ITALIAN TIMES THE
Published 11 times annually by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com JUNE 2018 • VOL. 40, NO. 1
NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WI Permit No. 5716
Become a member of the Italian Community Center and you will receive home delivery of this publication. Your address label will be placed here.
– CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED –
‘A Taste of Italy’ provides Fr. John Baumgardner to comforting relief after be Principal Celebrant of lousy wintry weather week Festa Mass on July 22
While it wasn’t exactly summer time weather, many Taste of Italy guests chose to enjoy their food in the Italian Community Center’s Courtyard. After all the lousy wintry weather during the week leading up to the event (including wet heavy snow and freezing rain), the sunshine, low 60s temperature and variety of delicious Italian food on the menu at the event on Apr. 22 provided comforting relief for the guests. Among those who enjoyed their food selections in the courtyard were Kathy McEwen and Carmine Forte. Look for many more photos, a Taste of Italy wrap-up story and messages of thanks to donors and volunteers on pages 14-19. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
Father John Baumgardner has accepted an invitation from the Festa Italiana Mass and Procession Committee to be the Principal Celebrant of the Festa Mass on Sunday, July 22. The Festa Mass, free and open to all persons interested in attending, begins at 11 a.m. in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on the Summerfest Grounds. The gate to the amphitheater will open at 10:15 a.m. Fr. Baumgardner will become an Assistant Pastor at several East Side Milwaukee churches including Old St. Mary Catholic Church and Three Holy Women Parish – St. Hedwig, St. Rita and Holy Rosary – on July 1. He will be part of the pastoral team that is led by the Very Rev. Timothy Kitzke, the longtime Chaplain of the Italian Community Center (ICC). The ICC is, of course, the nonprofit Italian organization that hosts Festa Italiana. July 22 has special meaning for Fr. Baumgardner. Not only is it the date that he presides over the Festa Mass, but it also marks the one year anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. “We’re very excited to have him as the Principal Celebrant of our 41st Festa Mass,” said Sister Mary
Italian Community Center Room ‘Naming Rights’ explained First donor: Rose Purpero and her family
by Susie Christiansen ICC Fundraising Chairperson The Italian Community Center was presented with an offer by a family of longtime ICC members to purchase naming rights to one of the rooms at the ICC. A sum of money would be donated to the ICC, and the purchase and installation of the beautiful lettering would be split between the family and the ICC.
The Fundraising Committee was faced with two tasks: Considering the current offer and creating a set of rules and conventions necessary to manage this offer and future offers of the same kind. The committee discussed all of the details and possible issues behind naming rights, and after much consideration and effort, it made an official recommendation to the Board of Directors and to the Gen-
eral Membership. A set of specific guidelines was created, specifying length of rights and the cost of each term, eligibility requirements, possible rooms and walls, payment requirements, signage standards and right of first refusal. How the funds will be used Since the ICC now has a plan in
Summer Courtyard Music schedule announced
Bartolotta Catering, joined by its sponsoring partner, Milwaukee Brewing Company, has announced the schedule for the summer 2018 “Live Music in the Courtyard” at the Italian Community Center. The schedule includes acts encompassing a wide variety of musical genres including jazz, blues, R&B, rock and roll, classic rock, Americana, bluegrass and rollicking piano. There will be free admission. Seating is on a first-come-first-
served basis. The music begins at 6:30 p.m., however, Cafe La Scala’s staff will be on hand to take food and beverage orders starting at 5 p.m. The shows will go on rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the music will be brought indoors. The shows are mostly on Tuesday and Thursday nights, the only evenings that Cafe La Scala will be open starting June 1 through Sept. 10. There is an exception to the rule, when on Monday, Aug. 27, the
Please turn to page 8
legendary blues band, The Bel-Airs, will perform. At this time, there are no shows scheduled on Tuesday, June 24, between June 27 and July 9 (due to Summerfest at nearby Maier Festival Park), Thursday, July 26, Tuesday, Aug. 7. Thursday, Aug. 23, Tuesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 13.
June lineup The first show of the summer, on Thursday, June 7, will feature Please turn to page 11
Fr. John Baumgardner
Louise Balistreri and Salvatore Lo Coco, managers of the Mass and Procession Committee. “He is an outstanding young man. We are pleased that he accepted our invitation to join us to celebrate the essence of Festa Italiana, the Mass and procession.” A complete story on Fr. Baumgardner will appear in our next edition, the July/August Festa Italiana issue, which will be available in late June.
Cosa c’è dentro? What’s inside?
President’s message
page 2
Festa announces acts on 3 more stages, including flagthrowers from Italy’s Lazio region page 3
VIP Day for disabled set for Saturday, July 21 page 4
See fast-paced futsal tourney at Festa
page 5
Donations and volunteers sought for Festa Mass page 6
Festa announces an even better 50/50 raffle page 7 Festa admission deals
Looking for your Festa photos (1978-2017)
page 7
page 7
Spang family honors Charles and Rosalie Purpero with naming rights donation page 8
Win premium parking spot for summer festivals in Tradizione Vivente’s fundraising raffle page 10 Fun event to bring in new members is June 13 page 12 Pallino Magnets win ICC’s spring bocce championship
UNICO organizations award scholarships Rosalie Giamo is “Angel of the Year”
Getting Azzuri back to World Cup in 2022
page 13 page 20 page 20 page 22
A message from Dean Cannestra, Italian Community Center President Anyone who thinks true volunteer spirit no longer exists needs only to come to the Italian Community Center these days for a refresher course. First, we had an extremely successful “A Taste of Italy” on Apr. 22. That, of course, is one of our key fundraising events. This year’s Taste was planned and executed by our volunteer chairpersons Valorie Sanfilippo Schleicher, Christina Ziino and Marie Andaloro Lieber, who did an excellent job.
We had something like 200 volunteers operating the food and beverage booths, working in the kitchen with the Bartolotta Catering staff, selling the tickets (food, beverage and both raffles), and working security. In addition, a lot of individuals and businesses volunteered to donate cash and/or product to the event. (There’s a “Thank you to the donors” column in this issue.)
Now, we have a few dozen volunteers working day in and day out to do the planning and organizing for our 41st Festa Italiana, July 2022. Virtually every area of Festa is receiving attention at this time from our volunteer managers. I really can’t say enough about our volunteers. They are truly ded-
Deadline for 2018 Festa issue
All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in the July/August Festa Italiana 2018 issue of The Italian Times must be submitted to the editor no later than Sunday, June 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.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
631 E. Chicago St. Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916 (414) 223-2180 Published 11 times annually
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.
icated and hard-working individuals. My sincerest thanks go out to all of you! With all the work being put in for Festa Italiana, we still need to have everyone who is reading this message working to promote the event among family members, friends and co-workers, talk about everything that is happening at Festa on social media, buy advance admission tickets, buy raffle tickets and pray for three beautiful summer days! There’s a lot you can learn about our Festa by reading this issue of The Italian Times or by going to our website, FestaItaliana.com. More volunteers are still needed. We’re still looking for people who can help with set-up and tear down of the festival. The Festa Mass is looking for choir members and ushers. The Festa Patrol is looking for volunteers. We can always use people to staff the booths that are volunteer-operated. If you are able to help, send an email to cpalmer@iccmilwaukee.com or call 414-2232180.
Live music in the Courtyard Live music returns to our Courtyard this summer starting June 7. Bartolotta Catering at the Italian Community Center and its sponsoring partner, Milwaukee Brewing Company, have announced the lineup. The full lineup is in this issue and appears on the ICC’s website, ICCMilwaukee.com. I hope you support the series. Come as often as you can. Enjoy the food, your favorite beverages and the variety of music. You can’t beat spending a summer evening in our beautiful Courtyard listening and/or dancing to your favorite music. Admission is still free!
Thanks to Rose Spang and family As you may have heard or read, the ICC has implemented a naming rights program for the various rooms in our building. This is a fundraising activity. All of the details are in this issue. We have already had one family step forth to make a donation for the Board Room. This donation was made by Rose Purpero Spang, her
The 41st Festa
late husband, Joseph, and their children in memory of Charles Purpero and his wife, Rosalie (Emanuele) Purpero. Charles and Rosalie were the parents of Rose. On behalf of the ICC Board and our members, I want to thank Rose and her family for their generous donation. We hope other families will come forward and make a donation for naming rights. – Dean Cannestra ICC President Festa General Chairman
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
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.
PAGE 2 – JUNE 2018
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Festa announces acts on three more stages including Italian flag throwing group from Lazio region
Since last month, when Festa Italiana announced the entertainers on the Harley-Davidson Stage and the Miller Lite Stage, it has gone on to name the acts performing on three other stages and added one new act to the Miller Lite Stage lineup. The 41st Festa will be Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22 on the Summerfest Grounds (Maier Festival Park). Here’s a look at the entertainment on the three additional stages and the addition to the Miller Lite Stage. Acts on the Cucina/Johnson Controls Stage will include Èvero (featuring R. Stuart Mitchell) and Enzo Scarano. There will also be the Italian Idol contest nightly on this stage. Making its debut at Festa Italiana will be the flag-throwing troupe, Sbandieratori Ducato Caetani from Sermoneta, Italy. This troupe will perform on the court of the Colosseum Stage. Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee, Anita’s Dance Company and the Festa Italiana Marching Band led by Ron DeVillers on also performing there. The Children’s Stage performers will include the Children’s Italian Dance Group, the younger members of Anita’s Dance Company, Illusionists Rick & Bruce Present “It’s Magic,” and Michelle’s Magical Poodles. The addition to the Miller Lite Stage lineup is Swing Explosion with vocalist Pete Sorce. This will mark the first appearance for Èvero featuring R. Stuart Mitchell, a classical/Italian opera act. Mitchell is a lyric tenor who has performed as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Bel Canto Chorus, Wisconsin Philharmonic Orchestra, Bach Chamber
Sbandieratori Ducato Caetani from Sermoneta, Italy
R. Mitchell Stuart
Choir and Orchestra, MAMCCO (MKE), Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Racine Symphony Orchestra and other symphonic and artistic organizations. As an opera performer, he has performed principle roles with the Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, La Musica Lirica
Harder Funeral Home
JAMES T. GUARDALABENE 18700 W. Capitol Drive
“Three generations of my family serving yours.” www.Guardalabene.com Phone: (262) 781-8350
Proud sponsor of the Festa Italiana Mass since 2002.
