ITALIAN TIMES THE
Published 11 times annually by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com MAY 2018 • VOL. 39, NO. 11
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Fun activities highlight ICC’s Children’s Easter party
There were a lot of fun activities to enjoy at the Italian Community Center’s Children’s Easter party on Mar. 24. Among them was decorating an Easter cookie. Each child, with or without a parent, could grab a sugar cookie and plastic bags filled with frosting and artistically decorate the cookie. Here, Michael Balistreri is seen helping his son, Liam, who just turned 3, with the activity. Liam is the grandson of ICC members Tom and Barbara Balistreri. More photos can be found on pages 6 and 7. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
Cosa c’è dentro? What’s inside?
A super hero, a truck and 100 lbs. of pasta Acts for two Festa stges announced
page 2 page 3
Italian art donated to ICC by Sicilian artist page 4
Mt. Carmel Church artifacts donated to ICC page 4
St. Joseph’s Day Luncehon Chair says “Grazie” page 5
Calendars of events
page 5
Children’s Easter party picture pages pages 6-7
Members’ Happy Hour set for June 13 page 10
Tribute to ICC’s #1 World Soccer Cup fan page 11 UNICO to honor Fr. Mike Hammer
UNICO Scholarship & Awards Dinner set for Tuesday, May 15
page 12 page 12
Pompeii Women announce May Crowning event page 13
Pabst sponsorship key to Verdi Club start page 15
Italian soccer fans’ rue page 17
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A message from Dean Cannestra, Italian Community Center President
Well, folks, by the time you read this message we will be less than 90 days away from our 41st Festa Italiana, July 20-22. I can tell I’m getting excited. I hope you are, too. Everything seems to be falling into place. As you can read in this issue, we have brought in George Busateri to be our Entertainment Director. George is putting together a lineup that is appropriate for an Italian festival, one that I believe brings Festa back to its roots, but keeps the party atmosphere going. I hope this year’s Festa will remind people of their Festas of the past: a reunion of family and friends, an experience in Italian culture, with lots of good music and great food. Come and enjoy the only festival with fireworks every night and free carnival rides for all. I ask our members to start promoting Festa, get people to buy their advance tickets on our website – festaitaliana.com – and pray that we have three beautiful days. Festa started out in 1978 as a volunteer-run festival and the importance of our volunteers remains essential to our success today. We’ve been looking for volunteers to help us set up and take down the
Festa grounds. Our Vice President Joe Emanuele placed an announcement in The Italian Times the last few months and flyers have been put out at the ICC, but we still need more volunteers. If you are able to do some lifting, climb step ladders, use basic tools and can commit to working any of these days: Monday through Thursday, July 16, 17, 18, 19 or Monday, July 23 become a member of our Festa Grounds Crew. Volunteer as few or many days as you choose. If you can help, please contact Joe Emanuele at emanuele56@aol.com or 414-7504295.
A Taste of Italy By the time you read this message, our 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy” will be in the books. I’m sure it was a spectacular success. With all the hard work that Valorie Schleicher, Christina Ziino and Marie Lieber have put into this fundraising event, I’m confident that it made money for our organization. Your support is needed There are a couple of events coming up in May that I hope you can support. These include the
UNICO Scholarship & Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 15 and the Pompeii Women’s Club May Crowning Ceremony and Dinner on Wednesday, May 30. Both of these events are at the ICC and details can be found in this issue. Dean Cannestra ICC President Festa General Chair
George Busateri is back as Festa Entertainment Director and his band, Spider George & The Web, is playing nightly, July 20-22
Wanting to make Festa Italiana 2018 the biggest Italian party in America this summer, Festa officials have brought on board one of the most recognized names in live entertainment in the Midwest. George Busateri has returned to Festa to take the reins of Entertainment Director. Assisted by his wife, Catherine “cootie” Balistrieri Busateri, George is handling all of the aspects of Festa entertainment including booking of the acts and back-up musicians, music directing, stage production and working with the stage managers and the sound and lighting pros. And listen to this Festa fans: George will be performing with his band, Spider George & The Web! After a 12-year absence, Spider George & The Web is back in the lineup and will perform nightly at 9 p.m. all three days (July 20-22) and after the fireworks on Saturday, July 21 on the Harley-Davidson Stage. There is a reason why this band has been called “Milwaukee’s #1 party band” and anyone who has seen them perform in the past at Festa or many other venues knows why. If you haven’t seen them yet,
Festa 2018 Music Director George Busateri
make sure you’re there. You’re in for a spectacular show! “Our #1 goal this year is to bring the party back to Festa,” said Dean Cannestra, Italian Community Center President and Festa General Chairman. “George and his band will have people dancing,
clapping their hands, pumping their fists and singing along. There are lots of us who remember people dancing on the picnic tables and forming conga lines when George’s band played. That’s what we’re trying to bring back this year.” Please turn to page 8
A super hero, a truck and 100 lbs. of pasta
by Christina Ziino Recently, my grandson has become fascinated with Super Heroes like Spiderman and Batman. They swoop in from nowhere and save the day and defeat the bad guy. Well, recently, the crew for “A Taste of Italy” found its own “Super Hero” in one Glen Murphy. Glen is the son of ICC member Frances Murphy, who is best friends with Ann Romano, our longtime Taste of Italy chair. Upon taking over the chairmanship of “A Taste of Italy” from Ann
Romano, Val Schleicher, Marie Lieber and I began looking into obtaining donated product for the event. I started with the pasta. My first thought was Barilla. After going online and making a call to the company, the prospects looked good for up to 100-pounds of pasta to be donated. The only problem was that it either had to be shipped to us at the Italian Community Center’s expense which would have been costly or have it picked up at one of Barilla’s warehouses. The closest to Wisconsin
was in Ames, Iowa! My husband has run a lot of errands for me, but I thought this one might be a little too much to ask. It looked like the donation wasn’t going to happen. One day, during one of our regular conversations, I relayed the story to Ann Romano. Over dinner that night, with her friend Frances and her son, Glen, Ann told them of the story of the pasta-in-waiting. Here is where Glen turns into a super hero. Glen is a truck driver for McLane Company. Part of his regular route goes through Ames,
Look for photos and a report on the 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy” in the June 2018 issue of The Italian Times coming out May 24.
lar advance ticket and $6 off a ticket that is purchased at the gate the days of Festa Italiana, Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22.
Keep in mind that children, 12 years and younger, are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult all three days of Festa.
Call put out for Festa Mass ushers
Ted Catalano, Mass and Procession Committee member and manager of the ushers, has issued a call for at least 15 new ushers to step up and volunteer for this year’s Festa Italiana Mass on Sunday, July 22.
To be an usher, you must be at least 16 years old. The only other requirement is that you attend a brief instructional meeting at the Italian Community Center on Monday, July 16 at 7 p.m. At that time, information on the duties of an usher during the Mass and the pro-
THE ITALIAN TIMES
631 E. Chicago St. Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916 (414) 223-2180 Published 11 times annually
Two chances to get Festa’s ‘$7 for 7 Days’ online ticket deal
If you want to get a great deal on advance tickets for Festa Italiana 2018, you still have two chances to take advantage of Festa’s “$7 for 7 Days” online ticket deal. This promotion allows Festa-goers to buy advance tickets online only for $7 during a seven-day period. The first seven-day frame expired in April, but you still have chances in May and June. To order your $7 ticket, all you will need to know is this website address: https://festaitaliana.com and the dates below when the “$7 for 7 Days Spring Fever Ticket Deal” is in effect: • Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20. • Monday, June 18 through Sunday, June 24. The $7 promotion ticket will save you $3 off the price of a regu-
Iowa!!! Without hesitation, he volunteered to pick up the pasta on one of his runs! When Ann called me with the news, I couldn’t believe it. I completed the donation request and three weeks later, Glen picked up the pasta and delivered it to my door! A real super hero rescue without the bad guys!!! Thanks to Barilla and thanks to Glen!
cession, which follows the Mass, will be discussed. Catalano requests that new ushers sign up with him early and then follow through on their commitment. To volunteer as an usher or for more information, call Catalano at 414-305-9769 or email him at tedcatalano@yahoo.com. At least 55 ushers are needed every year for the Mass, which has drawn up to 10,000 people. Catalano said he has about 40 dedicated ushers who show up automatically each year.
Publisher . . . Italian Community Center ICC President . . . . . . . Dean Cannestra Newspaper Committee Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . .Blaise Di Pronio Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Hemman Advertising Sales Manager . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Hemman Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . Faye Ann Kessler Editorial Contributors, Reporters and Columnists . . . . . .Blaise Di Pronio, Barbara Collignon, Elizabeth Zizzo Angela Bozano and Donato Di Pronio
For advertising information, please call (414) 223-2180 or send an e-mail to: themman@iccmilwaukee.com. Copyright 2018 The Italian Community Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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.
Reading/Presentation about Italian Summer Camp by Author/Dean of Lago del Bosco Eric Dregni Tuesday, May 15th at 4:30 p.m. Victory Italian Immersion School, 2222 W. Henry Ave., Milwaukee Public Welcome • Free Admission
Eric Dregni is the author of 17 books including “You’re Sending Me Where? Dispatches from Summer Camp,” published by the University of Minnesota Press.
(800) 222-4750 | clv@cord.edu | CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES PAGE 2 – MAY 2018
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Look who’s performing at 41st Festa Italiana, more to come
An array of multi-talented Italian and Italian American acts will perform on the two primary stages at the 41st annual Festa Italiana, Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22 on the Summerfest grounds. These acts include Tony Awardwinning Broadway performer and TV/film actor Anthony Crivello, TV/film actor and singer/songwriter Louis Vanaria, Spider George & The Web, the Sicilian Tenors (Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale) and Tre Bella, a threepart harmony female group with a flair towards Italian and Italian American pop music. The lineup also features FLEMT, a rock band from Udine, Italy, that recently completed a U.S. tour. George Busateri, who has joined the Festa Management Team as the festival’s 2018 Entertainment Director, recently provided The Italian Times with the full lineup that he has booked for the HarleyDavidson Stage and the Miller Lite Stage.
Harley-Davidson Stage The Harley-Davidson Stage lineup includes Anthony Crivello, performing nightly at 8 p.m. Crivello, who won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in 1993 for his role in Kiss of the Spider Woman, is a Milwaukee native. He is coming back to town to direct Hear What’s In The Heart: An Italian Shoemaker’s Tale at the Next Act Theatre, May 2-6. Crivello is currently writing a one-man play The King of Sicily. He performed more than 2,400 times in the title role of the Las Vegas production of Phantom of the Opera, which closed in September 2012. Spider George & The Web is returning to the Festa lineup for the first time in 12 years. Led by keyboardist/vocalist George Busateri (Festa’s Entertainment Director), the group is known as “Milwaukee’s #1 Party Band.” Playing R&B, rock, funk, disco, salsa and reggae and it features on the most talented vocalists and musicians in the Midwest. The band will perform nightly at 9 p.m. and after
Rick D’Amore
the fireworks (about 10:45 p.m.) on Saturday, July 21. Awarding-winning accordion virtuoso Corey Pescaturo will perform July 21-22 at 1:30 p.m. Pescauturo is a protégé of the late Dick Contino and performed at the tribute concert that Festa presented last year in honor of the late Contino. After several years’ absence, the Italian-born vocalist Moreno Fruzzetti is returning to Festa. Fruzzetti, who has continued a steady schedule of concerts and festival appearances across the U.S. and Canada, will sing each day at 3 p.m. Performing at 4 p.m. daily will be the Rat Pack Reprise, a trio of vocalists from Madison who will bring back the glory days of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. The Rat Pack Reprise features Joe Scalissi as Martin, David Hayes as Davis and Jack D’Amico as Sinatra. Returning to the Festa lineup for the 6 p.m. nightly shows is vocalist Rick D’Amore. As longtime Festa fans recall, D’Amore was a regular in the Festa lineup for more
THE ITALIAN TIMES
than 20 years starting in 1978. D’Amore sings everything from pop standards to Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Neil Diamond tunes. The Tom Sorce Band with vocalist Sandra Mandella will take to the Harley-Davidson Stage on Friday, July 20 after the fireworks (approximately 10:45 p.m.) and Saturday, July 21 at noon. Sorce is a versatile guitarist and producer of quality music for more than 40 years. His band has performed regularly in the Courtyard Music Series, originally hosted by the Italian Community Center and now by
The Sicilian Tenors
Anthony Crivello
Louis Vanaria
Bartolotta Catering at the ICC. His band also backed vocalist Tom Anthony in regular shows at the Wisconsin State Fair. Mandella is a recording artist, who now makes her home in Florida.
