to Ireland
which, at the time was a land of
Druids (priests, magicians or soothsayers in the ancient Celtic reli-
gion) and Pagans. He succeeded in
converting chieftains and entire
kingdoms, thus acquiring a large
following of disciples. For 40 years,
he roamed Ireland converting people wherever he went. He built
Ireland’s first church at Saul,
where he later died. Patrick used
the three-lobed leaves of the cloverlike plant, the shamrock, as a symbol to explain and represent the
Holy Trinity. And the shamrock
became associated with the Irish
ever since. Luck had nothing to do
with it.
Still doubting? As additional
proof, the name Patrick comes from
the Roman/Latin word “patrician”,
which was a title of dignity conferred by the Roman Emperor, and
today it connotes aristocracy or
high social rank, just like St.
Patrick’s patrician parents and
their son’s so reflecting name. After
all, they did not name him plebeius
(commoner), did they?
Therefore, St. Patrick was and is
Italian, being the son of two Roman
citizens. Basta/Period. I rest my
case. Now, bring me a Peroni!
In Italy, Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19th, the Feast of
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus
and husband of Mary. It honors
the day when the prayers of the
people of Sicily were answered and
they were sent rain during a
severe drought when many people
were dying of starvation because
there had been no rain to nourish
the crops that sustained life for
most of the people on the island.
They had prayed to St. Joseph,
their patron, for relief from the
terrible famine that gripped the
island and when the skies opened
up, sending down the life giving
water, the people rejoiced.
To show their gratitude, they
prepared a table with a special
assortment of foods they had harvested. After paying honor to St.
Joseph, they distributed the food
to the less fortunate.
The first St. Joseph Altar set
up on the Island of Sicily was a
small one. But as time went on
and the tradition took hold, the
creative spirit of the Italians
caused the altars to grow larger
and more ornate.
Today, the artistic quality of
the breads, cookies and pastries,
which are baked in such shapes as
chalices, staffs and pyramids,
often rivals the exquisite flavor of
these food offerings. Though
Sicilian immigrants introduced
the custom to America, the celebration is not confined to any
nationality. Rather, it has become
a public event, which its devoted
participants embrace for a host of
private and personal reasons. The
feast is alternately a source of
petition and thanksgiving.
Many kinds of vegetable minestras, very thick soups, are prepared and served at this celebration, but no cheese is eaten on St.
Joseph’s Day. This is to remind us
that our people were too poor to
have cheese. The spaghetti is
sprinkled with a traditional mixture of toasted dry bread crumbs
when fresh sardines and fennel
sauce is used, as in pasta con
sarde. Another reason that the
traditional Sicilian Pasta con
Sarde topping is made of breadcrumbs (Mudrica, or Mudriga) is
that it is said to be a reminder of
the sawdust St. Joseph created as
a working carpenter. Happy Saint
Joseph’s Day to all.
* * *
With thanks to Maria Gloria
and L’Italo Americano at:
italoamericano.org.
A short history of Saint
Joseph’s Day celebrations
Milwaukees Italians who served in the U.S.
Military during World War II – Part 10
Researched and written by the late Mario A. Carini,
Italian Community Center Historian
The information presented here was researched and
copyrighted as a historical record of the men and women of
Italian descent who lived in the City of Milwaukee and
served in the United States Military during World War II.
The information recorded and documented by this
researcher from records kept at the Milwaukee County
Historical Society and the City of Milwaukee Legislative
Reference Bureau. These works were copyrighted in 2004
and an original copy has been placed in the repository at
the United States Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The research was secured from City of Milwaukee Directories 1941,
1942 and 1944-45. No directory was published in 1943. The years 1944
and 1945 were combined into one directory.
Name
Geracie, John
Geracie, Mat
Germane, Jim
Giaimo, Anthony
Giaimo, Anthony
Giaimo, Frank
Giallanza, Rosario
Giamo, Joe
Giannoni, Anthony
Gigante, Charlie
Gigante, Tom
Gigante, Tony
Gigante, Cosmo A.