• AN ASSOCIATE OF THE HARDER FUNERAL HOME SINCE 2010. • Personally providing the services you have come to expect at the Harder Funeral Home or your church or cemetery chapel. • Funeral pre-planning and Title 19 expertise. • Longtime member of the Italian Community Center. • Not associated with Schmidt & Bartelt – Guardalabene & Amato
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Opera, Windfall Theatre, Cornerstone University, Music By The Lake, Concord Chamber Orchestra and South Shore Chorale. Scarano, who was born in Salerno (Campania), Italy, has been performing professionally since he was a teenager when he sang in many piazzas (town squares) throughout Italy. In the late 1980s, he formed a production company and collaborated with Walt Disney Company in a traveling production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Scarano collaborated and consulted for various Italian television programs and large-screen theatrical events. In 1993, he was awarded the “Telegatto” for music he wrote for the TV program “Sabato Al Circo.” The “Telegatto” is the equivalent of the “Emmy” Award. He embarked on a solo career. A tour for his first solo album, “L’Arca” brought him to the United States and Milwaukee’s Festa Italiana in 1992. His trip to Milwaukee was chronicled by Italian television and was later broadcast in Italy. The singer continues his musical career, working with several accomplished musicians. When not performing, he produces music for other artists and composes original music for documentaries.
Sbandieratori Ducato Caetani was formed on Sept. 12, 1996 to promote the ancient art of flag throwing and to participate in national and international folklore festivals. The performance of this group is based on the folklore of the return home of the Duke of Sermoneta and Captain of the Pontifician troops on Sept. 30, 1571, after the epic fight with Lepanto, who liberated the Christian world from the risk of Turkish Muslims. Look for more on this troupe in the Festa issue. The Festa Italiana Marching
Enzo Scarano (left) and his group, Breezeway
Band is comprised of members of the Ron DeVillers Band, which has been performing in the Festa procession for the past 15 years. The band plays mainly Italian marching selections for the procession. After the benediction, the band plays the “Star Spangled Banner” (the American National Anthem) and “Inno di Mameli” (The Italian National Anthem) to conclude the program. Expect the band to perform a concert of mostly Italian music when it gives its only Coloseum Stage performance on Sunday, July 22. These are all skilled musicians who will enhance the Italian flair of this year’s Festa. Look for articles on Tradizione Vivente, Anita’s Dance Company, Swing Explosion with Pete Sorce, and the Children’s Stage acts in the Festa issue.
Festa Italiana Marching Band
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 3
38th annual VIP Day for disabled set for Saturday, July 21
Festa Italiana will host its 38th annual VIP Day for the disabled on Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Our gratitude is extended to our sponsors, Goodwill Industries, Summerfest and the Italian Community Center,” said VIP Day Manager Bill Jennaro. During the three-hour time period on July 21, Festa provides persons with disabilities and their caregivers the following deals. Each VIP Day guest and a caregiver can, with a special pre-ordered advance ticket, attend Festa for free starting at 11 a.m., a halfhour before the grounds officially
open to the public. These free VIP Day admission tickets will be accepted until 2 p.m. VIP Day tickets are available at the Festa office at the Italian Community Center during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The last day to secure these tickets at the ICC is Thursday, July 12. VIP tickets can also be ordered by mail. Be sure to include the name of the VIP and one guest, phone number, the type of disability and indicate if you may require any special needs for the disability. With your request, include a self-
VIP Day ticket order form
Name of VIP guest(s): ______________________________________ –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Type of Disabilities: ________________________________________ –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Name of Caregiver(s): ______________________________________
Mailing address: ___________________________________________ City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________ Phone No.: _______________________________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________ All VIP Day ticket orders must be received by Friday, July 6 to ensure timely processing. Make sure to include a self-addressed envelope with significant postage for the tickets that will be sent to you. Mail your request to: VIP Day, Festa Italiana, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For any questions, contact 414-223-2180 or email office@iccmilwaukee.com
addressed, stamped envelope so your tickets can be processed on a timely basis. Proper postage is required. Send the request to: VIP Day c/o Festa Italiana, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. The cut-off date for all mail orders is Friday, July 6. A ticket order form accompanies this article. For group VIP ticket orders, please email Constance Palmer at cpalmer@iccmilwaukee.com or you may call her at 414-223-2808. She will make the arrangements for the pickup of group orders. During the VIP Day hours, food vendors will have special offers on two food items. Each vendor will have those items plus soda for half price, courtesy of Festa Italiana. In addition, each VIP will also be eligible to pick up free fresh fruit at the Catalano Fruit stand in the Miller Lite Area. A Milwaukee area
fruit wholesaler, who wishes to remain anonymous, is donating the fruit.
Please note: This year, Festa asks that caregivers provide each VIP guest with an adhesive name tag listing the following: 1). Name of guest. 2). Name of the group with which the guest is attending. 3). The mobile phone number for the responsible party. This information is essential when a VIP gets lost from his/her group.
VIP guests that arrive in groups can be dropped off and picked up near the Mid Gate on Harbor Dr. There will be vehicle parking available for $5 in the ICC lot and Summerfest Lot P until 2 p.m. “We’re looking forward to a great turnout of the disabled in our community and presenting to them all that Festa Italiana has to offer,” Jennaro said.
Last chance to get your online $7 Festa ticket deal comes June 18-24
You’ve heard the saying: “If you snooze, you lose.” If you missed the opportunities to get the bargain $7 admission Festa Italiana tickets in the online-only offers of April and May, you still have one final chance in June. These are the details you need to know to take advantage of Festa’s $7 for 7 Days’ online ticket deal. During the week of June 1824, visit the Festa’s 2018 website – https://festaitaliana.com, click on the tickets tab and follow the instructions.
FESTA ITALIANA 2018 BOCCE TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION FORM
The $7 promotion ticket will save you $3 off the price of a regular 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. Remember the dates: June 1824 and the website: festaitaliana.com. Don’t snooze and lose out on this ticket deal.
Editor looking for writers to help with Festa issue stories
Tom Hemman, editor of The Italian Times, is desparately 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 all of the writers that they will receive tickets for Festa Italiana, July 20-22, on the Summerfest grounds,” Hemman said.
41st Annual Tournament – Sunday, July 22 at 2 p.m. • Entrance Fee: $50 per four player team. • Single Elimination with Consolation Round. • First Place – $250, Second Prize: $150, Third Prize: $100.
TEAM NAME: ______________________________________________________________
TEAM SPONSOR: __________________________________________________________
TEAM CAPTAIN: ___________________________________________________________
ONLY ONE CHECK PER TEAM, PLEASE! MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND MAIL TO TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR, Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Any questions, please feel free to contact John Alioto at pastaman31@aol.com or 414-745-7523. FEE INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY SUNDAY FESTA ADMISSION TICKETS, WHICH WILL BE MAILED TO THE TEAM CAPTAIN UPON RECEIPT OF TEAM “PRE-PAID” REGISTRATION AND COMPLETION OF THIS FORM BY JULY 12. TOURNAMENT IS PLAYED RAIN OR SHINE.
PAGE 4 – JUNE 2018
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Fast-paced futsal tournament returning to Festa on July 21
by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Futsal, a variation of the game of soccer that is taking the world by storm, is back in the lineup for the fifth consecutive year at Festa Italiana. An eight-team tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 21 starting at noon on the sports courts adjacent to the Colosseum Stage. Nomad World Pub, 1401 E. Brady St., Milwaukee, is serving
again as the sponsor of the tournament. The pub is well known for its extensive beer list, live soccer, trivia, live music and happy hour. Festa’s Futsal Manager Mike Palmisano said, “The skill level of the players will be Reserve Division and higher with some professionals as well. What this means for people who might be watching the matches for the first time is that the action is fast-paced and the players are highly skilled athletes.”
These photos are from Festa’s 2017 tournament. FC Palermo, the tournament champion, is featured in both photos in the black and pink jersey. (Times photos by John Ferraro and Tom Hemman)
Eight area teams will compete for the “Coppa Festa Italiana Futsal Championship” trophy. The reigning champion, FC Palermo, coached by Sal Carini and sponsored by Papa Luigi’s, plans to defend its title. Carini, who is a longtime member of the Italian Community Center, expects the seven other teams to be gunning for his FC Palermo team because it not only won last year’s championship, but has captured the title each of the four times the tournament has been played.
2018 COPPA FESTA ITALIANA TORNEO SIGN-UP & FUTSAL RELEASE AGREEMENT 1st Place: $250, 2nd Place: $100, 3rd Place: $50
TEAM NAME: ___________________________________________________________________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________ Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________ Age: ______ Initial: _____________
RELEASE AGREEMENT. The person named on this release form (hereafter referred to as “I”) wishes to use the Summerfest facilities (the “Facility” or “Facilities”) of Festa Italiana, Inc. (hereafter Festa) at the Summerfest Grounds on Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Festa, the Facility and its employees wish to ensure the fullest extent possible that they are not sued or held liable for injuries sustained by users of the Facility. I make this release and agreement on my behalf and on behalf of anyone who would be able to sue if I were injured while using or attending the Facility. In return for being allowed to use the Facility, I agree and acknowledge as follows: 1). Use of the Facility carries with it some risk of serious injury, including even in rare cases death. The risks include, but are not limited to those caused by equipment, the Facilities, staff mistakes and actions of other users, over exertion, and collision with other person(s), equipment, fixtures or other parts of the Facility; 2). I assume all risk of using the Facility; 3). I understand that the Facility and its employees are relying upon the agreements and representations I herein make. 4). I release Festa, the Facility and its employees from any and all claims, including negligence and claims relating to personal injury or property, arising out of my use or attendance at the Facility; and 5). I have carefully read this document and understand it. If you have any questions related to team sign-up or this agreement, please contact Festa Futsal Manager Mike Palmisano at 414-688-7547 or at mpalmisano@dcmigroup.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES
This is a “5 v. 5” playoff, meaning there will be four players and a goalie on the court for each team during each match. There will be three officials for each match. The championship team will receive $250 cash prize in addition to the traveling trophy. The runnerup and the consolation division winner will receive $100. Medals will be given to the players on the top three teams. Palmisano anticipates that the champion will be crowned between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Teams that are interested in participating in the tournament are asked to visit the Festa website – https://festaitaliana.com – go to “Activities” tab, click on “Futsal” and download the registration form. The form must be emailed to Palmisano at mpalmisano@dcmigroup.com. The same form also accompanies this article. In futsal, the field (or surface) is smaller than a regulation soccer field, and the goals are smaller. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation and techniques as well as ball control and passing in small spaces. “All of this makes for fastpaced action,” Palmisano said. “With the bleacher-style seating around the court, everyone can see everything that is going on.”