Miller Lite Stage The Bronx, NY-native Louis Vanaria first gained fame in the 1993 Robert DeNiro film A Bronx Tale in the role of Crazy Mario. Two years later, he was cast in the CBS movie of the week Young at Heart, starring Olympia Dukakis and featuring Frank Sinatra. Since then, Vanaria has performed in numerous films and TV shows. Among the more recent films in which Vanaria has acted are: Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn (2013) as Stan “the Jew” Gerzof, Grasslands (2011) as Volpe, Stiffs (2010) as Nino and West of Brooklyn (2008) as Frankie. His recent TV appearances have included The Neighborhood (a show in pre-production this year), The Mysteries of Laura (NBC, 2015) Blue Bloods (CBS, 2013) and Broadway Empire (HBO, 2010). He has always been an aspiring singer/songwriter and has Please turn to page 9
MAY 2018 – PAGE 3
Italian art donated to ICC
by Blaise di Pronio Prior to a trip to Italy last year, I found myself at the ICC for a function. In anticipation of frequenting the usual Italian edifices and dwellings filled with paintings, sculptures and other artifacts, I noted the lack of such arrays and displays at the ICC. Since the recent renovations, except for the Pietà, there really isn’t much to be seen here, especially originating from Italy. Thus, the undertaking described in this article. While in Sicily last summer, I had occasion to meet with Giacoma Lo Coco. She is an artist based in Porticello, a little port town which is the ancestral home of many of Milwaukee’s Italian-American families and past and present members of the ICC. The Lo Coco name is also well known at the ICC and I am sure there are some familial relations with the artist also. Ms. Lo Coco was born in 1978. After beginning in preliminary studies in architecture, she began to show an early interest in related aspects of the arts that included global art, advertising graphics, photography and especially architectural design. Soon after she went on to take a degree at the Academy of Fine Arts in Palermo with a major in Painting, graduating in her class with the distinction of cum laude. Since graduation, her life’s primary devotion to the arts has been as a painter, where she has been highly recognized both in Europe and abroad. In addition to her
Here are the three paintings that were donated to the Italian Community Center by Giacoma Lo Coco, an artist from Porticello (Sicily), Italy. This picture was
paintings, her beautiful sculptures continue to attract the public’s attention. Since 2007, she has lived and worked between New York, Palm Beach, Paris and Rome where she has executed various paintings and sculptures for private individuals and exhibited her works in both private and public galleries. Her work can be viewed on the internet at giacomalococo.it. After discussing our situation at the ICC and its dearth of artistic pieces, she generously agreed to donate three of her paintings to us at no cost to the organization as explained below. After orchestrating
taken before the paintings were hung in the Members’ Room. As of our printing deadline, the paintings had not been hang. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
the secure shipping and insurance issues, the three beautiful paintings have arrived and should be on display in the Members Room by the time you read this article. Be sure to stop in to view the beautiful and colorful artwork and expressions of Ms. Lo Coco’s style and skill. We are very grateful for the generous donation and it is deeply appreciated with much heartfelt pride and esteem and to the benefit of our members and guests. N.B.: In order to defray the expenses incurred in the shipping of the paintings, a call went out to the
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church artifacts donated to ICC
many societies, clubs and groups which frequent the ICC for contributions and donations to cover the costs and thus become sponsors of this beneficial endeavor. To date, only the Abruzzese-Galileo Galilei Society and the Giuseppe Garibaldi Society have responded with kind donations. Should any others contribute in the future, they will be acknowledged in this paper. Appreciation and thanks are given to the Abruzzese and the Garibaldini! P.S.: To better appreciate the Lo Coco paintings, reviews of her work appear within this issue.
Giacoma Lo Coco: Reviews of the artist and her work
The confusion and violence around us in the modern world come sharply into focus and become astonishingly resolvable when you study the extraordinary and passionate works of the young Italian artist Giacoma Lo Coco. Since her first painting exhibited at the age 5, her theme has remained the same-continuity out of discontinuity or “Order out of Disorder,” her thesis on graduation with honors from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo. One feels that a universal discovery and a silent rejoicing is taking place in each individual in the crowded throng, who here-to-for had been rioting, raping and killing his fellow man. The artist is showing us our own potential for change TODAY! – Professor Ronald R. Fleve, Columbia University, New York
Rick Balistrieri (center) recently donated artifacts from the repository of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church to the Italian Community Center on behalf of his father, the late Edward Balistrieri. Rick Balistrieri told Chris Conley (right), the chairperson of the ICC’s heritage photo and artifacts, and ICC volunteer Frank D’Amato
PAGE 4 – MAY 2018
that it was his father’s dying wish that the Tabernacle and related artifacts be given to the ICC. Our Lady of Mount Carmel was built by first and second generation Italian Americans who settled on the eastside of West Allis. The church officially opened at 6266 W. Beloit Rd. in 1939 and was closed by the Milwaukee Archdiocese in 1999. Ed-
ward Balistrieri was given the artifacts to keep by the last priest to serve at the church. Both Edward and Rick served on the West Allis Police Department and held highranking officer positions. Rick retired as the Deputy Police Chief and is now a Police Safety Trainer for the State of Wisconsin. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
In science, there exists the concept of entropy which, in its simplest but not exclusive definition, states that all things collapse from order to disorder. From that point of singularity bursting forth into the infinite pieces of the universe to that simple, orderly single-celled organism which multiplied into a complex human body destined to become the epitome of disorder- a pile of dust! It can therefore be argued that the art world has experienced similar elements of entropy going from the simple but orderly cave drawings to complex Renaissance masterpieces, to abstract modern art and to a jumble of dots (pointillism) Please turn to page 11
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Chairperson Mary Winard thanks many for successful St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon
First of all, I want to sincerely thank all those who attended the St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon on Mar. 16 at the Italian Community Center. A very special thank you to ICC Chaplain, Fr. Tim Kitzke, for taking time in his busy schedule to join
us and bless all of us as well as the specially prepared food by Chef Salvatore Monni of Bartolotta Catering. Fr. Tim also blessed the bread and fruit bags that were given to the guests as they departed. The
Three Holy Women Parish thanks ICC
The freewill donations that people made at the Italian Community Center’s St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon were recognized in a letter of thanks to Mary Winard, event chairperson, by the Very Reverend Timothy J. Kitzke on behalf of Three Holy Women Parish. The letter stated: Dear Mary and Friends, On behalf of the parishioners of Three Holy Women Parish, I would like to thank you for your recent donation of $140 for our work with the poor that was col-
lected March 16, 2018 at the St. Joseph Luncheon at the Italian Community Center. Your gift will be used to help those in need on the East Side of Milwaukee, and it is because of people like you that we are able to continue this good work.
Thank you again for this gift to Christ and His Church. It will be used with gratitude. God bless you! Sincerely yours in Christ, Very Reverend Timothy J. Kitzke, V.G. Pastor
bags were filled by my committee, headed by Suzanne Wypijewski with Louise Au and Pat Guttuso, all of whom are members of the Pompeii Women’s Club. It was very rewarding to have ICC President Dean Cannestra, ICC Vice President Joe Emanuele and Italian Conference Center President Joe Vella at a table. Thanks to Dean for his kind words of welcome and prayer offering.
It is always especially rewarding to see several of our past presidents on this day. Thanks to Past Presidents Betty Puccio, Tony Machi, Henry Piano and Bill Jennaro. We were also graced by the presence of the now retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John DiMotto. Grazie to all of them! Another great pleasure is to have the members of La Società di San Giuseppe in large attendance. Thanks to John Balistrieri and Society President Bruce Dentice.
beautifully decorating the St. Joseph’s Altar to enrich the setting for this special day. Thank you, Joanne, for your dedication and commitment.
Thanks to Bartolotta Catering General Manager Adam Iplikci and his banquet staff for their excellent service.
My personal thanks to ICC Business Manager Laurie Bisesi for her help, to receptionist Valentine Sturdevant for her clerical help, to John Puchner for volunteering to perform music appropriate for the occasion, and to Tom Hemman, for helping us to promote the luncheon in The Italian Times and on flyers. Lastly, I want to thank all of those who made donations at the table we had set up. A donation of $140 was sent to Fr. Tim of Three Holy Women Parish. The funds will be used to help those in need on the East Side of Milwaukee. – Mary (Mineo) Winard St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon Chairperson
Calendar of Events Once again, Joanne (Sanfilippo) Czubek did an outstanding job
April 28 – May 30, 2018
Wednesday, Apr. 25 • Pompeii Women’s Club general membership dinner and meeting, 5:30 p.m., social, 6:30 p.m., dinner and meeting. Wednesday, May 2 • Pompeii Women’s Club Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 3 • Italian Community Center Membership Committee meeting, 7 p.m.
Monday, May 7 • Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8 • Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10 • Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 15 • Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National and Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Scholarship & Award banquet, 5:30 p.m., social, 6:30 p.m., dinner. Details in this issue.
Wednesday, May 16 • Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 17 • Italian Community Center membership dinner, 5:30 p.m. Dinner reservations required by Monday, May 14. • Italian Community Center general meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 18 • Abruzzese Society social, 6 p.m.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Monday, May 28 • Memorial Day. The Italian Community Center, Festa Italiana and Italian Times offices will be closed. Tuesday, May 29 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 30 • Pompeii Women’s Club May Crowning ceremony and dinner, 5:30 p.m., social, 6:30 p.m., dinner. Details in this issue.
Daily and weekly classes and activities • Bocce leagues. The spring season continues through the week of May 7. The championship playoffs are set for Monday, May 14. • ICC Italian classes. The spring semester of Italian I, an introductory Italian class, and Italian II, a conversational Italian class, for persons, 13 years and older, continues on Tuesday nights through May 8.
• I Bei Bambini, The Children’s Italian Dance Group. This children’s folk dance group practices weekly on most Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the ICC. New dancers are welcome. For details, visit: www.tradizionevivente.com. Breaks are taken during the holidays.
• Tradizione Vivente, The Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee. This folk dance group practices weekly on most Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at the ICC. Visit: www.tradizionevivente.com for details. Breaks are taken during the holidays. Ballate con noi! Dance with us!
• Hula hoop dance fitness class. Every Tuesday night, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. in the bocce court room. Everyone is welcome. Cost: $5 per member, $10 per non-member. No classes during the holidays.
MAY 2018 – PAGE 5
Lots of fun things to do at ICC’s Children’s Easter party All Times photos by Tom Hemman
Kids love to have their faces painted to resemble one of their favorite animated characters or favorite animals. Here, volunteer Jack Hess is seen face painting a young boy.
Volunteer Irais Gonzalez artistically designed a tiger’s face on this willing participant.
Every youngster had a chance to meet the Easter Bunny, who, in turn, gave each child a candy treat to take home.
It was five year-old Sal Graziano’s lucky day. He won both guessing contests at the Children’s Easter party. He submitted the closest guesses as to the number of Peeps in one jar and the number of jellybeans in another jar. As a result, Sal got to take home both jars. Sal’s grandparents are ICC members Christina and Joe Ziino.
PAGE 6 – MAY 2018
The Avanti Committee received plenty of volunteer help to supervise the many activities at the Mar. 24 Children’s Easter Party (“Festa di Pasqua”). From the left: Sam Alioto, Irais Gonzalez, Jack Hess, Sam Abraham, Julia Bongert (seated), Mary Anne Ceraso-
Alioto, the Easter Bunny (a/k/a Jolie Steeger), John Alioto (who is holding his granddaughter Ana Alioto), Kaydn (Emanuele) Ulickey (seated), Elizabeth Anne Ceraso, Jenna Alioto, Allison Hansen and Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
The Easter parade, led by the Easter Bunny, is one of the traditional activities at the ICC’s children’s party. The children – wearing crazy balloon hats that were crafted by Susie Christiansen and playing simple instruments the kids designed themselves –always have a good time marching in the parade.