Gigante, John
Gignate, Joe
Gigliotti, Sam
Gingrasso, Carl
Gingrasso, Peter
Ginocchio, Louis
Ginocchio, Orlando
Giordano, Peter
Giove, Daniel
Giove, Jacob
Giuntoli, Louis
Branch
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Army
Navy
Army
Navy
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Navy
Navy
Navy
Coast Guard
Army
Army
Army
Address
1743 N. Franklin
515 E. Lyon
331 N. Jefferson
408 N. Van Buren
1220 E. Russell
1462 N. Franklin
2214 N. 2nd St.
1521 N. Jefferson
1934 N. Bartlett
2051 N. Hubbard
2051 N. Hubbard
2051 N. Hubbard
1683 N. Humboldt
2346 N. Richards
4326 S. Burrell
532 E. Chicago
1715 N. Marshall
1715 N. Marshall
3108 N. Pierce
1318 N. Van Buren
2844 N. 41st St.
2465 N. 50th St.
1727 N. Wells
1221 S. 21st St.
Glorioso, Joe
Gobbi, Umberto
Gosetti, Louis
Graziano, Nick
Greco, Angelo
Greco, John
Greco, John
Greco, Larry
Griese, Harry
Griese, Bob
Groppi, John
Groppi, Louis
Grosso, Robert
Guadagni, Joe
Guagliardo, Louis
Guardalabene, Angelo
Guardalabene, Anthony
Guarniere, Tom
Guarniere, Tony
Guida, Joe
Guida, Sal
Guida, Sam
Gullo, Dominic, Jr.
Gullo, Robert
Gumina, John
Gumina, Joe
Gumina, Tom
Guiffre, Barney
Gunta, Arthur
Ganoni, Tony
Germana, Anthony, Jr.
Girolami, Roland
Greco, Peter
Iannantuoni, Mike
Iannarelli, Joe
Iannelli, Joe
Ingrelli, Joe
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Navy
Army
Army
Marines
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Army
Marines
Marines
Army
Navy
Marines
Army
Army
Army
Marines
Army
218 N, Jefferson
3058 N. Newhall
1873 N. 11th St.
712 E. Michigan
425 N. Jackson
425 N. Jackson
1528A N. Jefferson
1528A N. Jefferson
1518 W. Congress
1518 W. Congress
2507 S. Wentworth
2507 S. Wentworth
1434 N. 35th St.
1948 S. 28th St.
1518 N. 38th St.
2344 N. 1st St.
2344 N. 1st St.
2557B N. Booth
2557B N. Booth
424 E. Lyon
424 E. Lyon
424 E. Lyon
2041 N. Booth St.
2041 N. Booth St.
2318 W. McKinley
2318 W. McKinley
1545 N. Marshall
3255 S. Logan
3837 S. Clement
4574 N. 48th St.
1686 N. Van Buren
5100 N. Diversey Blvd.
1527 N. Jackson
1417 N. Jefferson
1024 E. Ogden
707 E. Michigan
1611 N. Astor
Source: Wright’s Milwaukee City Directory, 1941, Wright
Directory Co., Milwaukee.
Continued in the next issue
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Maratona di Roma set for
Sunday, Apr. 10
from page 20
The 42-km marathon (26.1
miles) – in which more than 12,000
athletes are expected to participate
– will start at 9 a.m. in front of the
Coliseum.
The route continues through the
narrow, winding streets of the
Eternal City. Runners will pass by
St. Peter’s Basilica, the Piazza di
Spagna, the Piazza Navona, and
countless other landmarks.
Alongside the more serious and
intensive Maratona di Roma, a parallel event is held for those less
athletically inclined. Known as “La
Stracittadina,” this “Roma Fun
Run” is geared toward families and
seniors and benefits dozens of
Roman charities.
The 2015 marathon winners
were Abebe Negewo in the men’s
division, with a time of 2 hours, 12
minutes and 23 seconds, and
Meseret Kitata (2:30:25 time). Both
runners are from Ethiopia.
The fastest run in the men’s
division was achieved in 2009 by
Kenya’s Benjamin Kiptoo in
2:07:17. In the women’s division,
the record time was set by Russian
Gailina Bogomolova (2:22:53).
Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication
has chosen singer/actor Anthony V.
Crivello to be among a select group
of individuals featured on a “Wall
of Honor” slated for display in
Johnston Hall.
The wall will recognize communication professionals who have
graduated from Marquette’s
Diederich College and have won an
Emmy, a Tony, an Oscar or a
Pulitzer Prize.