Seeking photographers for Festa
Tom Hemman, editor of The Italian Times, is looking for individuals to volunteer to take pictures at Festa Italiana, Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22. Photographers must have their own camera and feel secure with taking photos in varied lighting conditions. These positions also require that the photographers have notebooks to take names of people appearing in their photos and can provide a brief description of the photos they submit to the editor. These volunteer photographers can be assured that some of their photos will appear in the September issue of The Italian Times or on the Festa Italiana website, http://festaitaliana.com. Some will be used for the marketing of future Festa Italiana celebrations. Hemman will supply interested individuals with free admission and free parking. Each photographer will be given a badge to wear to ensure the access needed to get the pictures they desire. Interested individuals should contact Hemman at: themman@iccmilwaukee.com or call 414-2232189.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 5
Committee welcomes donations to offset costs associated with Festa Mass
The Festa Italiana Mass and Procession Committee is seeking your donations to help to offset the costs associated with producing the celebration of our Mass and procession on Sunday, July 22. “We’re extremely grateful and appreciative of all the support we have received from the sponsors of the Mass and procession over the last several years,” said committee co-chairs Sister Marie Louise Balestrieri and Sal Lo Coco. “It is a very costly undertaking to convert the American Family Insurance Amphitheater from a concert venue into a place of worship.” “For the last several years, a number of people have stepped forward with individual donations to help defray those costs, and we hope that people will be similarly moved this year,” the co-chairs said. Every year, the overnight transformation of the Amphitheater is accomplished successfully
by the Mass Committee, as evidenced by comments received on a regular basis from people – including visiting clergy – who attend the Mass for the first time. The Mass and the traditional procession that follows have, since the beginning, been an essential component of Festa Italiana. Festa itself is an outgrowth of the street festivals held at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church to honor patron saints. Persons interested in making donations for the Mass and procession are advised to send checks made out to the Italian Community Center with “Festa Mass” written on the memo line. Mail those checks to the ICC at 631 E. Chicago St.,. Milwaukee 532025916. Donations by credit card can be made by calling Constance Palmer at 414-223-2808. Persons with questions are invited to call Lo Coco at 414-9619823 or 262-617-8727.
Seeking singers for Festa Italiana Mass Choir
by Denise Cifaldi Festa Mass & Procession Committee We welcome and invite singers to join their voices to this year’s Festa Choir which will provide the music for the Mass on Sunday, July 22. The choir will be rehearsing at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 5400 W. Washington Blvd., Milwaukee. Rehearsals will last two hours and music will be provided. Some hymns will be sung in Italian and Latin, but no previous knowledge of either language is necessary as language coaching is provided. The mixed choir is open to all voice parts – soprano, alto, tenor and bass. No auditions are necessary. However, previous choral experience is recommended. Maestro Michael Kamenski requests that singers participate in at least four rehearsals including a mandatory dress rehearsal. Rehearsal dates are as follows: Thursday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 14, 9:30 a.m.; Monday, July 16, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, July 17, 6:30 p.m.; and a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, July 18, 6:30 p,m.
PAGE 6 – JUNE 2018
Help the Hunger Task Force feed Milwaukee’s struggling citizens by donating nonperishable food at Festa before Mass on July 22
Festa Italiana officials are urging everyone who comes to the Mass and procession on Sunday, July 22 to bring along a minimum of three nonperishable food items for donation to the Hunger Task Force. This marks the fifth straight year that Festa and each of Milwaukee’s lakefront festivals that are part of United Ethnic Festivals (UEF) have joined Summerfest in “The Fests Feed Milwaukee” campaign. Over the course of the festival season, the goal of UEF and Summerfest is to keep the shelves of the Hunger Task Force filled with food that thousands in our community can’t afford to buy. The Hunger Task Force will collect nonperishable food as well as cash donations near the entrance to the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, just outside the South Gate and inside on the pathway to the amphitheater forecourt. Last year, Festa attended donated more than 3,100 pounds of food and made cash donations totaling $1,316.51, according to Sal
Lo Coco, Festa Mass Co-Chair. “We want to encourage all of our ICC members and all of our Festa volunteers to join the public in making these donations to help us to do our part,” Lo Coco said. “We are asking people to bring at least three nonperishable food items to help us surpass last year’s total.”
Fests Feed Milwaukee The “Fests Feed Milwaukee” campaign has been in existence each summer since 2014. “When people come together, like the United Ethnic Festivals and Summerfest have done to support this campaign, it makes a positive statement about our city. It is great for the Hunger Task Force and for the hungry people we serve,” said Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of the Hunger Task Force. The Hunger Task Force’s aim is to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and promoting social policies to achieve a hunger free community tomorrow.
Festa Committee seeks ordained religious, lay members, 1st Communicants to take part in Mass
The Mass, which is the heart of Festa Italiana, will be held on July 22 at 11 a.m. in the Marcus Amphitheater. Additional instruments will augment the choir to add to the festivity. To register to sing with the Festa Choir, please contact director Michael Kamenski by e-mail at mkamenski@saintsebs.org (please use “FESTA CHOIR” in the subject line) or by phone at 414-453-1928.
The Festa Italiana Mass Committee is well underway with Mass preparations for this year’s 41st annual Festa Mass on Sunday, July 22 at 11 a.m. The committee invites priests, deacons, brothers, eucharistic ministers and first communicants to participate. The Mass will take place at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Fr. John Baumgardner will be the Principal Celebrant.
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-
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.
Call put out for Festa Mass ushers
“We invite you to help us in this wonderful tradition,” said Sr. Marie Louise Balistreri and Salvatore Lo Coco, Mass and Procession Committee Co-Managers. “Feel free to pass this message on to parishioners.” Please contact Therese Ciofani at 414-303-9772 or e-mail her at rezmel@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in participating in the Festa Mass and procession.
There is no better time to advertise in The Italian Times than in our Festa Italiana issue. Itʼs our biggest and most read issue of the year! For ad size and cost details and the deadline, call (414) 223-2189 or send an email to themman@ iccmilwaukee.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Festa to have a 50/50 raffle but better
While the usual 50/50 raffle results in one ticket buyer splitting the pot with the raffle’s organizing body, Festa Italiana organizers are making your chances of winning even better. This will result in not only one winner taking 50% of the cash from ticket sales, but two others winning smaller cash prizes! Here’s the deal – from the thousands of people who buy Festa’s 50/50 raffle tickets – available for $5 each or 3 for $10 – the first prize winner will receive exactly 50% of
all of the dollars collected. The “even better” part comes next: Festa officials will draw another ticket for second prize. The buyer of this ticket will win $500! Then, one more ticket will be drawn, resulting in a third-prize winner getting a $100 cash prize! The drawing will be held live at Festa at 10 p.m. on Sunday night, July 22 on the Miller Lite Stage. Winners need not be present. The first-prize winning sum is likely to be quite hefty. Last year’s
We’re looking for your best Festa pictures (1978 – 2017) for Festa display
by Susie Christiansen and Christine Conley Festa’s Italian Heritage Exhibit Managers The Heritage Photo Committee is seeking photographs that capture the memories, the highlights, and the pride and the passion of 40 years of Festa Italiana in Milwaukee. We welcome photographs that date back to our first Festa in 1978, or our 40th Festa just last year, or some time in between. We will display some of the photographs at Festa Italiana 2018 as part of the Italian Heritage Exhibit, and we intend to create a gallery of postersize enlargements to grace the walls in the Italian Community Center Bocce Room. We are asking members to submit photos sharing special Festa memories, particularly those photos that capture spontaneous, heartfelt moments – moments spent with family and friends, moments celebrating the music, the people, the food, the culture, and the spiritual experiences that symbolize Festa Italiana. Countless memories have been made at Festa Italiana – allow us to display those cherished memories at the Italian Community Center.
Desired photo format Send either a high quality photograph or digital photo. We are going to enlarge your photograph to a size ranging from 11 x 17 to 24 x 36 inches. The possibility of using your photo will depend on the quality of the photo or scan that you submit. If you have digital pictures, please send scans in a high-resolution JPEG format to Christine Conley at cconley@iccmilwaukee.com. Mail photos to: Italian Community Center, Heritage Photos, 631 E Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202, Attn: C. Conley Please include: 1). Name, phone number and email address of the person submitting the photograph. 2). The people shown in the photograph. 3). The year (or approximate year) the picture was taken. 4). What event, show, procession, booth is shown in the picture, if it may be unclear. By submitting your photo, you give the Italian Community Center permission to use your photo in displays or publications of the ICC or Festa Italiana. We look forward to sharing your memories.
winner, Jacqueline Houlihan of Chicago, IL, won $3,130. With the two additional cash prizes, Festa Raffle Manager Liz Ceraso said she expects the first-prize winner’s share to be even larger this year. People who want to buy raffle tickets before Festa starts can come to the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee. The tickets will be sold at the reception desk during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Festa Raffle Committee will
also have the tickets available on some of the evenings of the “Live Music in the Courtyard” series, hosted by Bartolotta Restaurants and presented by Milwaukee Company. The series schedule can be found on the ICC website, iccmilwaukee.com, and in this issue. During Festa, July 20-22, raffle tickets will be sold at locations across the grounds. The winners’ names will be published in the September issue of The Italian Times.
Persons attending the 41st Festa Italiana will have several opportunities to attend the festival for free. Please read the details in this article carefully. Festa will take place from Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park (the Summerfest grounds). Festival hours are: 3 p.m. to midnight, July 20 and 11:30 a.m. to midnight, July 21 and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.. July 22.
everyone on opening day – Friday, July 20 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Festa admission deals
Pre-Festa deal By ordering advance tickets, you can save $3 per ticket. These tickets can be purchased online at http://festaitaliana.com and at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, for $10 through Thursday, July 19. Advance tickets can also be ordered by using the form appearing with this article. Please note: The deadline for ordering mail order tickets is Friday, July 6. During the three days of the festival, gate admission will be $13. Everyday children’s deal: Children, 12 and younger, are admitted for free all three days when accompanied by an adult.
Opening day special There will be free admission for
Saturday deals Please read carefully these opportunities for Saturday, July 21. Festa Italiana is once again having its VIP Day program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. During this time frame, Festa offers free admission for persons with disabilities with one care-giver. However, the free admission voucher must be obtained on or before Friday, July 13 at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., a block west of the Summerfest grounds. Those individuals who have not secured these free admission voucher (valid during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. time frame) will need to purchase a regular admission ticket ($13) unless they take advantage of one of the other Saturday promotions during the time frames listed below. The first free admission opportunity on Saturday, July 21 runs from noon to 2 p.m. After watching the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds dazzling performing along Milwaukee’s lakefront, come to Festa for free from 4 to 5 p.m. Make it a completely enjoyable day with the fabulous Please turn to page 11
ORDER YOUR MONEY-SAVING ADVANCE TICKETS TO FESTA ITALIANA 2018
Name(s) ___________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________________________________
Phone ________________ Email _______________________________ I/we want to order _____ advance tickets @ $10.00 each.
Total amount enclosed: $______________________________________
Payment by check, money order and credit card accepted.
Credit Card No. _____________________________________________
Credit Card Expiration Date ____________________________________
Mail this form with your payment to Festa Italiana, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Checks or money orders are payable to Festa Italiana. Your advance tickets will be mailed to you. Requests for advance tickets must be received no later than July 6, 2018.