There were plenty of fun games to play.
The kids loved decorating their own Easter cookie. The youngest ones received assistance from a parent or grandparent. The older ones did it on their own.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Here is ICC member Rose Emanuele, 98, with several of her great-grandchildren. Rose and her youngest great-grandchildren regularly attend both the ICC’s Children’s Easter party and the post-Christmas party with La Befana.
MAY 2018 – PAGE 7
‘Spider George’ returns to Festa as Entertainment Director and performer
from page 1 Cannestra added that Festa is in great hands with Busateri as its entertainment director. “George knows the business inside and out. We told George that we wanted Italian music at Festa – after all, that’s what Festa is, an Italian festival – and we gave him a budget to work with, and I think he is doing an outstanding job.” “When Dean reached out to us and told us that he wanted to bring Festa back to its roots and make it fun and entertaining again, our first thought was, ‘What is he trying to say?’ Then, after mulling it over: What Festa means to our Italian community, how much fun it was from the beginning and that Festa might have drifted away from that concept. We said yes, we would be happy to do our part with the entertainment,” George said. “Festa started out as a tribute to the ‘Little Pink Church’ (Our Lady of Pompeii Church) and the feasts organized by our grandparents and great-grandparents,” cootie said. “Our first Festas on the Summerfest grounds were a showcase of Italian and Italian American talent, and people loved it. So George and I can understand the desire to bring Festa back to its roots and wanting to put the heart and soul back in Festa.”
With that mindset, George and cootie went about booking a completely Italian or Italian American entertainment lineup. “There is no gray area,” George said. In addition, all of the acts will have professional musicians performing with them. These are talented, versatile local musicians who have worked for George in the past. The only place where you’ll find people singing to karaoke music is at “Italian Idol,” Festa’s nightly amateur singing contest. (Look for a separate story in this issue on who has been booked so far.)
George’s early career George’s musical roots as a keyboard artist go back to age 6 when he began playing tunes on the family piano. The second oldest of seven children of Frank (an accountant) and Marie Busateri, he was musically influenced by his mother. Marie sang as a devoted choir member for more than 40 years at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, where her children attended grade school, a block away from their East Side home. At age 7, George began studying piano with Sister Miriam Cecille (Miriam Ross). “It was Sr. Miriam who really kept me focused on the piano,” George said. “I wanted to be outside playing ball with the boys but she insisted that I keep going, and thank God she did. I owe her a great deal for setting the course of my career.” By the age of 10, he performed in a piano recital at Alverno College that featured musically talented children from various Catholic schools. George told The Italian Times in a 1995 interview, “I don’t know that I loved playing piano then, probably because of the music. I love classical music now, but back then, I didn’t fully appreciate how much I would need that classical background as it applies to more popular music. My knowledge
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of melody, harmony and rhythm helped immensely as I soon proceeded into a career of music.” By his sophomore year at St. John’s Cathedral High School in Milwaukee, he had formed a rock and roll band. Later, he performed with a popular band, “The Venturas.” George’s educational and performance experience is extensive. He said, “There is a certain amount of street savvy that goes along with the business. Not all there is to know is written in books. You can take two people with the same kind of education and upbringing, and one is maybe a flop, and the other is making a living out of it. It’s just a matter of what you decide to do with it.” He performed on the road for seven years in nightclubs and showrooms throughout the country. In 1981, George started weaving his web as a trio featuring Jay Herman on bass, Scott Wenzel on drums and himself on keys (piano). Sardino’s on Farwell provided a playing home for several years. George first became involved with Festa in the early 1980s when he arranged the music for singer and mega-crowd rouser Johnny Contardo when he was still part of the famous “Sha Na Na” group. In the mid-1980s, Contardo quit the group to stay and work in the Los Angeles area. To accommodate Contardo’s show, George added a guitar and a horn section to his trio. “This was the beginning of ‘Spider George & The Web.’ I just didn’t realize it back then,” George said. In 1984, George started to write his arrangements for this ensemble, this time as a self-contained act. He asked his fellow musicians to come up with a name for this new band, and his trumpet player, the late Jeff Pietrangelo, thought “Spider George & The Web” best described this musical team. George agreed. The Farwell Avenue musical institution, Century Hall, provided the forum for the band. Soon officials from Summerfest/Milwaukee World Festivals, Inc. heard Spider George and his band, and the group became a fixture in the lineup of Summerfest as well as Festa Italiana and other local festivals and parties. George has carved his niche From all the players in his talented Web, George continues to carve out playing engagements for virtually any type of venue and accommodate requests for numerous musical styling. The repertoire that George offers with his group of musicians spans from dance music to Sinatra and Santana, from Big Band to swing, ‘60s Motown, R&B, funk, disco, rock, salsa and reggae.
The full band today consists of: • George Busateri: Arranger, keyboards and lead vocals. • Deirdre Fellner: Lead vocalist. • Bob Hirschi: Lead vocalist. • Tracy Hannemann: Lead vocalist. • John Zaffiro: Guitar and vocals. • Scott Wenzel: Drums. • Carl Storniolo: Percussions. • Larry Tresp: Bass. • Tom Meredith: Trumpet. • Scott Baker: Trumpet. • John Kirchberger: Tenor sax. • Tom Newburg: Baritone sax. George is the Orchestra Contractor at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee. At the Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi, George’s band (orchestra) has backed up groups and
artists including Cheap Trick – Dream Police Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Manhattan Transfer, John Tesh, Joan Rivers, Smokey Robinson, Don Rickles, The Funk Brothers, Clay Aiken, Bobby Vinton, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, Anne Murray, Rich Little and Robert Davi. At the Riverside Theater and Pabst Theater in Milwaukee and at other venues in Green Bay, Appleton, St. Charles, IL., Dubuque, IA and Wabash, IN, George and his bands have backed up Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Jr., John Tesh, Johnny Mathis and Wayne Newton. Want to see George and his musicians perform before Festa? He has arranged a 26-piece orchestra to back up Johnny Mathis at his concert at the Riverside Theater this May 11. From 1992 to 2004, George served as the Music Director and Stage Production Manager of Festa Italiana. Over the years, he and his band mates have also backed up a lot of big-name acts at Festa, too, including Al Martino, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Frank Stallone, Fred Travalena, Buddy Greco, The Four Aces, Pete Barbutti, Dick Contino, Michael Amante and many, many others. The list will grow with this year’s Festa. You can never mention George Busateri without talking about the love of his life, Catherine “cootie” (with a lower case “c” as she prefers). George and cootie have been married for nearly 35 years. At Festa, she will assist George in all of his music directing and stage production duties. Together, they will coordinate all the sights and sounds of the stages that enable the entertainers to perform so flawlessly for the Festa-goers. Her duties include working with the audio and lighting companies, the stagehands, the technicians, the stage managers and the entertainers themselves. She has previously served as the travel coordinator for Festa Italiana and served on the ICC Board as a director-at-large in the early 2000s. Her experience in public relations and stage handling began when she was 14 years old, working for her father, the late Frank Balistrieri, who was then a nightclub owner and promoter of major rock concerts and boxing matches. Both George and Catherine have remained loyal to their East Side Milwaukee roots where they were born, baptized, educated, worked and have lived their entire lives. George said that people who come to Festa will find a diverse, multi-talented entertainment lineup arranging from the Tony Award-winning vocalist Anthony Crivello to film/TV actor/singer Louis Vanaria; from the Sicilian Tenors to Tre Bella; and comedians of national fame. Milwaukee native Joe Sanfelippo, owner of national chain of comedy clubs, Bonkerz Comedy Productions, is enlisting some of his best comedians for Festa. These comedians will have the crowd rollicking in their seats with the stories about growing up Italian. And, of course, there’s the one and only Spider George & The Web.
Interested in advertising. Call 414-223-2189 or sending an email to Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Acts on two Festa stages announced
from page 3 performed in New York City nightclubs. He will sing daily at 3:30 p.m. Performing after Vanaria at 5 p.m. will be the Sicilian Tenors. Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale bring together three marvelous tenor voices, performing their own interpretation of the world’s best music in a recital format. The Sicilian Tenors will “wow” Festa audiences with a romantic journey from Hollywood to Broadway to Italy. That combines the music with light-hearted comedy, making it a concert for all ages to enjoy. Aaron Caruso has a solo gig at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21. Caruso has been performing on stage since the age of 6, and attended the Interlochen Arts Academy for high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance with an Italian minor from the University of Michigan. He studied opera in Italy and New York City with the late Maestro Luigi Veccia. Aaron specializes in Classic Neapolitan music. Returning to Festa for the first time since 2014 is Tre Bella. In Italian, their name means “Three Beauties” but when they combine their powerful voices they become “One Voice.” The trio was formed initially by JoAnn Robertozzi, a vocalist and actress who is also the founder of Ti Piace-Italian Ameri-
Ray Massa’s Eurorhythms is returning to Festa Italiana 2018.
can Presentations, a non profit group that is dedicated to promoting positive images of Italian Americans through art and culture. The other two members of the group are Lorraine Ferro and Rosie DeSanctis, both of whom have artistic and musical backgrounds in singing as well as acting. Tre Bella will appear nightly at 6:30 p.m. Taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. nightly will be Ray Massa’s Eurorhythms. Get ready for a literal feast of Italian and Italian American musical tributes from the swing
Italian Times editor looking for writers to help with Festa issue stories
Tom Hemman, editor of The Italian Times, is looking for individuals to help write some of the articles that will appear in the July/August 2018 Festa Italiana edition. Persons with solid writing skills and/or a basic understanding of the newspaper reporting principles should contact Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com or call 414-223-2189. These are voluntary positions
which offer individuals opportunities to get the stories they write published with their byline, which may be valuable when they seek future employment in journalism, public relations, marketing or general writing fields. “We can also assure each writer that they will receive compimentary tickets to Festa Italiana, July 20-22, on the Summerfest grounds,” Hemman said.
sounds of Louis Prima, the smooth vocals of Dean Martin, the harmonies of the Jersey Boys to today’s Italian rock when witnessing the performance of Ray Massa’s EuroRhythms. They promise to keep young and older Festa fans dancing in real Italian style. Playing at 9:30 p.m. all three nights and at 10:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 20-21 is FLEMT. The band was founded by lead vocalist Patrik Pambianco and guitarist Michele Trillini in 2006 and rebooted in 2011. What is the meaning of FLEMT? According to the band, “It’s still a mystery.” The band released its debut album “The Time Has Come” in 2013. Comedians Busateri has booked nationally
known comedians who are coming to Festa thanks to the efforts of Milwaukee native Joe Sanfelippo. Sanfelippo, founder and President of Bonkerz Comedy Productions, has been producing live and TV/cable performances since 1984. In addition to owning the 20 unit Bonkerz Comedy Chain, Sanfelippo has been personally involved in the careers of famous stand-ups and comic actors including Billy Gardell of “Mike and Molly” fame, former SNL cast member Darrell Hammond, Larry The Cable Guy, Carrot Top and even the legendary Sam Kinison. He consults with NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” where he has placed more than a dozen comics on the show. Other acts will be announced in the next issue of The Italian Times.
ICC Members: Planning to attend the dinner before the General Meeting on Thursday, May 17th? If so, you are kindly asked to make a reservation on or before Monday, May 14th. Call 414-223-2180. Your reservation will help the culinary staff of Bartolotta Catering prepare sufficient food for the buffet.
Thank you for your cooperation!