Crivello won a Tony Award as
Best Featured Actor in the musical
Kiss of the Spider Woman in 1993.
He was born in Milwaukee on
Aug. 2, 1955, the son of Josephine
(Mussomeli) and Vincent J.
Crivello. His parents were charter
members of the Italian Community
Center. Anthony performed at
Festa Italiana in 2011.
The goal of the Diederich
College in honoring Crivello and
others is to demonstrate to current
and prospective students and parents, alumni and friends of the university the rich heritage of communication professionals who have
graduated from the college.
Crivello, who has performed in
television programs, in numerous
films and on Broadway, received
high acclaim in the Las Vegas production of Phantom of the Opera.
Over the course of several years, he
performed in the title role for more
than two million people.
Singer/actor Anthony
Crivello to be recognized
on ‘Wall of Honor’ at
Marquette University
Report from Milwaukee’s
Victory K-8 Italian
Immersion School
Students in Maestra Annette
Robertson’s K4 class created masks
for Carnevale with their 8th grade
partners, (“Bigs and Littles”).
Victory Elementary and Italian
Immersion School had Carnevale
d’Italia and Open House to introduce families, friends and the community to the Italian Immersion
School on Feb. 12.
The K4 students celebrated Il
Giorno di San Valentino also on the
same day with a small festa in
their classroom. Students created
cards for their parents.
I bambini della classe K5,
Maestre Angela Bozano e Enrica
Fracchia, sono meravigliosi. In
queste settimane sono molto
interessati a scoprire come vivono i
pinguini e come sono fatti. In
scienze, hanno sperimentato
come il grasso che si trova sotto le
piume, li protegga dal freddo e
perche’ un iceberg galleggia. In
matematica, paragonano le
quantita’ di numeri e di cose e alle
volte anche il gelato risulta utile
per visualizzare il concetto.
Compongono semplici frasi e
hanno iniziato a leggere e a
scrivere parole autonomamente.
In second grade, Mr. Alex
Kaftan’s students have studied
bodies of water, such as streams,
rivers, oceans, seas, lakes, and
ponds. In addition, they have also
spent time reading about penguins.
Currently, students are preparing
to research and write a biography
by learning about American icons,
such as Helen Keller and Benjamin
Franklin.
Maestra Cathy Laurenzi and
Maestra Sabrina Lupoli discussed
Carnevale and its significance
within Italian culture. The class
created
masks
for
the
Carnevale/Open House.
– Submitted by Annette
Robertson
K4 Italian Immersion
L’Angolo del Poeta
Anthony Crivello
by Barbara J. Collignon
and Roberto Ciampi
“Primavera” literally means “first green” and,
hence, the season when green returns to the
land. Spring, traditionally the time to begin the
ritual herding of sheep and cows to higher mountain pastures, is the time to celebrate new life.
Lambs and calves are born, birds return and
sing while in search for a mate. These are
themes Giacomo Leopardi (1798- 1837) elaborates in his poem Il Passero solitario (The
Solitary Sparrow) but there is an element of sadness here. Here’s an excerpt:
Primavera d’intorno
brilla nell’aria, e per li campi esulta,
si’ che a mirarla intenerisce il core.
Odi greggi belar, muggire armenti;
gli altri augelli, contenti, a gara insieme,
per lo libero ciel fan mille giri,
pur festegiando il lor tempo migliore.
Spring brightens
in the air around, rejoices in the fields,
so the heart is moved upon seeing it.
One hears the flocks bleating, herds lowing:
other birds happily compete
making thousands of circles in the clear sky,
celebrating their happy times.
– Translation by Roberto Ciampi
This excerpt from Giacomo Leopardi’s poem.
written in 1829, suggests the poet is moved by
THE ITALIAN TIMES
spring and that spring is a happy time. However,
when one reads the entire poem and pays attention to nuance, one sees that Leopardi exhibits
the traits of the typical melancholy Romantic
poet. He is the solitary sparrow. It’s the other
birds who are happy and celebrating their best
times.
The bird to which Leopardi refers is certainly
not the common sparrow, whose song is a simple
cheep, cheep. His passero is actually a kind of
thrush (Monticola solitarius), a blackbird of a
bluish color known for its beautiful melodious
song. And Leopardi, celebrated as the most
melodic poet since Dante, identifies with it in
this poem.