FUNERAL and CREMATION SERVICES
Most of us plan for the possible . . . few of us prepare for the inevitable. Take time to talk to family and friends about the things that matter to you and the memories you would like to share ... Your Lifestory.
Let us help you get the conversation started. Making plans for your final wishes now will help you get on with life. Two locations 2486 S. KINNICKINNIC AVENUE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53207 1901 N. FARWELL AVENUE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53211
414-276-5122
SuminskiFuneralHome.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES
2663 N. Holton St., Milwaukee
Scarvaci Florists & Gift Shoppe Your Wedding and Holiday Floral & Gift Headquarters
Balloons • Stuffed Animals • Personal Service Citywide, Suburban & County Delivery
Visa • MasterCard • American Express • Discover
PLEASE ORDER EARLY TO GUARANTEE DELIVERY!
Ann Vollmer-Goralski
414-562-3214
If no answer, please leave message. JUNE 2018 – PAGE 7
ICC Room ‘Naming Rights’ explained
from page 1 place with the Bartolotta Restaurants, which assists in remodeling the building and maintaining it going forward, and a plan in place with the Milwaukee Ballet, whose purchase of 1.8 acres has helped to lower the mortgage, the Fundraising Committee recommended that the money taken in from this fundraiser be designated to the specific committees at the Italian Community Center. This fundraiser will fund the community within, making it possible for us to offer more to our members than simply a beautiful building. With this fundraiser, and we hope it doesn’t end with this first offer, we will now have the money necessary to celebrate this beauti-
ful culture and offer classes in Italian music, culture, food, and wine on a constant basis – and hold events that bring us together as a family – along with the pleasure of charging our members only a nominal amount, as opposed to charging our members almost the same price we charge the public to attend events here. We have to increase and enhance that feeling of community here. This specific fundraiser is for the members, for their enjoyment, and for the wonderful committees who work tirelessly to preserve our Italian culture and offer our members a good time. Silver Leaf Signs created and installed the lettering for our first naming rights contract.
Rose Purpero Spang family makes 1st naming right donation Rose Purpero Spang has named the Board Room after her parents, Charles Biagio Purpero and Rosalie Emanuele Purpero, for three years, and has donated $5,000 to the Italian Community Center. We are very excited to accomplish our first naming rights and look forward to handing over some money to our committees so that they may use it for our enjoyment and to foster the Italian culture here at the ICC. After we deduct money for the lettering and deduct money to redesign those donation plaques that were previously on the walls into a beautiful display, the following Committees will benefit:
• 20% – Culture Committee • 20% – Membership Committee • 10% – Avanti Committee • 10% – Italian Language Committee • 10% – Carnevale • 10% – Christmas Party • 20% – Miscellaneous (ICC scholarships, Italian study, etc.) We are excited that the room was named in time for “A Taste of Italy,” and we hope it inspires others to name the rooms at the ICC after their loved ones. We would like to continue to bring in funds so that our hard-working committees can really begin to advocate for our members and keep them entertained and happy and compel our members to want to remain members and to want to spend their time at our beautiful center.
Spang family provides naming rights donation to honor Charles and Rosalie Purpero
by Thomas Hemman Times Editor “I wanted to honor my father and my mother,” said Rose Purpero Spang, referencing the donation that she and her family made to acquire naming rights for the board room at the Italian Community Center. Charles Biagio Purpero and Rosalie Emanuele Purpero were among the youngest children of immigrants who voyaged from Sant’Agata, Sicily, to the United States, eventually settling in Milwaukee’s old Third Ward starting in 1900. The couple was wed in Milwaukee on Oct. 2, 1920. They became parents to five children, Phillip, Anthony, Caroline, Rose, and Sam. Phillip and Sam are now deceased, but Caroline Besasie, Anthony Purpero and Rose Spang are still very active members of the ICC. Charles established a trucking
Gloria Italiano donates her Pinocchio bilingual translation book to ICC
The family of Rose and the late Joseph Spang purchased naming rights for the Board Room at the Italian Community Center to honor Charles Biagio Purpero and his wife, Rosalie Emanuele Purpero. Rose Spang (left) and Ginamarie Spang are standing
business in 1919, which evolved into the highly successful excavating and grading business known as C.W. Purpero, Inc. The company was incorporated with the State of Wisconsin in 1949. Charles was recognized by the Wisconsin Excavating & Grading Association as its “Excavator of the Year” in 1973. Today, the company is run by the third generation members of the Purpero family has gained recognition as a leader in its field.
During the April 19 general membership meeting, ICC member Gloria Italiano presented to the Center copies of her book translation (with bilingual Italian- English text) of Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. She is a retired teacher who taught at the University of Florence and is the author of many books and articles on Linguistics. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
PAGE 8 – JUNE 2018
After 64 years of marriage, Rosalie died in October of 1984. Charles passed away on Jan. 11, 1989. Both are entombed at Holy Cross Cemetery. “My parents were great people,” added Rose. “They were outstanding parents and important members of Milwaukee’s Italian community. They came here with practically nothing, but through their determination, they became successful members of the community. They helped to pave the way for their children and many others
on each side of the memorial display, which includes the memorial lettering, three photos and a recognition given to Charles Purpero by the Wisconsin Excavating & Grading Association. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
in the Italian community to prosper.” The donation made to acquire the Purpero naming rights was officially presented to the ICC by Rose Purpero Spang, her late husband, Joseph, and their children, Ginamarie Spang, Rosemarie Pankow, Annmarie Donahue and Joseph Charles Spang. Ginamarie Spang said, “Our hope is that this donation will inspire other members of the Italian community to donate to the ICC to acquire naming rights in honor of their parents or grandparents.” As ICC members probably know Gina is a past president of the ICC, having served two terms (2012-2014). “When I think about my father, I think about his great entrepreneurial spirit.” Rose said. “We grew up on Jefferson Street in the old Third Ward, and in our neighborhood, there were many individuals like my father, who wanted to experience the success they had dreamed about in Sicily before coming to America.” She then rattled
off the names of several of those families: Catalano, Glorioso, Jennaro, Palmisano, Dragotta, Maniaci, Sanfilippo, Pipia, Marchese, Maglio and Machi. Rose added that when the ICC Board moved to establish the naming rights program, she knew immediately that it was something she had to do to recognize her parents and support the ICC. Throughout the years, the children and grandchildren of Charles and Rosalie Purpero are on the short list of the greatest supporters of the ICC in its 40-year history. In addition to their financial support, they have been active dedicated volunteers. “The ICC is our home,” Rose said. “All of us should stand up and show our support. It is something my parents would have wanted us to do. It is with great pride that we make this donation to honor my parents, my children’s grandparents and show our support for an organization that is so important in our lives.”
THE ITALIAN TIMES
THE ITALIAN TIMES
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 9
Tradizione Vivente announces parking spot fundraiser to aid its 2019 trip to Italy and region of Sicily
by Susie Christiansen In June 2019, the members of Tradizione Vivente (the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee) will travel to Italy including the region of Sicily, to study dance, specifically Italian folk dancing. The dancers will shadow Italian and Sicilian folk dance groups, learning from them, and hopefully performing with them.
We are embarking on this trip to immerse ourselves in the music, traditions, dances, and language, which will only enhance and improve our Italian dance group and intensify our passion for the Italian culture. To be among the people, listening to their music, dancing with them, studying their costumes, and exchanging ideas will no doubt reflect in our performances when we return to Milwaukee. The dance group has been and will continue to fundraise until members leave, constantly pursuing different ways to earn the money needed to participate in this cultural experience. The Italian Community Center has most generously donated an ICC parking spot to the dance group, so that they may raffle it off for use during the upcoming Summer 2018. The very lucky raffle winner will have sole use of that parking spot for the entire summer. Tradizione Vivente members would like to express their tremendous gratitude to the ICC. Buy one raffle ticket or buy six. Tickets are $10 each or six for $50. Tickets may be purchased online only at www.iccmilwaukee.com under “Events” tab or in person at the ICC office. Take a chance on winning a treasure of a prize and support culture and ethnic tradition in Milwaukee, specifically in this case, Italian. This experience will be a dream come true for Tradizione Vivente – as dancers, they want to be as skilled as they can be, and as Italians, they aspire to be as authentic as possible. Help them achieve these goals.
Thanks for your donations to the ICC
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 Constance Palmer at 414-2232808. Please note: When the ICC is informed of and can confirm 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 memorials and contributions were received between April 9 and May 8, 2018. The final contribution is a sponsorship for three paintings donated to the Italian Community Center
Interested in advertising in The Italian Times? Call 414-223-2189 or send an email to Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com.
PAGE 10 – JUNE 2018
Meet the artist
by a Sicilian artist Giacoma Lo Coco whose photo appears to the right of this column. Her paintings are displayed in the Members’ Room. In memory of Peter Frank Sorce Peter T. and Kathy M. Sorce Christina Sorce xxxx In memory of Sam Purpero Ray and Caroline Besasie In memory of Rose Iannelli Ted A. Catalano
In memory of Ambrose Ciano Ted A. Catalano Bill and Jessica Stocks In memory of Dan Conley Ted A. Catalano
In memory of Josephine Stocks Bill and Jessica Stocks
A contribution for sponsorship of paintings from artist Giacoma Lo Coco Sophia Michalovitz
Here is Sicilian artist Giacoma Lo Coco, who recently donated three of her paintings to the Italian Community Center. The only costs incurred were for shipping, insurance and handling. These costs were initially advanced by ICC Director Blaise Di Pronio who met Lo Coco while traveling in Italy. A fundraising program has been established in which organizations and individuals can become sponsors of the paintings. To date, funds have been contributed by the Abruzzese Galileo-Galilei Society. the Giuseppe Garibaldi Society and ICC member Sophie Michalovitz. The paintings are on display in the Members’ Room. Persons or societies interested in making a contribution and thus become a sponsor of the paintings can contact Di Pronio at bdipronio@wi.rr.com. All future contributions will be reported in The Italian Times.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Bartolotta, Milwaukee Brewing Company announce 2018 Courtyard music series
from page 1 Myles Hayes, a Chicago area jazz musician whose primary influences are Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin and Tony Bennett. Visit: myleshayesmusic.com. Next, on Tuesday, June 12, the one-and-only Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys
makes its first appearance in the series. This classical Chicago-style blues band recently released a new CD, “My Life,” which has already obtained high ranking on the various blues charts. The group has a steady touring schedule this summer. Visit: reverendraven.com for more. WheelHouse, a nationally tour-
ing Americana and bluegrass band hailing from Madison, makes a stop at the ICC on Thursday, June 14. The band performs over 220 shows a year. For more information, visit: mightywheelhouse.com. Robin Pluer & The R&B Coquettes will make its first of three appearances in the ICC Courtyard on Tuesday, June 19. Pluer is con-
from page 7 Thunderbirds, then Italian food, music and fireworks!
the case of active and former military members, to receive free admission, present a valid military identification or a DD-214 card along with a valid ID at the Mid Gate cashier’s window. Festa Italiana thanks you for
your service. Like Saturday, Festa will offer free admission for Air Show fans from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. After watching the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, come to Festa and enjoy the rest of the day Italian style.