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THE ITALIAN TIMES
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MAY 2018 – PAGE 9
Membership Committee announces ‘Members’ Happy Hour’ on June 13
The Membership Committee has been hard at work trying to come up with some exciting things that could assist with increasing our membership. We want to to provide a greater chance for our new members to meet our seasoned members to share our heritage. This might include sharing the great stories about growing up in the Third Ward or remembrances of our Hackett Avenue Italian Community Center and the amazing events we did as a group such as musicals, cultural events and Festa Rallies. Maybe we could talk about how we worked hard to get our present Italian Community Center building and why it is so important to hold onto all these memories and pass them onto our next leaders. These new members are going to be the ones who help build our organization, and provide new memories to share and appreciate our Italian heritage. This month, the Membership Committee is announcing our first 2018 Members’ Happy Hour. It will be hosted by Bartolotta’s La Scala
on Wednesday, June 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. During this time, La Scala is excited to offer a 20% discount on food and drink for any ICC members or potential members. So if you know someone who might be interested in joining us that evening and getting to know the great fabric of our membership, bring them along and enjoy our camaraderie and partnerships. This will be the first of our quar-
terly Members Happy Hour in 2018 and we hope many of you can attend. We are still working several other initiatives for the Membership Committee. Movie nights, membership specials and member events are just a few of the things we are exploring. Of course, we can always use some ideas and assistance in reaching out goals. If you have any ideas that we could ex-
plore, please do not hesitate to contact us or join us at our Membership meeting on the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. We love the chance to work with all the new members and hear their suggestions to making our Italian Community Center burst its seams. See you soon. – Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto Membership Committee Chair
The officers and directors of the Italian Community Center wish to thank and acknowledge all those who pledged, fulfilled a pledge, or made a contribution to the nonprofit organization. To obtain information on how to make a pledge or a donation, please call 414-223-2808. Please note: When the ICC is informed of the death of a member, an email blast is being sent out to all
members who have signed up to receive these email blasts as part of their membership. The following donations were received between Mar.12 and Apr. 9, 2018.
Ray and Caroline Besasie
Thanks for your donations to the ICC
The 41st Festa
In memory of Peter Frank Sorce Peter T. and Kathy M. Sorce Christina Sorce
In memory of Sam Purpero
Italiana
July 20-22, 2018
is looking for you!
If you are physical fit, able to lift 50-75 lbs., climb step ladders, use basic tools and can commit to working any or all of these days, Monday – Thursday, July 16-19 and/or Monday, July 23, Festa Italiana is asking you to step forward and become a volunteer member of the Festa Grounds Crew. Your service is greatly appreciated! Persons interested in volunteering on the Grounds Crew should contact ICC Vice President Joe Emanuele Email: emanuele56@aol.com Phone: (414) 750-4295
In memory Rose Iannelli Tony T. Machi Anthony & Barbara Lupo Thomas & Rose Zingale George & Judy Menos Jimmy & Linda Spataro Mary G. Winard Salvatore & Donna Agnello Ines Spinelli Kathleen A. Balistreri
In memory of Ambose Ciano Tony T. Machi Rose Purpero Spang
In memory of Mary Hoffman Jimmy & Linda Spataro Kathleen A. Balistreri
In memory of Rosario Gumina Tony T. Machi In memory of John M. Mullarkey Gino A. Dentice
In memory of Joe Crivello Jimmy & Linda Spataro
In memory of John W. Schmitt Tony T. Machi
Deadline for June 2018 issue
All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in the June 2018 issue of The Italian Times must be submitted to the editor no later than Thursday, May 10. All materials can be emailed to editor Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com or sent to The Italian Times, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For further information, call 414-223-2189.
Welcome new ICC members
The following persons became members of the Italian Community Center between March 12 and April 9, 2018. Benvenuti (Welcome!) Dr. Simonetta Milli Konewko of Milwaukee, WI Rachel DiGiorgio of Milwaukee, WI Carol A. Douglas of Big Sandy, TX
David & Laura DiGiorgio Scott (Children: Sylvia, Dominic and Evelyn) of Milwaukee, WI
James Mollica of Maryville, TN
PAGE 10 – MAY 2018
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Reviews of the work of Giacoma Lo Coco, Sicilian artist
from page 4 and pixels. But anentropic outcome (i.,e., complete disorder) can still be overcome by the artist who can excercise a style which embodies order, organization, patterns and regularity. Creativity can defeat entropic trends and such is the message and motif which run throughout the works of Italian artist Giacoma Lo Coco. In fact, she is the antithesis of
entropy in that from disorder she shouts order! Ms. Lo Coco ignores the natural tendency to gravitate toward disarray and untidiness as she obsesses with organization and regularity. Her paintings strive to create rows and patterns of color and symetry with both animate and inanimate subjects. The result is a pleasing and plesant view of normality. Even the simplest objects(pens,
candles, etc…) take on an unforeseen discipline and calm as do her humans in a crowd, a pool or a beach. Her paintings are a visual delight which bring about an appreciation of comforting rows of normalcy in a chaotic world which continues to dissolve into an entropic state. Ultimately, Ms. Lo Coco‘s panoply of paintings makes us revert back to less stressful and dis-
by Peter Gustin One month before Festa (June), soccer fans will have the opportunity to watch the Soccer World Cup. By far, it’s the world’s most popular sport event. The participants will be as follows: Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Belgium, Croatia, England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Did I forget Italy and the United States? No, I did not. Neither one of them made it to the 32 finalists. Italy, the four-time world champion, did not qualify. It was a blow to be remembered. The participants in the finals played teams in their own region for two years to qualify for the tournament. The number of teams involved was 211. In the past, when Europe and Latin America dominated completely the soccer world only 16 teams would participate in the finals. One Italian Community Center member will still be watching the games with interest and nostalgia. Why nostalgia? He attended the Soccer World Cup seven times. Keep in mind that it takes place every four years. The first one, he went to, was in 1962 in Chile. Hosting a Chilean exchange student was the catalyst to the games. The father of the young student assured and promised to have a ticket for him if he could get to Chile. It worked. The ticket price to the final game was $25. The headlines in Chilean newspapers were celebrating the fact that four Americans came to Chile exclusively to watch the Games. The World Cup fever
began. Every four years for the next 30 years our ICC member attended the Games. They took him to England, Mexico, Germany, Argentina and Spain. The one in Spain was very enjoyable and most satisfying. Italy won the Cup. Which player impressed him? The talent, skill and stamina were so abundant that it is impossible to have any favorites. His most precious souvenir was a keychain from Spain with the World Cup en-
graved on it declaring Italy the Soccer World Champion. During all the years how has the sport evolved? Unfortunately. it has become more physical and aggressive. Skills and creativity are not as common as they should be. In case you haven’t figured out who that world-traveling, soccer fan and ICC member is and would like to find out more details about the Soccer World Cup, talk to Joe Dentice. He will speak from experience.
orienting experiences and away from the splashes of disorganized and eye straining colors that is being offered by many. As a lawyer, I must admit that I am more prone to delight in a state offered by this artist in which all components or elements are arranged logically, comprehensibly or naturally- which is the only way to argue your case and make a point. – Blaise Di Pronio, B.A., J.D.
Love of Soccer’s World Cup competition is in this ICC member’s blood
A magic voice speaks out to the viewer of Giacoma Lo Coco’s current extraordinary painting Checkerboard, now being exhibited and studied at the Verona Biennale Sgarbi Festival. A similar magic “buzz” followed receptions this past year of her other new painting on exhibition in Rome, Paris, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, London, Barcelona. The many hidden faces of the players in the Checkerboard puzzle disguise knights, pawns, kings and queens, all indistinquishable actors competing in the gioco or game of modern Italian politics. – Professor Ronald R. Fleve M,D, Columbia University, New York
ICC Membership Dues Benefits of Italian Community Center Membership
Four (4) Festa Italiana Tickets – Maximum of Eight (8) Per Family Voting Privelegs (21 & Older) Postal Service Delivery of The Italian Times Member Discounts on Social Events, Classes & Bocce Leagues Members Rooms Cultural, Educational & Social Activities Forever Friendships Stronger Bonds Between Your Family & Your Culture
Age 20 and under
Annual Dues
Ages 21 – 65
Annual Dues
Individual
Gratis – $0.00
Individual
$50 per year
Ages 66 – 84
Annual Dues
Ages 85 & Older
Annual Dues
Members, age 20 and under, receive two (2) free Festa Italiana tickets. No voting rights. At age 18, a member may vote, but must purchase a membership to do so.
Individual
Couple/Family
$50 per year
$75 per year
Couple/Family Individual
Couple/Family
$100 per year $30 per year $50 per year
Effective: January 1, 2018. All Memberships Valid Through December 31, 2018. MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION FORM Names & Birthdates of Each Adult: _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Names & Birthdates of Each Child (under age 21): _____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________
Address, City, State, Zip Code: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________ Email Address: ____________________________________________ No. of Members under 21: _____ No. of Members 21-65: ______ No. of Members 66-84: ______ No. of Members 85 & Older: _____ Payment Amount: _______________ Method: Cash Check Credit Card – Card Type MC Visa Discover Other
Card No. :______________________________________________________ Expiration Date: _____________
___________________________________ Signature – Adult Member
Joe Dentice
THE ITALIAN TIMES
____________________________________ Signature – Adult Member
Mail this form to: Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. The ICC respects your privacy and does not sell or distribute personal information such as birthdates, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. This membership registration form can also be emailed to cpalmer@iccmilwaukee.com. For further information, call (414) 223-2180.
MAY 2018 – PAGE 11
Milwaukee UNICO to present its ‘Citizen of the Year’ Award to Father Mike Hammer
Here is Father Mike Hammer in the Venetian Carnevale mask that he put on while participating the evening’s festivities. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
God’s children know Fr. Mike in a completely different and more serious way, one that has set him of his path as a minister of Christ. On a visit at a Catholic hospice in 1983, he asked the Sister in charge whether the facility had ever admitted an AIDS patient. She directed him to two young men, who seldom had visitors. It was at that moment that Fr. Mike began an AIDS ministry. It became his calling. “With the AIDS epidemic, I have truly witnessed the power of love,” he said. “Because of the devastating nature of AIDS, I have seen families overcome huge differences and turn to love and support one another.” He added, “Initially, I was fortunate to be supported by Archbishop Rembert Weakland – who, at the time, was co-founder – along with Karen Lamb, of MAP (Milwaukee AIDS Project, later ARCW, the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin).” In the early years, before treatment could prolong the lives of AIDS patients, Hammer attended two to three funerals a week. That only strengthened his resolve to be an advocate for those impacted by the virus. As the director of Catholic AIDS Ministry of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Hammer has supported and counseled hundreds of people who have confronted AIDS in their lives. “This ministry focused my view of the Church, deepened my need for prayer, and challenged my cock-eyed optimism to move into the unknown,” Hammer said. “It is a challenge to get people to be open, accepting and loving of parishioners with AIDS, but I know that God wants us to be present.” Hammer, who was originally from Beaver Dam, Wis., began his service in the Milwaukee Archdiocese as an assistant priest at St. Veronica Parish in the Bay View area, followed by St. Bernadette on the city’s northwest side. He went on to co-coordinate the Office of Parish Councils with Marliss Rodgers. Together, they published Parish Council Manuals that were used in at least 35 dioceses in the United States and Canada. During the same period, Ham-
An invitation has been extended to the public to attend the 83rd UNICO Scholarship and Awards Dinner, presented by the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National and the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO, on Tuesday, May 15 at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. (cash bar), followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program. The cost is set at $40 per person. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, May 8. Checks are payable to Milwaukee Chapter of UNICO and need to be sent to Mary Winard, 10900 W. Bluemound Rd., #105, Wauwatosa, WI 53226.