You may recall that Leopardi was born in
Recanati, in 1798. His mother was a religious
fanatic and his father a conservative nobleman.
Leopardi was deprived of friends since it wouldn’t have been proper for the son of a nobleman to
go to public schools. Instead, he was tutored at
home by priests until age 12. Nature had not
favored Leopardi. and his unusual appearance
did not help his loneliness. A sickly teenager, he
never grew taller than 4’7”. In addition to asthma and dropsy (a condition causing collection of
fluid in the limbs due to congestive heart failure), he suffered from Pott’s disease, a kind of
spinal tuberculosis. He became a hunchback.
When his formal tutoring with priests ended, he
taught himself, studying almost constantly. He
learned Hebrew, Latin, ancient Greek, Sanskrit,
Spanish, some English and German. His father
had an extensive library of more than 15,000
books. Due to excessive reading, his eyesight
failed him by age 19. His father made him a virtual prisoner in his own home, had him returned
home the times Leopardi attempted to leave
home and live on his own.
Freedom was denied him most of his life.
Love was denied him, and though well known for
his poetry, he was professionally unfulfilled.
When offered the Dante Chair by the University
of Bonn, he had to decline because of poor
health. Michele Cantarella, formerly a professor
at Smith College, remarked that his life was a
“starless wintry night”. Poetry remained
Leopardi’s one consolation until his death at age
39 in 1837. The poetry and prose writings of our
Solitary Sparrow are even today greatly appreciated, and Leopardi still is referred to as “the
greatest poet since Dante”
Lorre Zingara, longtime ICC member and
volunteer, dies at age of 91
Lorraine “Lorre” Zingara (nee
Miller), a longtime member of the
Italian Community Center, died on
Jan. 30 at the age of 91.
For many years, Lorre and her
late husband, Carmen, were active
volunteers for both the ICC and its
summer festival, Festa Italiana.
The couple joined the ICC in 1981.
Both volunteered for senior citizens’ luncheons, fish fry nights and
many other events and activities.
Lorre was part of a crew, led by
Carmen, that did various painting
jobs in the early 1990s at the new
and present home of the Italian
Community Center. For a few
years, Lorre volunteered to assist
with advertising sales for the Festa
Italiana edition of The Italian
Times. For more than 10 years,
Carmen served on the ICC Board
as sergeant-at-arms.
They volunteered for a variety of
jobs at Festa, including working in
a food and beverage ticket sales
booth.
In 1997, Carmen and Lorre were
recognized for their hard work and
commitment to the organization
when they were selected as Il
Nonno and La Nonna (Royal
Grandparents) of Il Grande
Family and friends celebrate
Sal Mussomeli’s 83rd birthday
More than 50 family members and longtime friends
joined Sal Mussomeli for the celebration of his 83rd
birthday at a lunchtime party at the Italian
Community Center on Jan. 27. He is seen here seated
in front of his daughters Roselle MussomeliSturdevant and Marie Mussomeli. Sal is a charter
member of the ICC and the Pompeii Men’s Club. He is
also a past president of the Pompeii Men’s Club and,
for years, has been actively involved in Festa Italiana.
In 1989, the ICC honored Sal and his late-wife, Jean, as
Il Re (The King) and La Regina (The Queen) of Il
Grande Carnevale, the organization’s pre-Lenten costume and mask ball. Sal served as a director on the
ICC Board in the late 1980s. Seen with Sal and his
daughters are (from the left:) Ray Martinez (standing),
George Collura, Joe Mangiamele and Domenic Foti.
George and Domenic are also past presidents of the
Pompeii Men’s Club. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
DON’T LET YOUR ITALIAN
COMMUNITY CENTER
MEMBERSHIPLAPSE!
Carnevale, the ICC’s pre-Lenten
costume and mask ball.
In addition to the ICC, Lorre
volunteered at the Ramsey Woods
Residence.
Lorre’s four children described
their mother as someone who
“loved to talk and laugh and was
often the life of any gathering, She
was a creative and resourceful
homemaker, who enjoyed cooking,
sewing and caring for her family.”
Carmen and Lorre had been
married for 65 years before his
death on Oct. 20, 2014.