Festa admission deals
Sunday deals Festa Italiana invites everyone to attend its Mass and procession on Sunday, July 22 in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. There will be free admission from the South Gate or Gate 11 from 10:15 a.m. to the start of the Mass at 11 a.m. Admission into the amphitheater and the amphitheater forecourt is free whether persons attend the celebration of the Catholic Mass or not. Those individuals who wait outside the amphitheater will be admitted to the Festa grounds for free at 1 p.m. Sunday is Festa’s day of service recognition. Anyone who is a firefighter, law enforcement member or in the military will be able to enter Festa for free with one guest all day. To receive free entry, present a valid employee identification as the cashier window at the Mid Gate. In
Festa Patrol looking for volunteers
Ralph Busalacchi, manager of the Festa Patrol, is seeking volunteers to serve on his crew during Festa Italiana, July 2022. Volunteers on the Festa Patrol serve as first responders to a variety of situations on the festival grounds, ranging from security and first aid to lost children. They strive to keep order along parade and procession routes and work to ensure that Festa’s guests experience a pleasant and safe family event. Those interested in volunteering should contact Busalacchi at 414-534-6455 or email him at abodanza1@sbcglobal.net.
And now, a word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio Fantasy: An imagined event or sequence of mental images, such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need. It comes from the Italian musical term fantasia which means a continuous composition, not divided into what are called movements, or governed by the ordinary rules of musical design but in which the author’s fancy roves unrestricted by set form. Understandably, fantasia also means imagination in Italian.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
June Thursday, June 7 Myles Hayes Tuesday, June 12 – Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys Thursday, June 14 – WheelHouse Tuesday, June 19 Robin Pluer & The R&B Coquettes Thursday, June 21 – Chicken Wire Empire
July Tuesday, July 10 – Leroy Airmaster & Little Maddie Thursday, July 12 – Mic Over Matter Tuesday, July 17 – Robin Pluer & The R&B Coquettes
Thursday, July 19 – Oldies But Goodies Spectacular Tuesday, July 24 – Jim Liban’s Blues Combo Tuesday, July 31 – Blue Disciples
August Thursday, August 2 – Jayne Taylor Thursday, August 9 – Joe 2.0 Tuesday, August 14 – Altered Five Blues Band Thursday, August 16 – Trapper Schoepp Trio Tuesday, August 21 – Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys Monday, August 27 – The Bel-Airs
sidered one of the best vocalists in Milwaukee. Find more information at: facebook.corobin.pluer for more. The last group playing in the series in June is Chicken Wire Empire on Thursday, June 21. This contemporary bluegrass band has become one of the hottest up and coming bands on the local and regional music scene since its formation in 2014. The group includes Ryan Ogburn (mandolin), Jordan Kroeger (upright bass), Ernest Brushbardis IV (fiddle), Greg Brundage (guitar) and Jon Peik (banjo). For more information, visit: chickenwireempire.com. The entire Live Music in the Courtyard at the Italian Community Center flyer accompanies this article.
Tuesday, Auguet 28 – Jim Liban Blues Combo Thursday, August 30 – Piano Brew
September Thursday, September 6 – The Squeezettes Tuesday, September 11 – Robin Pluer & The R&B Coquettes Tuesday, September 18 – Jim Liban Blues Combo Thursday, September 20 – Hungry Williams Tuesday, September 25 Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys Thursday, September 27 – FBI & The Untouchables Horns Visit: www.bartolottas.com/events (414) 223-2800
• Live music begins at 6:30 p.m. • FREE ADMISSION • Seating first come, first served. •Bartolotta Staff on hand to sell food and beverages. • Shows go on rain or shine. • If inclement weather, the music is brought inside.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 11
Membership Committee planning new events in 2018 starting with a ‘Members’ Aperitivo Hour’ on Wednesday, June 13
This year our Membership Committee has been actively brainstorming new ideas to increase the membership and ICC member interaction. Many of the ideas that we have enthusiastically been discussing include: Member’s Happy Hours, movie nights in the Courtyard, membership specials, special guest speakers, and more. We are excited to announce that on Wednesday, June 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., we will be having our first Member’s Aperitivo Hour here in the ICC at Bartolotta’s La Scala.
Aperitivo is the Italian version of the “happy hour” so commonly held at eating and drinking establishments across America. But, as Marisa Huff explains in her new book celebrating the custom “Aperitivo: The Cocktail Culture of Italy” (Rizzoli, $35), it is something special. Aperitivo is the time when you sit in a cafe, alfresco preferably, and catch up with friends while sipping a drink and nibbling on appetizers. Cafe La Scala will offer 20% off on food and drink for all ICC mem-
bers during this event. This event will be a great way for new members to meet our seasoned members and create new friendships and connections. We would love to see you there. Another event that is right around the corner is our amazing Festa Italiana. We hope that everyone who is a member will continue to promote this great festival and spread the word throughout the community. One of the great benefits for new and current members is that they can receive four Festa
tickets when joining or renewing a membership or up to eight Festa tickets for a family membership. This is a great way to promote our Italian Community Center and our great heritage.
As we continue to explore new ideas, we would love to hear suggestions from our members, so feel free to share your ideas and thoughts with us. See you soon!
Calendar of Events
– Bill Stocks Membership Committee Member
May 28 – June 21, 2018
Monday, May 28 • Memorial Day. The Italian Community Center, Festa Italiana and Italian Times offices will be closed.
• Live Music in the Courtyard with Robin Pluer & The R&B Coquettes, 6:30 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.
Thursday, June 21 • Italian Community Center membership meeting, 5:30 p.m. Reservations required by Monday, June 11. • Italian Community Center general membership meeting, 6:30 p.m. • Live Music in the Courtyard with Chicken Wire Empire, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 29 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6 • Pompeii Women’s Club Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 7 • Live Music in the Courtyard with Myles Hayes, 6:30 p.m. Details on all Courtyard music shows in the issue. Monday, June 11 • Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 12 • Abruzzese Galileo Galilei Society spuntino and meeting, 2 p.m. • Live Music in the Courtyard with Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys, 6:30 p.m. • Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National meeting, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 13 • Italian Community Center “Members’ Happy Hour,” 5-7 p.m. Details in this issue. Thursday, June 14 • Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. • Live Music in the Courtyard with WheelHouse, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 19 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO general membership dinner meeting, 6 p.m.
Cafe La Scala Summer Hours June 1 - Sept. 10 Summer Lunch Monday – Friday 11am – 3pm as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays During the Summer Live Music in the Courtyard Series 5pm – 9pm Looking to enjoy Dinner? We would be honored for you to join us at one of our Bartolotta Restaurants. Find our more and make your reservations at Bartolotta.com PAGE 12 – JUNE 2018
Wednesday, June 20 • Pompeii Women’s Club general membership social and meeting, 5:30 p.m., social, 6:30 p.m., meeting.
Daily and weekly classes and activities • Bocce leagues. The fall bocce season will begin the week of Sept. 10. Team registrations forms are available at the ICC or online at www.iccmilwaukee.com. • ICC Italian classes. Look for an announcement on the fall semester of classes in an upcoming issue.
• 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 and after Festa Italiana through Labor Day.
• 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 and after Festa Italiana through Labor Day. 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.
ICC Members: Planning to attend the dinner before the General Meeting on Thursday, June 21st?
If so, you are kindly asked to make a reservation on or before Monday, June 13th. 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!
Catering at the ICC
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Pallino Magnets win ICC’s spring bocce championship
At the end of an intense evening of competitive indoor bocce, the Pallino Magnets emerged as the Italian Community Center’s spring champion on May 14. The Pallino Magnets entered the eight-team tournament as the first place team from the Tuesday afternoon seniors league. The final match of the evening pitted the Pallino Magnets against Club Garibaldi 2, the second place finisher in the Wednesday night league. Here’s how each team got to the championship game. Club Garibaldi 2 had two very nip-andtuck matches, winning both by an identical 12-11 score. In the quarterfinals, Garibaldi 2 defeated Porticello, the Monday night second place finisher, and went on to best It’s All Good, Monday night’s first
place team, in the semifinals. The Pallino Magnets had less difficulty making it to the finals. It won its quarterfinal match, 12-3, over Helga & The Jennaros, Tuesday afternoon’s second place finisher. In the semifinals, the Pallino Magnets defeated the Wednesday night league first place team, Club Garibaldi, by a score of 12-6. The Pallino Magnets’ players Craig Lieber, Mike Renda, Anita Moyer and Dennis Antonie seemed to have everything going their way in the championship match and rolled past Club Garibaldi 2 by a 12-4 score. This marked the first time that the Pallino Magnets has won the ICC’s bocce championship. In other matches during the evening, Club Garibaldi won its opening match, 12-11, over Little
Welcome new Italian Community Center members!
The ICC’s spring bocce champs, the Pallino Magnets. From the left: Craig Lieber, Mike Renda, Anita Moyer and Dennis Antonie. (Photo by Troy Halverson)
Sicily, Wednesday night’s third place finisher. It’s All Good also won its opener, 12-8, over Metagannis, Monday night’s third place finisher.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Bocce Coordinator Troy Halverson for providing the information, scores and photo of the championship team.
The following persons became members of the Italian Community Center between April 9 and May 8, 2018. Benvenuti (Welcome!) Tony Olivo of Colgate, WI
Joseph Bartolotta of Waukesha, WI
Steve Thompson & Mary Balistreri and child, Owen Thompson) Wauwatosa, WI Beverly J. Draws of Milwaukee, WI Christine Russo of River Hills, WI Grace Sheldon of Mequon, WI
St. Joseph’s Day celebrated by these Josephs
All of those events take place at the Italian Community Center unless otherwise indicated. Pompeii Women’s Club May Crowning Banquet Wednesday, May 30. Starts at 6 p.m.
Italian Community Center’s “Members’ Happy Hour” Wednesday, June 13, 5-7 p.m. Bartolotta’s Cafe La Scala at the ICC 41st annual Festa Italiana Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22 Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
Planning to attend Summerfest, Festa Italiana and the other lakefront festivals this summer?
Your best bet for parking is the Italian Community Center lot. The ICC Parking Lot is across the street from the festival grounds and accepts credit card payments.