Hammer has been involved with AIDS ministry for more than 30 years. His work is well known in the community. Both UNICO organizations will present $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors of Italian decent who will continue their education at a college or university in the fall. The Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National has been awarding scholarships since 1936. That year, one scholarship was presented to Frances Alioto. The Ladies of UNICO celebrate its 55th anniversary as an independent civic and service organization in 2018. Together, the Milwaukee UNICO organizations have awarded more than $1 million in scholarships.
by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Rev. Mike Hammer, in his 49th year as a priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, will be the recipient of the 2018 “Citizen of the Year” award presented by the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National. The presentation will be part of the UNICO Scholarship & Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 15 at the Italian Community Center. A separate story on the dinner and reservations policy appears in this section. “Fr. Mike,” as many call him, is an assistant priest at St. John’s Cathedral and Three Holy Women and Old St. Mary’s Parishes. Many in the Italian community know him from his participation in the activities of the ICC and with other Italian organizations and societies. In 2016, Fr. Mike accepted an offer from Festa Italiana to be the Main Celebrant of the Festa Mass.” This past February, he filled the role of “the priest” in the coronation of the ICC’s Carnevale Royalty. In keeping with the theme of the event – “Masks, Music and Merrymak-
Father Mike Hammer
ing” – Fr. Mike put on a decorative black mask that he purchased during a visit to Venice, Italy. Venice, of course, hosts the most famous of all the Italian pre-Lenten Carnevale celebrations. In his everyday life, hundreds of
Public welcome to UNICO Scholarship & Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 15 at ICC
PAGE 12 – MAY 2018
Guests will have a choice of dinner entrée, either chicken parmigiana or baked cod with lemon butter sauce. UNICO officials ask that attendees include the choice of entrée for everyone in their party when sending in the reservations. UNICO officials stated that “a delicious banana split torte” will be served for dessert. The meal will be prepared and served by the Bartolotta Catering staff. Anyone seeking further information on the dinner or reservations can contact Sophia Michalovitz at 414-476-0461. This year, the honor of “Citizen of the Year” will be presented to Father Mike Hammer by the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National. Fr.
mer held various offices for Padicon, the National Organization for Parish and Diocesan Councils. “This was a marvelous opportunity to see the church at work throughout the United States,” he said. “I could give a keynote speech one day, and the next day, tour the city and parishes at work. Promoting clergy-lay team leadership has been one of the great joys of my priesthood.” This was followed by a several year stint in the Office of Combined Collections. Next came his inner call to serve the HIV-AIDS community. “It has spanned those painful early years with several hundred funerals to the change brought about by the famous cocktail drugs,” Hammer said. “Throughout these years, I have been blessed to be an assisting priest at the Cathedral and also at Three Holy Women and Old St. Mary’s.” For 10 years, he was the celebrant of Sunday Mass on Channel 6 in Milwaukee. To this day, he says, “The grace of that experience is how many viewers continue to keep me in their prayers.” Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie, President of the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National, said, “We are very grateful that Father Mike accepted our offer to be our ‘Citizen of the Year.’ He is certainly deserving of the award and is someone who is admired and respected by so many people in our community.”
Madonna Del Lume Women hosts Italian Mass on May 6
La Società Femminile Maria M.S.S. Del Lume (Madonna del Lume Society Women) is sponsoring a Mass in the Italian language on Sunday, May 6. President Enrica Tarantino Woytal said the Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, 1702 N. Humboldt St., Milwaukee, and is open to anyone interested in attending. Following the service, attendees are welcome to join society members for a luncheon at their own expense. St. Hedwig is part of Three Holy Women Parish. Normally, this Mass is held at St. Rita, but due to the construction underway, it is not possible this year, Tarantino Woytal said.
And now, a word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio Ballot: A sheet of paper or a card used to cast or register a vote, especially a secret one. From the Italian ballotta, a small ball drawn from an urn used to register a secret vote. The white colored ball usually designated a yes vote, and the black colored ball indicated a no vote. Thus, the expression to be “blackballed” means to be rejected (someone, usually a candidate who is applying to become a member of a private club), typically by means of a secret ballot. Cousin to pallottola or small ball/bullet.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Pompeii Women’s Club report on March dinner meeting
The Pompeii Women’s Club monthly dinner meeting was held on Wednesday, Mar. 28 at the Italian Community Center. President Suzanne Wypijewski greeted all who attended and introduced Fr. Mike Hammer, who read and article centered on the life of Mary for the most part. Before dinner was served, President Suzanne called up new members Valentina Sturdevant and Amy Domagalski. Membership Chair Aggie Collura formally administered the oath of membership to them. Valentina and Amy were presented with their membership cards and pins. Club members welcome them with open arms. One of the club’s other recently joined members, Maria D’Amato, volunteered her services to be hostess for the meeting and provided the decorative Easter candy favors, table decorations and door prizes. Maria is the daughter of member Ann (D’Amico) Skoczynski, who hosted the February dinner meeting and did a wonderful job. Maria asked that attendees wear a spring bonnet for the March meeting, which several members did. Sister Ann Catherine, member, showed us a blanket, one of three that were made for the club by school children of Prince of Peace School to thank the club for food baskets that were donated to them last year. These acts of kindness are designated as “pay it forward” and the club will do so by donating the blankets to the Rescue Mission for homeless men. The club wishes to thank these young people for their acts of kindness. During the club’s dinner meet-
Photos provided by the Pompeii Women’s Club
Members of the Pompeii Women’s Club celebrated Easter at their Mar. 28 general meeting. Some of the women celebrated with Easter bonnets. Fr. Mike Hammer, Club Chaplain, is seen here with the
ing on Wednesday, Apr. 25, one member will receive the coveted “Angel of the Year Award.” The event will be chaired by members Please turn to page 14
Pompeii Women. Seated: Pauline Cannestra. Standing, front row, from the left: Director Anna Rose San Felippo, Peggy Zoet, Diana
Otzelberger, Director Mary Winard and Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler. Back row: Fr. Mike and President Suzanne Wypijewski.
Pompeii Women’s Club 21st Annual May Crowning May 30, 2018 at the
Italian Community Center
The Pompeii Women’s Club inducted two new members. Director Aggie Collura is seen here officiating the swear-in of new members Amy Domagalski and Valentina Sturdevant.
Gathering at 5:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Come join us to celebrate the May Crowning of the Blessed Mother! Entrèe choices: Baked haddock with lemon butter sauce or grilled pork chop with port wine sauce, served with salad, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and bread basket. White sheet cake with blue frosting for dessert,
Cost: $25.00 per person. Children under 12: $13.00 per child. Children’s menu: Chicken tenders with fries, fruit cup and milk. YOU MUST RSVP BY MAY 22, 2018. NO-WALK-INS. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: POMPEII WOMEN’S CLUB.
Marie D’Amato and her mother Ann Skoczynski shared in the fun of the Easter celebration. Maria was the hostess for the general meeting.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
SEND CHECKS TO: PAT CONSOLAZIONE, 18501 Follett Dr., Brookfield, WI 53045. Please list names, dinner entrèe and with whom you would like to sit at your table. (TABLES OF 8 AVAILABLE) MAY 2018 – PAGE 13
Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence to be presented May 6 by OSIA Illinois/Wisconsin at Racine’s Roma Lodge
What is OSIA? What is the Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge? What is the Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Area Lodge?
In last month’s issue of The Italian Times, an article was published on the honorees who are Italian Community Center members and will be receiving the Leonardo da Vinci Award of Excellence from the Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). The banquet will be held for the first time in Wisconsin at the Roma Lodge in Racine. More information on the awards banquet can be found later in this article. First, some information about the OSIA, the Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge and the Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Area Lodge #2763. OSIA is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States for Italian American men and women. The original name in Italian, is L’Ordine Figli d’Italia. “Figli” means both “sons” and “children.” Its plural nature includes “daughters.” OSIA was founded in 1905 by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro, a Sicilian sur-
geon in New York City. It has grown to have a grassroots network of hundreds of lodges or chapters throughout the nation, coast to coast. The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is the philanthropic arm of OSIA and has given nearly $91 million in scholarships, medical research, disaster relief and other projects since 1958. Major charities are Alzheimer’s, Cooley’s Anemia and Autism. The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) is an anti-defamation arm of OSIA that is committed to fighting racism, prejudice and the stereotyping of Italian Americans and people of all cultures, races and religions. Its national headquarters is in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill. The national network consists of subordinate lodges (individual lodges), grand lodges (regional) and the national supreme lodge. For the second time in its 113year history, the national president is a “daughter” of Italy, Vera Gero-
Pompeii Women’s Club May meeting report
from page 13 Peggy Zoet, Pauline Cannestra and ings which are donated to worthy Mary Winard. Member Lucy Sorce and needy organizations. is taking the reservations. Her Plans are in the works for the phone number is 414-795-7683. club’s annual May Crowning event Non-members are welcome to at- on Wednesday, May 30. As always, tend. this event is open to the public. The Pompeii Women’s Club is – Mary G. Winard an active club. Its members bring P.R. Chair various items to the monthly meetPompeii Women’s Club
Vice President Karen Dickinson, President Suzanne Wypijewski and Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler are holding up a handmade blanket sewn by the children of Prince of Peace School. The Pompeii Women’s Club donated the blanket and other items to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission to aid its goodwill efforts.
PAGE 14 – MAY 2018
lami of California. The Grand Lodge of Illinois was established in 1924 and the Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Lodge became a part of the Grand Lodge, thus changing the name to the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin. Marie Marsalli, Grand Lodge President, is the second “daughter” to be installed as president in 94 years. The Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge encompasses multiple “filial” (formerly subordinate/independent lodges including Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Lodge in Wisconsin. The Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge has hosted for approximately 16 years the Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence which recognize the positive and notable
achievements of Italian Americans from every walk of life that have enhanced American society and continue to help sculpt the American Dream for all. The 2018 Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence will be held at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St., Racine. This year’s slate of notable honorees include the First Lady of Wisconsin Antoinette Tarantino Walker, Representative Peter Barca from Kenosha who was the minority leader in the State of Wisconsin Assembly, recently retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John DiMotto, Italian Community Center Vice President and retired Milwaukee Police Department Identifications System Specialist Joseph Emanuele, Professor Emeritus and retired urban planner Joseph Mangiamele, Anthony J. Bruno of the Italian Workmen’s Club of Madison, Luigi Caira, D.D.S., Fra Noi Correpondent C.J. Martello, Deacon and Roma Lodge Chaplain Russell Missureli, Radiologist Kathryn A. Occhipinti and Attorney/Author/Speaker Peter E. Salza, Esq. The banquet is open to the public. It begins at noon and includes an Italian buffet. Tickets are $65 per person. Reservations are necessary. Call the Grand Lodge office at 708-403-7822.
Word Search:
Out & about Milwaukee by Blaise Di Pronio
To find Word Search solved, turn to page 16
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Pabst Brewing Company sponsorship key to start of Verdi Sport Club
by Peter Gustin The soccer movement in Wisconsin was started by European immigrants. The fever spread gradually to the schools and universities and eventually to a Soccer Major League. Every sport, especially in the beginning depended on financial and moral support. Much credit should be give to our local breweries. They not only invited the soccer community to celebrate at their first class facilities, but also helped the Verdi Sport Club financially through a sponsorship. The Verdi Sport Club was fortunate in 1968 to be sponsored by the Pabst Brewing Company. The presentation and official announcement took place at the Pabst Brewery. One of the pictures accompanying this article shows the presentation. The other photo is a 1967 Verdi team picture. Before reading the caption, see how many former and current Italian Community Center members you recognize. The officers for the Verdi Sport Club in 1968 are listed here: President – Peter Gustin. Vice President – Carlo Cataldo. Secretary – Jack Oliva. Treasurer – Sal Lo Coco. Directors – Russ Azzolina, Or-
Photos provided by Peter Gustin
The 1967 Verdi Sport Club team picture. Front row, kneeling: Assistant Coach Nick D’Amato, Ismael Longo, George Carini, Vittorio Guglielmi, Neo Morici, Enrique Aldana and Domenic Zizzo. Top row: Man-
lando Ferrise and Peter LaBarbera. Dance Chairman – Mario De Sanctis. Book Chairman – Joe Bellante.
ager Joe Dentice, Rodrigo Diez, Steve Carini, Peter Gustin, Jorge Sanchez, Mario Carini, John Vella, Santo Alioto, Angel Santiago and Coach Ettore Carlini.