Lorre is survived by her children
Carmen (Rudy) Rasso, Robert,
Mary and James (Ginger), grandchildren Brandt and Allison, greatgrandchildren Hannah and Lillian
and other relatives and friends. She
was preceded in death by her
father Edward, mother Lillian, sister Edna “Terry” and nephew
Johnny.
Lorraine “Lorre” Zingara
DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART
OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS
YOUR HERITAGE AND IS THE MANTEL
OF MILWAUKEE’S ITALIAN COMMUNITY.
Be sure you can get advantage of the benefits of membership –
• Four Festa Italiana admission tickets (max. 8 per family).
• Event Discounts • Members Room • Free Computer & Satellite TV Use
• Home delivery of The Italian Times • Bocce leagues • Cultural, social
and educations activities • Family & Friendships
All Memberships were due January 1st. Please renew your membership
today! You can use the form on page 23 or sign up online at
www.iccmilwaukee.com. For more details,
call (414) 223-2180.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ICC Commitment
Membership Payment
Options
Presently, there are two payment options available to you
should you choose a 2-year membership or a 3-year membership.
1. You may pay each January
for the duration of your 3-year or
2-year membership. As an show
of good faith, you must sign the
statement at the bottom of the
new application (that appears on
the next page).
2. You may pay for your full
3-year or 2-year membership by
the end of the first year – in 4
quarterly payments.**
** If a member pre-pays for a
2-year or 3-year membership, and
passes away or moves out of
state, the remainder of their
membership dues will be donated
to the Italian Community Center
in the member’s name.
Pro Rated Amount
You may have received a bill
for a smaller amount of money.
This dues payment doesn’t relate
to the new dues program, but
rather, is a transitional amount
that is intended to return everyone to a Jan. 1 through Dec. 31
Membership. You are not being
charged an additional amount.
Favorite Arias
Celeste Aida
Radamès’s aria from Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
Se quel guerrier io fossi!
If I were that warrior!
Se il mio sogno si avverasse!
If my dream came true!
Un esercito di prodi da me guidato
An army of brave men lead by me
E la vittoria e il plauso di Menfi tutti! And all victories and the praise of Menfi!
E a te, mia dolce Aida,
And to you, my sweet Aida,
Tornar di lauri cinto
Returning wrapped in laurels
Dirti: per te ho pugnato,
I would say: I’ve fought for you,
Per te ho vinto!
I’ve won for you!
Celeste Aida, forma divina,
Heavenly Aida, divine shape,
Mistico serto di luce e fior,
Mystic garland of light and flowers,
Del mio pensiero tu sei regina,
You are queen of my thoughts,
Tu di mia vita sei lo splendor.
You are the splendor of my life
I would like to give you your sky back,
Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti,
Le dolci brezze del patrio suol:
The sweet breeze of the fatherland:
Un regal serto sul crin posarti,
To put a regal garland on your heart
Ergerti un trono vicino al sol. To build up a throne for you next to the sun.
Top 10 best
selling books
in Italy in 2015
1. La ragazza del treno by Paula
Hawkins (Piemme)
2. Sette brevi lezioni di fisica by
Carlo Rovelli (Adelphi)
3. È tutta vita by Fabio Volo
(Mondadori)
4. L’anima gemella by Elena
Ferrante (E/O)
5. La giostra degli scambi by
Andrea Camilleri (Sellerio)
6. Via Crucis by Gianluigi Nuzzi
(Chiarelettere)
7. Grey. Cinquanta sfumature
di grigio by E. L. James
(Mondadori)
8. Il magico potere del riordino
by Marie Kondo (Vallardi)
9. After. Amore infinito by Anna
Todd (Sperling & Kupfer)
10. Anna by Niccolò Ammaniti
(Einaudi)
Risposte
1. Scorta.
2. Il tempo.
3. La pallottola.
4. Il mouse.
5. Il numero 1, perché 11+1=12.
6. La moneta.
7. Il respiro.
Welcome,
new ICC
members!