Saint Joseph’s Day is known to be a time for people named Joseph to honor and celebrate their religious namesake. When the ICC hosted its 26th annual St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon this past March, several men whose first name is Joseph were present, including these four. From the left: Joseph Mangiamele, Joseph Emanuele, Joseph Zambito and Joseph Ziino. (Photo provided by ICC member Ann Zambito)
THE ITALIAN TIMES
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 13
Chairpersons report on a ‘very successful’ Taste of Italy
Good food, good weather and a huge crowd made for a very successful “A Taste of Italy” on Apr. 22. Of course, we can’t forget all the hardworking volunteers who made the event possible. The Bartolotta kitchen staff along with our volunteers produced a delicious array of traditional foods. The friendly faces and efficient serving of the booth servers kept the sometimes-overwhelming crowd moving smoothly through the lines. We acknowledge that some booths ran out of food way too early. Such issues will be looked at and addressed for next year. A meeting with the booth captains was scheduled for May 21 to get their feedback as to how to correct any problems that may have occurred.
We want to express our deepest appreciation to all who took part and worked so hard and want to acknowledge some behind-the-scenes people like Laurie Bisesi and her crew for set-up, Tony Zingale for organizing the volunteer meal passes, Joe Jannazzo, Joe Zambito and Joe Ziino, who handled the accounting of funds in the ICC’s back office. Your efforts made our job a lot easier for all of us. Congratulations to all the raffle winners. They all went home with some great items. We hope to see all of you at “A Taste of Italy” 2019. – Christina Ziino, Valorie Schleicher and Marie Lieber Taste of Italy Chairs
Veteran volunteer Giovanni Frijia and Vito Perez of the Bartolotta Catering staff were deep-frying the calamari when this picture was taken. Sicilian delicacy calamari fritti (deep-fried squid) is a favorite among Taste of Italy attendees.
ICC President Dean Cannestra and the entire ICC Board thanked firsttime chairpersons (l – r) Valorie (Sanfilippo) Schleicher, Christina Ziino and Marie (Andaloro) Lieber for their hard work and efforts in carrying out the successful 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy.”
Eileen Schalk and Ellen Zarcone tried several of the delicious items on the Taste of Italy menu.
Mille grazie a tutti!!
All Times photos by Tom Hemmn
The Taste of Italy committee of Marie Andoloro Lieber, Val Sanfilippo Schliecher and Christina Ziino want to acknowledge and thank all the generous donors that made this year’s event such a success. Mille grazie a tutti!!
BUSINESS DONORS Alioto’s Restaurant Bad Dog Studios Barilla Pasta Bartolotta Catering at the ICC Carini’s La Conca D’Oro Divino’s Wine and Dine European Gelato – Joe Reina Fazio’s Chocolates Glorioso’s Italian Market Grande Cheese Meijer’s – Gift card Milwaukee Brewers Palermo’s Pizza – Giacomo Fallucca & Family Patrick Cudahy Pietro’s Pizza PAGE 14 – JUNE 2018
Sargento Cheese Saz’s Hospitality Group Sciortino Bakery Scrima’s Pizza Sprecher Suminski Funeral Homes
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Anonymous Louise Au Larry Baldassaro Vince Carini Arthur Cola Peter Gustin Joe Jannazzo Marie Lieber Santa Mazza Sophia Michalovitz
Diana Otzelberger Anna Pitzo Val Schliecher Alexander Smith Rose Purpero Spang Fran Tollefson Chris and Joe Ziino
SOCIETY DONORS Abruzzese – Galileo-Galilei Society La Società di San Giuseppe Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Pompeii Men’s Club Pompeii Women’s Club Società Maschile Maria SS del Lume Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National La Società di Santa Rosalia
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Before the start of “A Taste of Italy,” thousands of Italian cookies made by Peter Sciortino Bakery had to divided up into the individual bags that were sold at the event. These volunteers did that job. Going from the left side of the table: Taste of Italy Co-Chair Valorie
Schleicher, Barbara Lupo, Carol Martinez, Lena Zingale, Patricia Guttuso, Tony Lupo, Sophia Michalovitz, Taste of Italy Co-Chair Chris Ziino, Frances Murphy, Tony Zingale and Ray Martinez.
Glorioso’s Italian Market not only supplied its delicious Romanita pasta salad for “A Taste of Italy,” but it had a store representative serving the product. Her name is Megan. Joe Liberto, who worked at the nearby sausage booth managed to sneak into the picture.
Mary Cannestra and Joe Noto were selling the last of sfinciuni close to the end of the event when this picture was taken. Craig Lieber (left) and his son, C.J., scooped out servings of Italian gelato to guests.
Here is where Taste of Italy guests could buy homemade manicotti and we mean homemade literally. It was generously donated and made in the home kitchens of ICC members Anna Pitzo and Sophia
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Michalovitz as they have done for years now. Staffing the manicotti stand when this picture was taken were Sophia, her son, Robert, and the partially hidden Carla Pellin.
Joe Emanuele, ICC Vice President and the immediate past president of the Filippo Mazzei Lodge of OSIA, makes certain that volunteering at “A Taste of Italy” is a family thing. He had his granddaughter, Kadun, and his daughter, Jessica, staffing the booth where bottled water was sold. The Filippo Mazzei Lodge was in charge of the booth.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 15
Scenes from the 23rd annual ‘A Taste of Italy’
These hard-working volunteers prepared the fried bread dough in the kitchen. From the left: Jennifer Berg, Rose Purpero Spang, Taste of Italy Co-Chair
Valorie Sanfilippo Schleicher, Peggy Salamone, Joe Schleicher and Diane Otzelberger.
First time volunteer Chris Weiss, a teacher at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, helped to sell tickets for the 50/50 raffle. She was stationed outside of the Festa Ballroom with longtime volunteer Bruno Giacomantonio.
Members of one of Milwaukee’s first Italian mutual aid societies, the Abruzzese Galileo-Galilei Society, staffed the first stand that many people visited after entering the Pompeii Grand Ballroom. These volunteers served a variety of pizza, donated by the Giacomo Fallucca family and Palermo’s Pizza. From the right: Vince Vitale, Tony Corrao, Gaetano Canzonieri, Ben Di Pronio and Joe Vitale.
Chris Ziino, co-chairperson of the 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy,” is seen here with Glen Murphy, the gentleman whom she described as the event’s “Superhero” in an article appearing in the May 2018 issue of The Italian Times. Readers might recall that Murphy, a truck driver by profession, volunteered to pick up 100 lbs. of pasta that was donated to the ICC by Barilla from its warehouse in Ames, Iowa. Had it not been for Murphy’s kind act, the ICC would have had to either pay a high price for transporting of the boxed pasta or decline the donation. Murphy is the son of ICC member Frances Murphy, who volunteered for “A Taste of Italy.” The event served as a key fundraiser for the nonprofit organization. (Photo provided by Chris Ziino) Above: Chicken pastina, lentil and Italian wedding soups were served by volunteers representing La Società di San Giuseppe. They included: (r - l:) Peter Balistreri, Joe D’Acquisto, Tom Spera, Santo Sanfilippo, Jack Corrao and Salty Nault.
Right: Ann Romano (seated), general chairperson for 21 of the first 22 Taste of Italy celebrations, served as a consultant for this year’s 23rd annual Taste of Italy. Ann got to sit back and enjoy this year’s event. Standing behind her is Faye Ann Kessler, who volunteers on the newspaper mailing crew and helps to sell advertising. Italian wine was available at this booth. It was staffed by volunteers representing the Milazzese Social Club.
PAGE 16 – JUNE 2018
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Longtime food and beverage ticket sellers Sal and Antonette Lo Coco greeted guests as they entered the Festa Ballroom where the desserts were available for purchase.
More photos on pages 18 and 19.
Pompeii Women’s Club members volunteered at the booth where calamari was available. The group seen here included (l – r): Mary Winard, Sr. Ann Catherine
Enrica Tarantino Woytal and her son, Fabio, were among the volunteers who operated the eggplant with red sauce booth.
ICC Director Joe Jannazzo took some time out of his volunteering at “A Taste of Italy” to enjoy some of the food with his family. Joe and his wife, Jennifer, are seen here with their daughters Gillian, Mia, Gianna and Isabel. Joe was among the volunteers who tabulated the revenue taken in that day.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Veierstahler, Maria D’Amato, Rosalie Giano, Suzanne Wypijewski and Lucy Sorce. (Photo courtesy of Suzanne Wypijewski)
The Pompeii Men’s Club came out in full force to staff the Italian sausage booth. This is a volunteer activity they have done since the inception of “A Taste of Italy.”
ICC President Dean Cannestra seemed to be having a good time preparing the sfinciuni that he and his restaurant, Divino Wine & Dine provided for the event.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 17
These people seemed to enjoy a wide variety of the Italian entrees available at “A Taste of Italy.” From the left: Mary Flamino, Jeff and Chris Kubiak and Butch Freeman.
Bill and Rita Jennaro (seated) were among the food and beverage ticket sellers in the galleria outside of the Pompeii Grand Ballroom. The Jennaros have been volunteer participants in “A Taste of Italy” since the inception of the event in 1996. The first Taste of Italy occurred in the spring after Bill Jennaro had completed two one-year terms as ICC President.
Here’s Filippo Reina with a couple of the Vespa scooters that were on display, courtesy of Reina International Auto/Vespa Milwaukee.
Peter Carini and his brother, Sal, sold the eggplant spiedini from Peter’s restaurant, Carini’s La Conca d’Oro.
If you wanted a cup of coffee in the Festa Ballroom, you saw these volunteers, Bud Nichols and Rosemary (Lomenzo) Nichols.
This certificate hereby attests to the fantastic job done by all of the hard-working and dedicated volunteers of the Italian Community Center who worked at “A Taste of Italy” on April 22, 2018. Our sincerest appreciations and gratitude, Christina Ziino Valorie Schleicher Marie Lieber Chairpersons
PAGE 18 – JUNE 2018
Talia Huttl, Rosalie Ferrante and Odilia Di Pronio were among the volunteers who prepared and sold pizzelle.
Longtime ICC members Rose and Tom Zingale were part of the large crowd that enjoyed the 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy.”
THE ITALIAN TIMES
I Piccolini (the little ones) to I Ragazzi (the oldest boys and girls) who participated in I Bei Bambini, the Children’s Italian Dance Group performed for delighted audiences in the Festa Ballroom. Times photos by Tom Hemman
Vocalist Jayne Taylor performed with accompanist Frank Colarco in the Festa Ballroom.
The Sicilian Serenaders – Ted Pappalardo (mandolin), Tom Pappalardo (accordion) and Peter Balistrieri (guitar) returned for another year to entertain guests with traditional and regional Italian music. The group appeared courtesy of La Società di San Giuseppe.
Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee displayed its expertise in Italian folk and regional dancing during two performances in the Festa Ballroom.