Italian stereotypes that are . . . true
by Blaise Di Pronio 1. Italians are all about family. Yes they are. Even though the birth rates have declined, families are very important. Young adults live with their parents, relatives are nearby, frequent dinner gatherings are the norm and small town life still exists. Family takes care of family. What dysfunctional? 2. Yes, Italians talk with their hands and arms. And why not? They are very passionate and expressive. Gestures strengthen a point and enhance communication. They demonstrate what they mean. In law, we call it demonstrative evidence and it works in court and in life. 3. They are crazy about soccer. Crazier than Packers fans. This goes back to the age old rivalries between towns and regions and pride in their local cultures and, in turn, their local teams. 4. Love of a good cup of espresso. It serves as a quick pick-me-up spaced throughout the day and long into the night. Quality and not quantity is the rule. 5. Fashion and style is a must. Italy is the land of design and mode. The list of famous houses is lengthy. From clothes, autos, leather and home goods, style abounds. It’s all about fare la bella figura (cut a fine form). Making an impression is critical. If you look like a loser....well, you know the rest. 6. Opera is loved by all. It helps to have a virtual monopoly on composers, maestros and venues. Music speaks Italian. Mothers sing arias for their babies’ lullabies. 7. Public affection is everywhere. If you feel it, show it. Don’t be shy. Embracing, kissing, handin-hand, arm-in-arm, irrespective of gender. There is nothing wrong with affection, warmth and appreciation. Try it sometime. 8. It’s pasta time all the time. Each Italian, on the average, consumes about 60 pounds of pasta a
year. That’s more than a pound a week...burp! There are countless varieties and recipes so eat up. 9. They do come late. Time is relative in Italy, just like a famous scientist said. Sometimes you have to take life a little slower and appreciate the moment. Take a leisurely pace. It can wait. Have an espresso. 10. Some say that Italians are loud and impulsive. I say, Italians are passionate, spontaneous and opinionated – you hear that! 11. Mamma rules. Yes, she does. With a wooden spoon and a bar of soap. But being smothered is great. “Have you eaten?” “Mangia!” “You can’t go out like that.” “Have some more.” “Let me do that for you.” 12. Lastly (best for last?), the Italian lover cliché. I have to address this from a societal-image standpoint rather than personal experience as I don’t want to, ahem...., self-aggrandize here. So, I’ll refer this to the ladies to decide but I must still mention Romeo Montecchi, Giacomo Casanova, Rudolph Valentino, Marcello Mastroianni, Leonardo Di Caprio and countless other swarthy, dark, moody, virile and disproportionately handsome types. Case closed.
St. Rita festa
Cascia (Umbria), Italy hold its Saint Rita’s Procession and Candle Festival on May 19 and 20. The event starts with a torch-lit procession which commemorates St. Rita. Thousand of small oil lamps on buildings and in meadows along the valley of the Corno River are lit at sunset. The following morning, a procession sets out from Roccaporena, the birthplace of St. Rita, and joins a historical procession at Cascia, which recalls the important episodes of the life of St. Rita of Cascia. This procession has its origin in the pilgrimages undertaken centuries ago to pay homage to St. Rita.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Pabst Brewing Company became the official sponsor of the Verdi Sport Club in 1968. This is a photo of Pabst’s check presentation to Verdi officials. From the left: Orlando Ferrise, Nick D’Amato, Carmen Cosentino, Peter Gustin, Pabst Brewing Company President August Pabst, Joe Dentice and Russ Azzolina.
Your all-time Italian American baseball team
In last month’s edition of The Italian Times, we welcomed readers to send us a list of who would be in the lineup for their all-time Italian American baseball team. Here are the players that Attorney Bill Jennaro, a past Italian Community Center President, chose: Catcher: Yogi Berra. First Base: Anthony Rizzo.
Second Base: Tony Lazzeri. Third Base: Ron Santo. Shortstop: Phil Rizzuto. Outfield: Joe DiMaggio, Tony Conigliaro and Dom DiMaggio. Starting Pitchers: Frank Viola, Johnny Antonelli and Andy Pettite. Bullpen: Dave Righetti, Sal Maglie and Frank DiPino. Manager: Tommy Lasorda.
Words in an Italian word by Blaise Di Pronio
How many words can you make with the letters in the word "Pompeii"?
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Answers on page 17
MAY 2018 – PAGE 15
Lost and found at sea
by Blaise Di Pronio In July 1956, there was a disastrous collision at sea between the Italian ocean liner the SS Andrea Doria and the Swedish passenger ship MS Stockholm. Forty-six people died with the ship as a consequence of the collision and 1,660 passengers and crew were rescued and survived. Among the survivors was 9 yearold Piera (now Pierette Domenica Simpson). Ms. Simpson eventually published articles regarding the calamitous event. She recently wrote, produced and narrated the docufilm: “Andrea Doria: Are the Passengers Saved?” The film tells the story of her young girl’s journey from a small
Italian village to join her mother in America. But, at the same time, it is both a history and a re-evaluation of one of the most tragic, notorious and controversial accidents at sea and the greatest maritime rescue. It is the first shipwreck documentary ever written and produced by one of the ship’s survivors. Pierette explains, “It is the love for my native country that led me to create a work which seeks to correct history – one that used Italians as scapegoats instead of honoring them for the greatest sea rescue ever!” The cinematic collaboration between an Italian-American producer (Simpson) and an Italian/Roman director (Luca
The SS Andrea Doria at its home, ported in Genoa, Italy.
Guardabascio) has resulted in an award-winning docufilm. Featured are several survivors, including the legendary composer, Mike Stoller, as well as naval experts. Re-enact-
ments filmed in two countries bring the story to life. Since its premiere in 2016, the film has been screened at festivals in the U.S., Canada and Italy and it has won numerous awards. The film will be shown at the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, Suite 1450, at 500 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday, May 23. 2018 at 6 p.m. The event is free but reservations are needed. Call the Institute at 312-822-9545. A reception will follow the movie.
And now, a word from Italy
Word Search:
by Blaise Di Pronio Brilliant: Exceptionally clever or talented. Very bright and radiant light or color. It comes from the Italian brillantina or hair wax which causes human hair to shine and stay in place. Root for the trade name Brylcreem, a little dab will do you!
Spring
The SS Andrea Doria in its last hours. (Courtesy of Harry Trask/Wikimedia Commons)
Out & about Milwaukee SOLVED From page 14
by Christine Rossetti (1839-1894)
Frost-locked all the winter, Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, What shall make their sap ascend That they may put forth shoots? Tips of tender green, Leaf, or blade, or sheath; Telling of the hidden life That breaks forth underneath, Life nursed in its grave by Death.
Blows the thaw-wind pleasantly, Drips the soaking rain, By fits looks down the waking sun: Young grass springs on the plain; Young leaves clothe early hedgerow trees; Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, Swollen with sap put forth their shoots; Curled-headed ferns sprout in the lane; Birds sing and pair again. There is no time like Spring, When life’s alive in everything, Before new nestlings sing, Before cleft swallows speed their journey back Along the trackless track – God guides their wing, He spreads their table that they nothing lack, – Before the daisy grows a common flower Before the sun has power To scorch the world up in his noontide hour. There is no time like Spring, Like Spring that passes by; There is no life like Spring-life born to die, – Piercing the sod, Clothing the uncouth clod, Hatched in the nest,
PAGE 16 – MAY 2018
Fledged on the windy bough, Strong on the wing: There is no time like Spring that passes by, Now newly born, and now Hastening to die.
Who was Christine Rossetti? Christine Rossetti was a BritishItalian poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional and children’s poems. She was born in London, England in 1830 to Gabriele Rossetti and Frances Polidori. Her father was a political exile from Vasto, Abruzzo, your writer’s birth region in Italy. Rosetti became one of the most important female writers of the 19th century, She is best remembered for her sarcastic (she had suitors but never married) love poetry, vivacious ballads and nursery rhymes. Spring is not one of Rossetti’s best-known poems but it is an excellent and timely poem about springtime. The poem celebrates the new life that the spring brings, as all of the ‘hidden life’ beneath the earth ‘springs’ into action, bursting forth upon the scene. It describes the way life begins all over again and does so through the use of some beautifully vivid images. But, as with much of Rossetti’s poetry, death is never far behind and there is a melancholy sense of the short-lived beauty of spring. As soon as the new life of springtime is ‘newly born’, it is already ‘now / Hastening to die’. She celebrates spring with a bittersweet sense of its own transience. But springtime it is nevertheless and let’s enjoy it to its fullest. – Blaise Di Pronio
THE ITALIAN TIMES
by Barbara Collignon “Lust triumphs over virtue” is the Florentine’s hook line inviting patrons to attend Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea in March 2019. It’s not too soon to explore this opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea, one of the first operas ever written and one of the first operas to be based on historical events and people. Monteverdi’s audience of 1643 would have been familiar enough with history to know Poppea, the mistress of the decadent Roman emperor Nero (Nerone). She achieved her ambition of being crowned empress. The tale, however, is an unhappy one. It is a morally inverse work where instead of virtue being triumphant, it is infidelity, ambition and greed that win. The actual story of Nero and Poppea is even more tragic. Musically, the opera marks a transition between the Renaissance and Baroque. Written just months before Monteverdi’s death at the age of 76, it is perhaps his crowning achievement. Two favorite arias, Ottavia’s “Addio Roma” and Nerone and Poppea’s “Pur ti miro, pur ti godo” are so beautiful as to render the opera unforgettable. Tenor Karim Sulayman will make his debut with the Florentine as Nero. He and Amanda Crider, as Poppea, will sing the famous duet “Pur ti miro, Pur ti godo.” Oricus, writing for “Primcutter notes” says the roles of Nerone and Poppea were written for sopranos – equal voices but Nerone is normally sung
And now, a word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio Campaign: Political activity out in “the field” before an election marked by organized action in influencing the voters. It is derived from the Italian campagna, literally “open country” or “countryside,” also an “open field” suited to military maneuvers (i.e., a military campaign). Root for “campus.”
Opera insights
Amanda Crider
by a countertenor (historically a castrato). It is sometimes performed these days by a female soprano or mezzo-soprano or even by a male tenor.”
Pur ti miro, pur ti stringo, piu non peno, piu non moro, pur ti godo, pur t’annodo, o mia vita, o mio tesoro. Io son tua, tuo son io. Speme mia, dillo di, l’idol mio, tu sei pur. Si mio ben, si mio cor, mia vita, si. One non-literal interpretation of the text results in this rendition: I adore you, I embrace you, I desire you, I enchain you, no more grieving, no more sorrow, O my dearest, O my beloved. I am yours, O my love, tell me so, you are mine, mine alone, O my love. Feel my heart, see my love, see. Oricus stated, “The aria begins with an ostinato in the continuo, four notes descending from the tonic. The words are a simple expression of love and adoration sung by the voices alternating and overlapping sometimes with almost painfully exquisite dissonances at the second or even minor second.” The characters become caught up in a web of deceit, betrayal and jealousy. Nerone’s advisor, the learned philosopher Seneca warned
Arthur Cola to preview new book at Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park, IL
Italian Community Center member Arthur Cola will present a sneak peak of his new book, Il Divino Michelangelo, on Saturday, May 12, at the Italian Cultural Center (Casa Italia), 3600 Division St. Stone Park IL. The program begins at 10 a.m. and ends by 2 p.m. Cola’s novel is a provocative tale of the artistic genius Michelangelo. An icon of the Italian Renaissance, his struggles to bring beauty into the world so that humanity may find God in it, is challenged. With his words readers get a glimpse of what unfolds in its
pages. As a youth: “Already at sixteen, my mind was a battlefield: my love of pagan beauty, the male nude, at war with my religious faith. A polarity of themes and forms: one spiritual, the other earthly.” In his older years: “If in my youth, I had realized that the sustaining splendors of Beauty with which I was in love would one day flood back into my heart, there to ignite a flame that would torture me without end, how gladly would I have put out the light in my eyes.” For more information, visit: arthurcolabooks.com.