The following persons
became members of the Italian
Community Center between
January 11 and February 9,
2016. Benvenuti! (Welcome!)
Ryan and Fran Blaubach
and children Thomas and Sarah
of Mequon, WI
Frank and Maria Zingale
and children: Anthony, Nicole
and Christina of Mequon, WI
Gregory & Mary Ann Stehling
of Buffalo Grove, IL
Katherine Schroeder
of New Berlin, WI
Sam Abraham of Milwaukee, WI
Paul and Krista SanFelippo
and children: Roman, Pauly
of New Berlin, WI
Joe & Becky SanFelippo
and children: Andrea, Joey,
Gina of New Berlin, WI
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Michael SanFelippo of
Milwaukee, WI
Easter eggstacy!
by Blaise Di Pronio
If you have ever visited Italy
during Easter season, you should
have seen “Easter” eggs everywhere. Yes, everywhere, and of all
sizes, colors and contents. It’s now
time to find out why.
Eggs at Easter is an ancient tradition in Italy dating back to (as
usual) the Romans when chickens
were regularly used in sacrifices.
The Romans believed that all life
comes from the egg (so, I guess the
egg comes first then?). It was also a
symbol of rebirth especially after a
long, dark and dormant winter.
And yes, even back then, eggs were
decorated and given as gifts during
the many spring festivals celebrating the resurrection from the death
of winter.
The Easter egg tradition thus
came about as a kind of combined
celebrations of the return of spring
and its natural tie in with the
return/resurrection of Christ- also a
springtime event. The egg represented and symbolized the new
birth, the new life and the new
beginning, and its use was very
compatible with the pre-Easter
Lenten season when meat and
dairy products were forbidden. The
egg – especially the hard boiled
ones which featured longevity and
portability – became a staple for
both eating and gifting (after properly wrapped, i.e., decorated).
In Italy, with the passing on of
its agricultural society, the hen egg
was easily replaced by an over
abundance of manufactured chocolate readily available there. The
overly sweet-tooth of the Italians
mandated a huge growth in the
production of this new celebratory
delicacy.
So in Italy, you can forget about
egg hunts, marshmallow Peeps
and, for sure, the lowly jelly bean.
Today, chocolate Easter eggs
abound. The festively packaged
(sometimes giant) eggs are displayed in storefronts and homes
throughout Italy in the weeks
before Easter Sunday. They are
elaborately decorated, and they
range from the very tiny to the
massive and are usually hollowed
out and often contain a huge variety of gifts ranging from candies
and surprise toys to engagement
rings. As alluded to, enhancing the
presentation is the wrapping in
patterned foil paper. Cinched with
golden cord, the top is dramatically
arranged, sometimes fanned in an
arrowhead shape. So then, it could
be said that these are the major
reasons for the present proliferation of these eggs: the chocolate,
the wrapping and the surprises
inside. Is it Easter yet?
The Italian chocolate company,
Perugina, has been making chocolate Easter eggs for many years.
Crack open one of their hollow 18inch eggs for example, and inside
you’ll find four or five pieces of the
company’s celebrated chocolate candies or a surprise of several miniature chocolate eggs. Or there could
be a bunch of “Baci” treats. “Bacio”
is a “kiss” of chocolate filled with a
hazelnut and milk chocolate-hazelnut paste. These foil-wrapped “kisses” include a message of love that’s
translated into many languages.
Baci are the company’s most popular confection, made since 1922 and
still produced exclusively in
Perugia, Italy. So, here’s a new
lyric for you kid: “A kiss is just a
kiss, but a Bacio will make you
sigh.....”
With this article, we hope to egg
you on to hatch an Easter surprise
for someone special in your life.
Buona Pasqua!
Having up to 300 dinner guests?
business convention. Hold it at the
• More than 22,000 sq. ft.
of convention space.
• Professional planning &
catering services
• Handicap access.
• Ample, free parking.
• 7 day a week
availability.
• Easy access to freeway
and downtown.
To coordinate your convention plans,
call David or Kim Marie
at (414) 223-2800
or visit www.ItalianConference.com
at the Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
A block west of Summerfest
Entertain them at the Italian
Conference Center’s
FESTA BALLROOM.
A gorgeous setting in which to enjoy great food!
The Italian Conference Center
in the Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago St. (a block west of Summerfest)
Call David or Kim Marie at 414/ 223-2800 to
reserve your party or meeting space at the ICC.
Visit: www.ItalianConference.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES

March 2016

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