If you want to see how busy it was at “A Taste of Italy,” take a look at this picture. The Pompeii
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Grand Ballroom was packed from one end to the other with guests who enjoyed the wide va-
riety of delicious Italian food. The Festa Ballroom and other rooms were also very crowded.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 19
UNICO organizations award scholarships
Eight graduating high school seniors and a college student – all of Italian descent – were awarded $1,000 scholarships during the 82nd UNICO Scholarship & Awards Dinner that was held on May 15 at the Italian Community Center. Listed first are the high school seniors and the school they currently attend along with details on their collegiate plans. • Gino Joseph D’Alessio, Pius XI Catholic High School, recipient of Theodore Mazza Award, plans to attend Quincy University and major in Business – Finance and Sports Communication. • Thomas Francour, Brookfield
Central High School, recipient of a Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Award, plans to attend Winona State University and major in Athletic Training. • Gregory Antonio Frija, Glendale Nicolet High School, recipient of the Gaetanina Balistreri Memorial Award, plans to attend Loyola University and major in English. • Sofia Maglio, Wauwatosa East High School, recipient of the Beatrice Ceraso Memorial Award, plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and major in Communication Sciences and Disorders. • Margaret Caroline Mazza, home-schooled, recipient of the
Catherine Kelly Memorial Award, plans to attend Waukesha County Technical College and major in Registered Nursing. • Patrick Michael Mazza, home-schooled, recipient of the Joseph Spang Memorial Award, plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and major in Civil Engineering. • Elizabeth Saggio, Glendale Nicolet High School, recipient of the Anita Mazza Award, plans to attend the University of Alabama and is undecided on a major. • Luciano Stephenson, Marquette University High School, recipient of the Carmelo and Antonina Cusima Award, plans to
Each year, the Pompeii Women’s Club recognizes one of its dedicated members as the “Angel of the Year.” This year, the honor was given to Rosalie Giano, at our April 25th dinner meeting at the Italian Community Center. After an opening prayer by Fr. Mike Hammer, one of our co-chap-
lains, and the serving of the dinner, President Suzanne Wypijewski made the announcement that Rosalie Giano was the recipient of the 2017 Angel of the Year. Rosalie is well deserving of the award as she is not only our Corresponding Secretary but when our office of Recording Secretary be-
came vacant, she volunteered to take it on. Rosalie is always willing to help with any of our projects. The entire club offers our congratulations to her. As our 2017 Angel, Rosalie will have the honor of placing the crown of flowers on the statue of our Blessed Mother on Wednesday,
attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and major in Meteorology.
Award for college student Milwaukee Chapter The UNICO National awarded its Italian Studies Award to Lori Martello, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Martello is majoring in History and Italian. Scholarship history The Milwaukee UNICO scholarship program has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships over the past 82 years. It started in 1936, when one $250 scholarship was awarded to Frances Alioto.
Rosalie Giano honored as Pompeii Women’s ‘Angel of the Year’
May 30 at our May Crowning ceremony. The dinner event, also at the ICC, is open to non-members.
For more information on this annual event, please read the information in the May issue of The Italian Times or call Past President Pat Consolazione at 262-786-3984. We hope to see you there. Back to our Apr. 25 meeting. After our business agenda was completed and a closing prayer by Fr. Mike, names were drawn for door prizes.
Our hostesses for the dinner meeting were Peggy Zoet, Pauline Cannestra and yours truly.
– Mary Winard P.R. Chair Pompeii Women’s Club
And now, a word from Italy
Here is Rosalie Giamo, the Pompeii Women’s Club 2017 Angel of the Year. She was presented the honor
at the club’s Apr. 25 general membership meeting. (Photo provided by Suzanne Wypijewski)
by Blaise Di Pronio Disco: Popular dance music, especially of the late 1970s, characterized by strong repetitive bass rhythms. It comes from the Italian discoteca or a record collection or record library and coined from disco or phonograph record and modeled on biblioteca or library. A disco volante is a flying saucer.
Interested in playing Words in an Italian word in OSIA Golf Classic?
Members of the Filippo Mazzei Lodge #2763 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America invite all interested individuals to participate in the organization’s Golf Classic on Sunday, June 24 at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa. This includes golfers and those persons who might want to simply enjoy a day of great company and plenty of food. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. A shotgun start opens the day of golf at noon. The banquet dinner is at 6 p.m. A driving range and lunch will be available after registration. The cost for golf, lunch and a banquet dinner is $125 per person. The cost for lunch and the banquet
PAGE 20 – JUNE 2018
dinner is $40 per person. Checks are payable to OSIA and must be mailed to: Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Lodge, P.O. Box 510654, New Berlin, WI 531510654. For more information, contact OSIA President Nick DeQuardo at 262-599-3908. Participants can also make a weekend of it by calling the Grand Geneva directly at 855-833-5345. Mention “Sons and Daughters of Italy Golf Classic” to get special room prices. Rooms are limited. There is a course dress code. No denim allowed. Shorts must be hemmed. Collared shirts are required. No tank tops or cutoffs are permitted.
by Blaise Di Pronio How many words can you make with the letters in the name "PINOCCHIO"? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Answers on page 22
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Word Search: Festa Italiana 2018 by Blaise Di Pronio
To find Word Search solved, turn to page 22
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Famous Italian Americans with Abruzzo ancestry
Researched by Blaise Di Pronio With a special nod to all the Abruzzesi connected members of the ICC, my own family and the Abruzzese Galileo-Galilei Society, here’s a few of us you might know: Name - Profession - Abruzzese native location Mike Pompeo – Secretary of State (Caramanico) Madonna – Singer (Pacentro) Dean Martin – Actor/Singer (Pescara) Rocco Siffredi – Movies (Chieti) Rocky Marciano – Boxer (Chieti) Henry Mancini – Composer/Conductor (Scanno) Perry Como- American singer and television personality (Palena) Tommy Lasorda – Professional American Baseball Player/Manager (Chieti) Gabriele D’Annunzio – Writer (Pescara) Jarno Trulli – Formula 1 Racer (Pescara) Juan Manuel Fangio – Formula 1 Racer (Chieti) Filippo Giovanni De Cecco – Founder of De Cecco Pasta (Chieti) Benedetto Croce – Philosopher (Pescasseroli) Mario Batali – American Chef and Media Personality (Chieti) Bruno Sammartino – WWF Wrestling Champion, inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (Pizzoferrato) Giada Colagrande – Film Director, married to actor William Dafoe (Pescara) Ariana Grande – Singer (Lanciano, Chieti) Stephanie D’Abruzzo – Actress, singer and puppeteer (Sant’Angelo del pesco) Garry Marshall – Actor and writer for notable films and television series such as Happy Days (San Martino Sulla Marrucina, Chieti) Penny Marshall – Nominated for Golden Globe and casted on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley. (San Martino Sulla Marrucina, Chieti) Mario Lanza – Tenor and Actor (Tocco da Casauria) Al Martino – Actor and Singer. Well known for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The Godfather (Parents were immigrants from Abruzzo) Andrea Iannone – Italian professional MotoGP rider (Vasto) John A Volpe – Governor of Massachusetts and Secretary (Pescosansonesco, Pescara) Daniel Bison – Founding owner of the Syracuse Nationals and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Miglianico, Chieti) Alfred Zampa, famous bridge worker who helped construct Golden Gate Bridge, and several bridges in San Francisco Bay Area (Ortucchio, L’Aquila) Pierluigi Zappacosta – Co-founder Logitech (Chieti) Dan Marino- Professional American football player (Pianella)
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 21
New generation of players will return Azzurri back to World Cup
by Joseph Reina With the World Cup in Russia quickly approaching, many fellow Italian American calcio fans are not looking forward to the most prestigious tournament in the world as much as usual. This is primarily due to the shocking absence of our beloved Azzurri. Following a tough draw where they were placed in a group with favored Spain, the recently struggling Italians always looked the underdogs. Expectedly, the outcome was second place where they faced a playoff tie against Sweden. Here, the Italians seemed to be the better of the two outfits and were heavily predicted to advance. However, the Swedes won the first leg at home where they ran rampant against the Italians. Their reward came in the 61st minute when Jakob Johansson’s effort form outside the box took a deflection off of De Rossi and past seemingly everpresent Buffon. This proved to be the deciding moment across the two legs as Sweden advanced 1-0 on aggregate. Even though this is arguably the most surprising exclusion from the World Cup, which includes the likes of Chile, Netherlands, and the USA, it should not have come as a complete surprise to devout Azzurri fans around the world. Since the World Cup triumph in 2006, the Italians have consistently fielded one of the oldest squads in each of the tournaments in which they have competed. This has proven to be a disastrous choice nearly every time. They came dead last in their group in 2010 despite being drawn with Slovakia, Paraguay, and New Zealand, and third in 2014, once again missing
out on the round of 16. They were the fourth and eleventh oldest team at those tournaments, respectively. The team’s failure is based partially on a reliance on the older experienced players rather than the new younger ones. They also have relied much too heavily on their defensive strength and focused on shutting their opponents out and scoring on the counter rather than adapting to their situation and changing their approach. An example of this played out in the second leg fixture against Sweden. Italy played with five defenders on the field in a game where they needed to score to advance. Former manager Giam Piero Ventura opted to sit Napoli’s star winger Lorenzo Insigne in the second leg and at one point signaled to the aforementioned De Rossi to come on as a sub late in the game. De Rossi protested this decision himself as he knew that they needed a win and putting him on was counter intuitive. The Italian talent pool boasts many young budding attacking prospects such as Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi and Andrea Belotti. While Belotti was used well, Bernardeschi was only used as a late sub in the second leg and Insigne in the first. These players when used properly can mean devastation to opposition defences and can provide the key spark in close games. Ventura’s rigidity with regards to tactics cost the Azzurri a spot in Russia and to prevent this from happening again, the new management must allow the youth to play and gain experience for the next World Cup in 2022. They must be willing to play
Italy’s Festival dei Due Mondi
The Festival dei Due Mondi (The Festival of the Two Worlds), also known as the Spolato Festival, is an international event featuring music, art and culture. It has taken place every year in Spoleto (Umbria), Italy, since 1958. The 61st edition will be held Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 15. The festival features a vast array of concerts, opera, dance, drama, visual arts and roundtable discussions on science. Early on, the festival developed into one of the most important cultural events in Italy, with a threeweek schedule of music, theater and dance performances. For some time, it became a reference point for modern sculpture exhibits and works of art left to the city by Alexander Calder (“Teodolapio”) and as others are a testimony to this, but, for a variety of reasons, including loss of funds and the birth of many similar festivals throughout Italy, the Spoleto Festival has now lost some of its international prominence. It, however, remains a very important cultural event. Composer Gian Carlo Menotti founded the festival. He chose Spoleto because of the presence Teatro Nuovo and Teatro Caio in the center of the city and the Piazza del Duomo, an open-air theater, ideal for the event. The name of the festival comes from Menotti’s intention to have the worlds of American and European culture facing each other in his event. This concept would then
PAGE 22 – JUNE 2018
be strengthened by the fact that it was held in conjunction with its “twin,” the Spoleto Festival USA, held annually in May and June in Charleston, S.C. The twinning only lasted some 15 years. After growing disputes between the Menotti family and the board of Spoleto Festival USA in the early 1990s, a separation occurred. In 1986, under Menotti’s direction, a third installment of the Spoleto Festival series was started in Melbourne, Australia. In 1990, the Australian fest changed its name to the Melbourne International Festival of Arts. Following Menotti’s death in 2007, changes occurred in the administration with the Italian Minister of Cultural Affairs appointing a new Artistic Administrator to continue to run the festival. After the changes were implemented, Spoleto’s city administrators and Charleston officials started talks to reunite the two festivals, but nothing ever materialized.