Words in an Italian word from page 15
The answer: 34 words in the word “Pompeii.” 1. impi 2. mope 3. pepo 4. pimp 5. pipe 6. pipi 7. poem 8. poep 9. pome 10. pomp 11. pope 12. emo 13. imp 14. moe 15. moi 16. mop 17. ope 18. pep 19. pie 20. pip 21. poi 22. pop 23. em 24. io 25. me 26. mi 27. mo 28. oe 29. oi 30. om 31. op 32. pe 33. pi 34. po
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Karim Salayman
Katherine Pracht
Addio Roma, addio patria, amici addio. Innocente da voi partir convengo. Vado a patir l’esilio in pianti amari, Navigo disperata i sordi mari. L’aria, che d’ora in ora Riceverà i miei fiati, Li porterà, per nome del cor mio, A veder, a baciar le patrie mura, Ed io, starò solinga, Alternando le mosse ai pianti, ai passi, Insegnando pietade ai tronchi, e ai sassi. Remigate oggi mai perversa genti, Allontanatevi omai dagli amati lidi. Ahi, sacrilego duolo, Tu m’interdici il pianto Mentre lascio la patria, Né stillar una lacrima poss’io
Mentre dico ai parenti e a Roma: addio. Translation: Goodbye Rome, goodbye homeland, goodbye friends. Innocent, I agree to leave you. I am going to suffer exile in bitter tears. Desperate, I navigate the deaf seas. The air, which hour to hour will receive my breaths, will bring them, in the name of my heart, to see, to kiss the homeland walls, and I, I will be lonely, changing the waves to tears, to steps, teaching pity to tree trunks and stones. Do you live today, never perverse people, move away from the beloved beaches. Ah, grievous sacrilege, you forbid my tears as I leave the country, nor can I drop a tear as I say to relatives and to Rome: goodbye. You will hear more about what the 85th season of the Florentine has in store for you with this opera in future articles.
by Peter Gustin, ICC member Two years ago, 211 national soccer teams began to play their neighbors in order to qualify for the Soccer World Cup which will take place in Russia this June. Only 32 teams qualified and will participate. In the past, for many years, the sport and the Soccer World Cup was dominated by Europeans and South Americans. Accordingly, the tournament took place in the same continents, alternating. Sixteen finalists competed for the coveted trophy. Times are changing. The sport has grown to other parts of the world. To accommodate the additional countries, mainly from Asia, Australia and North America, the number of finalists was increased to 32. Because of the gigantic task involved, the Cup is held every four years. Italy has been and is a Soccer Nation. They have won the World Cup four times. Does a multichamp have a right to participate in the games? Not in this sport. At the end of 2017, the Italian Soccer World collapsed. Italy did not qualify for Russia 2018. June will be a terrible month. When the Italian Soccer Team is involved in the World Cup, 50 million Italians watch the games
on television. This year, the number of televiewers will be much less. While watching the “foreign” games, the discussion will no doubt be on how come we are not there? We belong there. The soul searching will begin. The first reaction, as human beings, will be to blame someone. Can we blame the referees? A small minority will do so. Can we blame the coaches? Our coaches are not bad. A few of them are in great demand abroad and have been very successful. Can we blame the players? We certainly reward them financially especially the foreigners. Here is something to think about. Could we the spectators be responsible for this disaster? Our expectations are way above reality. Our patience for team and player building has ran out a long time ago. We want immediate results. If we do not have good national players we import from other countries. The problem is, these foreign players, in the World Cup, do not play for us. They play against us. Finally, we want to win at any cost. It is time to stop, reflect and plan for the future. If we do our job well, the reward will come four years from now. The destination: Qatar 2022.
Nerone not to pursue Poppea and ends up committing suicide. Katherine Pracht portrays Empress Octavia (Ottavia) who plots against Poppea and is forced into exile. She is set adrift and sings a haunting farewell to Rome, her homeland and friends.
June 2018 – A month to be forgotten
MAY 2018 – PAGE 17
La Pagina Italiana Inno Nazionale Italiano
di Donato Di Pronio Di recente e precisamente il 25 ottobre 2017 è stato approvato il disegno di Legge che stabilisce che l’Inno FRATELLI D’ITALIA è l’Inno ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana. Sino a questa data è stato considerato un Inno provvisorio come stabilì il Decreto 12 ottobre 1946 del primo Presidente della neonata Repubblica Italiana, Enrico De Nicola. L’Inno (all’origine denominato Il Canto degli Italiani) fu composto dal poeta patriota Goffredo Mameli e musicato d Michele Novaro (1822-1895), anche lui un ardente patriota, in un periodo in cui l’Italia era tutta in
lotta per scacciare gli stranieri e raggiungere l’Unità. Un po’ di storia: Goffredo Mameli (nato a Genova nel 1827, morto a Roma nel 1849). La morte prematura nella difesa della Repubblica Romana gli tolse la possibilità di dare quanto il suo ingegno e il suo ardore patriottico promettevano. Publio Cornelio Scipione (235 a.C.-183 a.C.) uno dei più grandi generali di Roma, detto l’Africano per le sue vittorie in Africa contro Cartagine e per essere riuscito a sconfiggere lo stesso Annibale, vero genio militare forse il più grande dell’antichità (ricordate? giunse in Italia
Reggio fu fondata verso la metà dell’VIII secolo a.C. da coloni calcidesi. Nell’89 a.C. divenne municipium romano. Nel IV secolo d.C. divenne residenza del governatore (corrector) della Lucania e del Bruzio. Nel 61 d.C. San Paolo, nel corso dei suoi viaggi, fece tappa anche a Reggio. Subì il saccheggio dei Visigoti di Alarico nel 410 l’assedio degli Ostrogoti di Totila nel 549. Per più di cinque secoli rimase sotto il dominio dei Bizantini. Dal IX secolo, Reggio fu oggetto di ripetute incursioni e razzie da parte degli Arabi di Sicilia. Nel 1060 Reggio fu conquistata dai Normanni di Roberto il Guiscardo; venne istituito il primo arcivescovato latino. Nel 1267 posso sotto il dominio degli Angioini. Nel 1433 il re aragonese Alfonso il Magnanimo conquistò Reggio. Nel 1502 ad opera del Gran Capitano Consalvo di Cordova fu assoggettata al potere del re di Spagna, Ferdinando il Cattolico. È del 1543 il terribile saccheggio ad opera del condottiero turco Khayr al-Din come nel 1594 un altro saccheggio fu operato da Scipione Sinan Cicala. Passata sotto il governo dei Borbone, la ripresa economica avvenne nel corso del ‘700. Due tragici eventi segnarono però la storia di Reggio in questo periodo: l’epidemia di peste del 1743 e il terremoto del 1783 che causo ingentissimi danni e dovette essere praticamente ricostruita su progetto di Mori. Sotto il governo di Gioacchino Murat venne istituito il primo Liceo cittadino e furono iniziate numerose opere pubbliche. Nel 1814 Reggio ritornò sotto il dominio borbonico. Il 2 settembre
del 1847 scoppia la rivolta antiborbonica, ma la reazione del governo fu durissima: morirono Domenico Romeo ed altri, come Paolo Pellicano, Agostino e Antonino Plutino finirono in esilio. Il 21 agosto 1860 Reggio fu conquistata dai garibaldini. Il 28 dicembre 1908 Reggio venne devastata da un altro terribile sisma e dal maremoto. Della ricostruzione, lenta e difficile si occupò l’ingegnere Pietro De Nava e Giuseppe Valentino sindaco della città nel periodo compreso fra 1918 al 1923. Sotto il governo fascista fu creata la “Grande Reggio” con l’accorpamento di ben 14 comuni limitrofi ad opera del Potestà Giuseppe Genoese-Zerbi. Durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale la città fu ripetutamente bombardata. Fino a quando le truppe alleate non entrarono a Reggio. Il primo sindaco fu Priolo. Il 2 giugno 1946 a Reggio i maggiori consensi per l’elezione dell’Assemblea costituente li raccolse la Democrazia Cristiana. Fra il luglio 1970 e il settembre 1971 esplosero in città dei moti di protesta poiché il Capoluogo di Regione divenne Catanzaro.
Scoprire Reggio Calabria
Dagli anni ‘60 in poi si delineò un fenomeno di emigrazione verso il Nord Italia che si prolungò per tutti gli anni ’70. Negli anni ’80 la città attraverso una fase difficile dovuta al ripercuotersi sul tessuto sociale degli eventi legati alla cosidetta “guerra di mafia” che seminò centinaia di morti e ad inchieste giudiziarie che coinvolsero le amministazioni comunali dell’epoca. – dal sito comunale turismo.reggiocal.it
attraversando le Alpi con un esercito di 26.000 uomini e una quarantina di elefanti).
Legnano: Comune lombardo la cui fama è legata soprattutto alla battaglia del 29 maggio 1176 in cui le milizie della Lega Lombarda sconfissero le truppe di Federico Barbarossa, imperatore e re di Germania. Francesco Ferruccio (1489-1530) condottiero fiorentino al servizio di Firenze. Ferito durante una battaglia, fu finito da Fabrizio Maramaldo, un capitano di ventura, al quale gridò: < Tu uccidi un uomo morto>. Per cui Maramaldo è divenuto sinonimo di uomo vile e feroce. Balilla: Giovan Battista Perasso, il giovinetto popolano di 11 anni che il 5 dicembre 1746 diede l’avvio all’insurrezione di Genova contro gli Austriaci. Il ragazzo, gridando ai compagni CHE LINSE? (comincio?) scagliò una pietra contro un sergente che pretendeva l’aiuto dei genovesi presenti per smuovere un mortaio affondato nel fango di una via nel quartiere di Portoria. Vespri: Ricorda la rivolta del 1282 del popolo siciliano contro gli occupanti francesi. L’Aquila d’Austria: L’Aquila simbolo del potere austroungarico (nel 1849 era imperatore d’Austria Francesco Giuseppe). Pensiamo di fare cosa buona e utile trascrivere il testo integrale dell’Inno: Fratelli d’Italia, - l’Italia s’è desta, - dell’elmo di Scipio - s’è cinta la testa –
Italian songs: Top entries as of Apr. 3, 2018
1. Alvaro Soler - La Cintura Non-Mover. 5 days on the chart
2. Lo Stato Sociale - Una vita in vacanza. Non-Mover. 43 days on the chart. 3. Thegiornalisti - Questa nostra stupida canzone d’amore. Up 2 places. 14 days on the chart. 4. Ghali - Cara Italia. Down 1 place. 54 days on the chart.
5. Måneskin - Morirò da re. Down 1 place. 12 days on the chart. 6. Rudimental - These Days (feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen). Up 2 places. 59 days on the chart 7. Alice Merton - No Roots. NonMover. 83 days on the chart.
8. Cesare Cremonini - Nessuno Vuole Essere Robin. Up 1 place. 43 days on the chart. 9. Takagi & Ketra - Da sola / In the Night (feat. Tommaso Paradiso e Elisa). Down 3 places. 69 days on the chart.
10. Imagine Dragons - Next To Me. Up 5 places from #15.
11. Annalisa - Il mondo prima di te. Non-Mover. 43 days on the chart. 12. Negramaro - La prima volta. Down 2 places. 70 days on the chart. 13. Justin Timberlake - Say Something (feat. Chris Stapleton). Non-Mover. 49 days on the chart.
PAGE 18 – MAGGIO 2018
Dov’è la vittoria? - porga la chioma, - ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò. Stringiamoci a coorte, - siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò. Noi siamo da secoli - Calpesti, derisi, - perché non siam popolo, perché siam divisi – Raccolgaci un’unica - Bandiera, una speme; - di fonderci insieme già l’ora sonò. Stringiamoci a coorte, - siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò. Uniamoci, uniamoci: - l’unione e l’amore - rivelano ai popoli - le vie del Signore: giuriamo far libero - il suolo natìo; - uniti, per Dio, - chi vincer ci può? Stringiamoci a coorte, - siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò. Dall’Alpe a Sicilia, - dovunque è Legnano; - ogni nom di Ferruccio ha il core, ha la mano; i bimbi d’Italia - si chiaman Balilla, - il suon d’ogni squilla - i vespri sonò. Stringiamoci a coorte - Siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò. Son giunchi che piegano - Le spade vendute; - già l’aquila d’Austria - le penne ha perdute, il sangue dì’Italia, - il sangue Polacco - bevè col Cosacco, - ma il sen le bruciò. Stringiamoci a coorte - Siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò. Evviva l’Italia, - dal sonno s’è desta, - dell’elmo di Scipio - s’è cinta la testa Dov’è la vittoria? - Le porga la chioma, - ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò. Stringiamoci a coorte - Siam pronti alla morte, - Italia chiamò.
14. Nicky Jam & J Balvin - X. Down 2 places. 28 days on the
chart. 15. Liam Payne & Rita Ora For You (Fifty Shades Freed). Up 1 place. 61 days on the chart.
– Courtesy of itunescharts.net
Italian idioms and expressions
Tirare la corda. Literally- Pull the rope Equivalent- Don’t take things too far. Oca giuliva. Literally- Merry goose. Equivalent- Not the sharpest tool in the box. Cotto a puntino. Literally- Cooked to the small point. Equivalent- Well cooked.
Piovere a catinelle. Literally- It rains from washbasins. Equivalent- It rains cats and dogs.
Saltare I fossi per il lungo. Literally- Jump ditches the long way. Equivalent- Do it with hands tied behind the back.
Mettere la pulce nell’orecchio. Literally- Put a flea in the ear. Equivalent- Arouse somebody’s doubts.
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Vola come un’Aquila
di Blaise di Pronio Ad esso è associata la vittoria di molte competizioni. Jimmy Durante ha fondato e portato avanti la sua carriera cantandone le lodi. La vita amorosa di Cyrano è stata sofferta a causa del suo imponente e nobileesemplare. cantanti famosi Alcuni attribuiscono il merito delle loro voci formidabili alle sue caratteristiche. Altri farebbero l’impossibile pur di rimodellare quello con cui sono nati. È conosciuto con vari nomi (muso, nasone, proboscide, ecc.), ma chiamiamolo col suo vero nome, altrimenti non potremmo fiutarlo, non vi pare? Parliamo del naso.
Come voi cari lettori dovreste sapere ormai, chi scrive questo articolo è uno strenuo ammiratore di tutte le peculiari caratteristiche italiane. E per “tutte” intendo tutte. Anche quelle anatomiche. Tra le protuberanze più evidenti diventate famose nel corso della storia la più conosciuta in assoluto è il cosiddetto “naso romano”. Ciò
che distingue la versione strettamente romana di questa comune appendice umana rispetto alle altre è presto detto.
Il naso romano si differenzia per la sua lunghezza e per la presenza di una forma arcuata sul dorso come se fosse leggermente piegato. Ve ne sono esempi lampanti nella moltitudine di statue e dipinti romani. Dato che all’epoca dei Romani l’arte pittorica e scultorea veniva realizzata per le personalità al potere o appartenenti alle classi più agiate, il loro particolare naso è diventato simbolo di potere, autorità, nobiltà e valore.
Il naso romano è definito anche “aquilino” (dal termine italiano “aquila”), poiché la punta assomiglia al becco curvato di un’aquila, quest’ultima di per sé simbolo di potere, forza e determinazione. L’aquila è un animale non gregario che si crea il suo percorso e non ha nessuno che la comanda, al contrario è essa stessa al comando. Ad alcuni tale naso potrebbe non
Detti popolari: Popular sayings
Dialect-Marche: Chi ch’ha lo pane non ch’ha li denti, chi ch’ha li denti non c’ha lo pane! Literally: Who has bread doesn’t have teeth, who has teeth does not have bread. Meaning: The folk saying is suggesting that the young have teeth, but no money; the old have money, but no teeth, but it is also suggesting that ultimately life tricks everyone – the rich, the poor, the old and the young. No one wins. Dialect-Marche: La minestra senza sale no la magna mancu lu cane! Literally: A dish prepared without salt a dog does not even want! N.B. Prior to World War II salt, like other food ingredients which subsistence farmers did not themselves grow on their properties, was deemed as being rather expensive, so to save money the poorest of the poor would often omit it. Obviously,
when salt was omitted those eating the dishes would complain about their fate.
Dialect-Marche: Quello che no strozza, ngrassa. Literally: What does not kill you, makes you fat. Meaning: What does not kill you, makes you stronger.
Italian: La donna e come una bella tavola apparecchiata che tutti debbono lodare ed ammirare ma solo lei sa quelli che deve invitare. English: A woman is like a beautifully prepared table that everyone can’t help but admire, but only she knows whom she should invite.
Dialect-Molise: Chi magne da sole se straffoghe. Literally: Who eats alone, chokes. Meaning: To really enjoy one’s meal, one should eat with other people, especially those whom one cares for.
risultare attraente, tanto da far credere che esista un collegamento in coloro che lo possiedono tra elemento percepito questo erroneamente come una mancata bellezza e la tendenza a sviluppare personalità autoritarie di spicco come compensazione. Sarà proprio questa associazione, che rievoca la nobile bellezza classica, a far assumere al naso romano connotati positivi nella fisionomia. Per questo motivo coloro che ne possiedono uno dovrebbero andarne fieri. Vi sono numerosi esempi di personalità famose dotate di naso
Filastrocca di primavera
Filastrocca di primavera più lungo è il giorno, più dolce la sera. Domani forse tra l’erbetta spunterà la prima violetta. O prima viola fresca e nuova beato il primo che ti trova, il tuo profumo gli dirà, la primavera è giunta, è qua. Gli altri signori non lo sanno E ancora in inverno si crederanno: magari persone di riguardo, ma il loro calendario va in ritardo.
Primavera
Primavera… tutta gridi d’uccellini dentro i nidi,
aquilino. Si passa dagli imperatori romani ai maestri del Rinascimento fino ad arrivare ad Abramo Lincoln e, in tempi più recenti, a Josef Stalin e Margaret Thatcher. Non notate anche voi questa connessione ricorrente tra naso e personalità, come se ci fosse un comune denominatore alla base? In conclusione, i fortunati tra voi che possiedono un naso aquilino dovrebbero accettarlo e sfoggiarlo orgogliosamente in ogni occasione! Io lo faccio di sicuro! – Tradotto dall’inglese da Laura Duronio. tutta fiori nel vestito nuovo nuovo, fresco fresco, rosa e lieve come il pesco, per miracolo fiorito. Primavera, ridi, ridi, ridi al sole, ai fiori, ai nidi.
Coniglietti a primavera Tre coniglietti in fila breve nasini al sole, code di neve. Tre coniglietti fanno tre salti e poi rosicchiano foglie giganti. Tre coniglietti in lieta schiera danzano in tondo: è primavera!
Italy’s observance of International Workers’ Day
Italy is one of more than 80 countries worldwide that observes International Workers’ Day with a public holiday on May 1. The holiday is also known as May Day or Labor Day in Italy.
Generally, International Workers’ Day is a celebration of labor movements and left-wing movements, featuring street demonstrations and marches by working people and labor union members.
The first May Day celebration in Italy took place in 1890. It started
initially as an attempt to celebrate workers’ achievements in their struggle for their rights and for better social and economic conditions. It was abolished under the Fascist regime and restored after World War II. (During the fascist period, Festa del lavoro italiano, a festival of Italian labor, was held on Apr. 21). In 1955, the Roman Catholic Church dedicated May 1 to “Saint Joseph the Worker.” St. Joseph the patron saint of workers, craftsmen and immigrants.
E fatt’na risata
C’è una bambina che dice a un bambino: “io mi chiamo Maria e tu?” e il bambino risponde: “io no!” A scuola: “ditemi bambini, perchè Dio creò prima l’uomo e poi la donna?” e una bambina dice: “Perchè nelle cose difficili si fa prima la brutta copia e poi la bella!”
Un giorno chiesi a mio padre se potevo andare a pattinare sul lago ghiacciato. Lui mi disse di aspettare qualche giorno, quando avrebbe fatto più caldo!
Un bambino americano torna a casa da scuola e con una verifica in mano grida: “aaaaaaaa” e la mamma: “francy hai preso una A” e Francy: “no, urlavo di dolore perchè ho preso una z”.
Due neonati all’ospedale, il primo al secondo: “sei maschio o femmina?” il secondo tutto contento e sorridente Risponde: “sono maschio!” e il primo richiede: “come lo sai??” e il
secondo: “ho le scarpette celesti!”.
C’era un bambino che faceva il matrimonio delle formiche sulla sua mano, quando il prete dice puoi baciare la sposa voi applaudite, il bambino applaudì e schiacciò le formiche.
- “Ho vinto il premio per il bambino più timido!” - “Che cos’è?” - “Mi vergogno un pò a dirtelo!”
Due bambini stanno parlando: - “Sai che mio padre ha tre medaglie d’oro sportive.” - “Di che cosa.” - “Una a tennis, una a calcio e una a pallavolo.” - “È un vero sportivo tuo padre.” - “No, è un ladro.”
- “Mmamma, mamma ho voglia di mangiarmi la pizza fuori” - “Tieni, prendi la pizza e vai sul terrazzo!”
Un bambino di 3 anni a sua madre: “Mamma chi è il dio del mare?” e sua madre: “Nettuno” e il bimbo: “Impottibile qualcuno deve ettere”.
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MAGGIO 2018 – PAGE 19
2018 Giro d’Italia to start for first time in Jerusalem and end in Rome
For the first time in its 101 years, the Giro d’Italia, a professional Grand Tour Cycling race, will start outside of Italy. The 2018 event will begin on Friday, May 4 in Jerusalem, Israel, with a 9.7kilometer (6-mile) individual time trial. There will be two more stages in Israel, a 167-km (104-mile) race to Tel Aviv on May 5 and a 233-km (145-mile) race to Eilat. Afterward, there will be 18 further stages in
Italy to reach the finish in Rome on Sunday, May 27. While the 167-km stage from Haifa to Tel Aviv is on predominantly a flat route, the 233-km stage from Be’er Sheva to Eilat on the Red Sea is going to be a hot and long affair for the professional road bicycle racers going through the Negev desert. Following a rest day on May 7 in Catania (Sicily), the riders face three stages in Sicily. The fourth
stage on May 8 is a 191-km ride from Catania to Caltagirone and the fifth stage on May 9 is a 152-km ride from Agrigento to Santa Ninfa. Both routes are on hilly surfaces. The last stage in Sicily on May 10, from Caltanissetta to Mount Etna, is 163-km and is on a mountainous course. For a look at the entire Giro d’Italia schedule, visit: giroditalia.it/en/route. The 2017 winner was Dutch cy-
May 1 marks the beginning of the Sagra di Sant’Efisio in Cagliari and neighboring towns in the Italian region of Sardinia. The festival honors the martyred saint who, ac-
cording to legend, saved the city from a plague in 1652. It is one of the largest and most colorful religious festivals in the world, lasting four days and covering several
towns in the vicinity of Cagliari. Every May 1, the statue of Sant’Efisio is carried on a 17th century gold-plated coach drawn by oxen from the church in Stampace, the site where the saint was kept prisoner before he was beheaded in 303. The coach is accompanied by the “Guardiania,” who wear black top hats and tails, and play the music on “launeddas” (traditional Sardinian pipes). The statue passes through the flower-lined streets of Cagliari’s Via Roma (the ritual is called “sa ramadura”) and is greeted by sirens of the port’s ships. The procession then travels around the Gulf of Cagliari through the towns of La Maddalena, Su Loi, Sarroch, Villa San Pietro and Pula, which hold small festivals featuring their own traditional costumes. The procession ends in Nora, where Sant’Efisio was killed. On May 4, the statue starts to make its way back to Cagliari, guided by the faithful carrying torches.
Sagra di Sant’Efisio celebrated in Sardinia
All of those events take place at the Italian Community Center unless otherwise indicated. Order Sons of Italy in America/ Grand Lodge of Illinois & Wisconsin Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence Banquet Sunday, May 6 at noon. Roma Lodge, Racine. UNICO Scholarship & Awards Banquet Tuesday, May 15. Starts at 6 p.m.
Pompeii Women’s Club May Crowning Banquet Wednesday, May 30. Starts at 6 p.m.
41st annual Festa Italiana Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22 Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
PAGE 20 – MAY 2018
clist Tom Dumoulin, who races for UCI WorldTeam Sunweb. He was the first Dutch racer to win the Giro d’Italia and went on to become the world’s individual champion.
Lazio town celebrates ‘Wedding of the Trees’ on May 8
Since 1432, the town of Vetralla in northern Lazio, Italy, celebrates the Sposalizio dell’Albero (the Wedding of the Trees) on May 8. Costumed dancers cavort to the music of the town band, flag throwers perform and horsemen bearing bouquets of yellow Scotch Broom gallop around the clearing in the forest atop Monte Fogliano. After these opening acts, the mayor, wearing a tri-color sash, performs the symbolic “wedding” between two giant oaks that are decorated with veils and flower garlands. To authenticate the occasion, a notary’s act attesting the union is read and signed by those present. Who is invited to this unusual but historic wedding? On the grandstand under the giant oaks, there are the town officials, some VIP guests, the Passionist priests who live in the neighboring monastery and normally several inquiring foreign visitors. The ceremony revives Vetrella’s sovereignty over the forests and continues the right of each citizen to a cubic meter of firewood annually. It is believed to be the world’s oldest and most genuine festa ecologica (green or environmental festival). A free picnic lunch is served at the conclusion!
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