more attacking and change their style of play. The squad definitely has the talent coming up through the ranks and there is absolutely no reason Azzurri should not be in Qatar. We hold our team to a higher expectation than most countries and this is a failure of the utmost importance. The players, staff and fans must take this agony and translate it into a positive learning experience. Buffon and De Rossi have had their day. Now is the time for the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Andrea Belotti, and
Moise Kean to make their presence known and restore Italy to the grandeur of old. * * * Editor’s note: Joseph Reina is a junior at Marquette University High School. He is looking forward to studying Broadcast Journalism in college. He is the son of Italian Community Center members Joe and Mary Reina of Reina International Auto. The Reinas operate two gelato booths at Festa Italiana and have been active in the ICC for many years.
Words in an Italian word from page 20
The answer: 91 words in “PINOCCHIO” 1. chicon 2. chopin 3. cochin 4. coinop 5. concho 6. iconic 7. inhoop 8. phonic 9. picnic 10. pionic 11. poncho 12. chico 13. chino 14. choco 15. choon 16. cinch 17. conch 18. conic 19. cooch 20. ionic 21. phono 22. pinch 23. pooch 24. chic 25. chin 26. chip 27. choc 28. chon 29. chop 30. cion 31. coch 32. coco 33. coho 34. coin 35. coni 36. coon 37. coop 38. hioi 39. hoon 40. hoop 41. icon 42. inch 43. noop 44. phon 45. pion 46. poco 47. pooh 48. poon 49. chi 50. con 51. coo 52. cop 53. hic 54. hin 55. hip 56. hoc 57. hoi 58. hon 59. hoo 60. hop 61. ich 62. ion 63. nip 64. noh 65. noo 66. och 67. oho 68. ono 69. ooh 70. oon 71. oop 72. phi 73. pho 74. pic 75. pin 76. poh 77. poi 78. poo 79. ch 80. hi 81. ho 82. in 83. io 84. no 85. oh 86. oi 87. on 88. oo 89. op 90. pi 91. po
Word Search:
Festa Italiana 2018 SOLVED / from page 21
And now, a word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio Facade: The principal front of a building that looks onto a street or open space. It comes from the Italian facciata which means the look out area or front of a building which in turn comes the word faccia or face, as in the human face.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Italian American women in sports
by Lawrence Baldassaro For much of the 20th century women found little encouragement and few opportunities to participate in organized sports. Nevertheless, there have been several notable Italian American pioneers in women’s sports. Clementina Brida, a famous pitcher who began her long career in 1897 playing for the Boston Bloomer Girls, went on to pitch for, manage, create and own several of the leading women’s teams in the country. But like several male ballplayers of that era, she masked her ethnic identity, playing under the name of Maud Nelson. Baseball historian Barbara Gregorich called her a “legend who dominated the early years of women at play.” Margaret Gisolo was 14 years old when she helped lead her Blanford, Indiana (boys) team to the state American Legion Junior tournament championship in 1928 by hitting .429. She later played professionally from 1930 to 1934 for the All-Star Ranger Girls, a barnstorming team co-owned by Maud Nelson, before becoming a college coach. Agnes Iori (married name Iori Robertson) was a pioneer who led the way for future basketball stars. After starring in high school in the small coal-mining town of Cockerill, Kansas, she played for the Dallas Golden Cyclones, a company sponsored team that won the 1931 AAU national championship. From 1929 to 1932, Iori was named to the first four AAU All-American teams. In the 1928 Olympics, swimmer Eleanor Garatti won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle and a gold in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. Then, in 1932, competing under her married name of Garatti-
Saville, she took bronze in the 100meter freestyle and gold in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, becoming the first woman to win two individual medals in the 100-meter freestyle. At 17, gymnast Concetta “Connie” Caruccio was one of the youngest athletes competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Twelve years later, competing as Connie Lenz, she won a bronze medal in the team all-around competition. American women have continued to excel in later Olympic Games. A silver medalist at the 1980 Winter Olympics, figure skater Linda Fratianne won four consecutive U.S. Championships (1977-1980). Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics, was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1984. Jennifer Azzi, who led Stanford to the NCAA championship in 1990, won a gold medal with the U.S. Women’s basketball team in the 1996 Winter Olympics. Cather-
ine “Cammi” Granato, captain of the U.S. Women’s hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, is an inductee in the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2006, Julia Mancuso won the gold medal in the Giant Slalom. Italian Americans came late to golf and tennis, two sports historically associated with the more affluent sporting community. Donna Caponi, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, won the U.S. Women’s Open and LPGA titles twice each between 1969 and 1981. Jennifer Capriati won three Grand Slam titles and an Olympic Gold medal, leading to her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Few, if any, Italian American women athletes have enjoyed such wide-ranging success and influence as Stamford, Connecticut, native Donna Lopiano. Barred from playing Little League baseball because of her gender, as a teenager, she turned to fast pitch softball. From 1963 to 1972 she was a nine-time All-American and three-time MVP
as a pitcher (183-18 record) and infielder for the renowned Raybestos Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut. The most elite team in women’s sports, the Brakettes won six national American Softball Association championships in her 10 years with the team. After obtaining a PhD from the University of Southern California, Lopiano served as Director of Women’s Athletics at the University of Texas (1975-1992), president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation (1992-2007). Named by The Sporting News as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Sports,” she has been internationally recognized as a leading advocate for gender equity in sports. Note: This article is an excerpt from “Italian Americans in Sport,” chapter 28 of The Routledge History of Italian Americans. Ed. By William J. Connell and Stanislao G. Pugliese. New York: Routledge, 2018.
Compiled by Blaise Di Pronio If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. * * * A 75 year-old person will have slept about 23 years. * * * Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it
has about 30% less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the 20th floor. It supposedly takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself. * * * The dot over the letter ‘i’ is called a tittle. * * * You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath. * * * The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. * * *
The full name of the city of Los Angeles is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula” * * * The rat has been called the world’s most destructive mammal, other than man. * * * It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. * * * The “sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
I’ll bet you didn’t know
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 23
La Pagina Italiana
I più comuni nomi di bambini in Italia
di Blaise Di Pronio In passato gli italiani avevano l’abitudine di dare ai propri figli i nomi di santi riconosciuti dalla Chiesa Cattolica, soprattutto quelli che si celebravano il giorno della loro nascita oppure quelli del santo patrono locale. Era frequente battezzare i bambini nati nel periodo pasquale col nome di Pasqua o Pasquale e quelli nati nel periodo natalizio col nome di Natale o Natalina. Un’altra tradizione ancora più frequente era quella di mantenere per i figli il nome dei nonni. Tutto ciò ha portato i classici nomi italiani a resistere nel tempo. Al giorno d’oggi i genitori italiani si sono avviati sulla strada di un rinnovamento delle proprie scelte. Nonostante la maggior parte delle persone si attenga alla tradizione scegliendo alcuni dei più comuni nomi italiani, altre
preferiscono quelli stranieri ispirandosi anche alle celebrità, secondo una tendenza diffusa in molti altri paesi del mondo. Di Zeno, Calogero, conseguenza Dante, Gilberto, Carmelo, Maria e Vincenza stanno diventando meno usuali. I dati aggiornati dell’Istituto Nazionale di Statistica rivelano che i nomi più comuni per le bambine sono corti e semplici. Nella classifica dei dieci nomi femminili più scelti si trovano Sofia, Giulia, Martina, Giorgia, Sara, Emma, Aurora, Chiara, Alice e Alessia. Tra i nomi di origine straniera si trovano Michelle, Deborah, Emily, Jennifer, Jasmine, Ashley, Jessica, Erika, Chanel e Sharon. Per i bambini maschi i nomi classici dominano ancora tra le scelte. I dieci più popolari sono Francesco, Alessandro, Andrea, Lorenzo,
Matteo, Gabriele, Mattia, Leonardo, Davide e Riccardo. Non mancano però casi di grafia straniera applicata ad alcuni nomi molto comuni, ad esempio in Christian, Alexander, Thomas, Gabriel, Michael e David. La scelta del nome è influenzata anche da fattori geografici. Francesco è il nome più comune per i bambini maschi in tre regioni del Sud Italia: Molise, Puglia e Calabria. Il nome Lorenzo domina in sei regioni: Piemonte, Liguria, Toscana, Umbria, Lazio e Abruzzo. Leonardo ricorre spesso in Valle d’Aosta, Veneto, Friuli VeneziaGiulia e Marche. Alessandro predomina in Emilia-Romagna e Sardegna. Per quanto riguarda le bambine, Sofia è il nome più scelto in metà delle regioni italiane mentre Giulia è il più frequente in tutte le altre
regioni. Campania e Sicilia mostrano delle peculiarità rispetto alle altre regioni. Infatti vi si ritrovano ancora di frequente Antonio e Giuseppe, segno questo di un legame duraturo con la tradizione secolare di trasmettere ai figli maschi i nomi dei nonni. Fonte: italymagazine.com – Tradotto dall’Inglese da Laura Duronio
Italian everyday expressions
Avere un chiodo fisso in testa. Literally: Have a nail stuck in one’s head. Meaning: Have a bee in one’s bonnet.
In celebrazione alla Festa della Repubblica Italiana: Ecco L’Italia
Trattare a pesci in faccia. Literally: Treat you with fishes in your face. Meaning: Showing you disrespect.
Se vedi un soldato ubbidire al comando d’un superiore, quello è l’Italia.
Fare la gatta morta. Literally: Do like a dead cat. Meaning: Play dumb.
Se incontri una donna giovane, forte, bella, con in braccio il suo bambino e un pane nella mano, quella è l’Italia. Se vedi un contadino arare il campo, mietere il grano, quello è l’Italia. Se vedi un marinaio sollevare
La Festa di San Pancrazio si svolge il 9 luglio di ogni anno. Taormina infatti si ricorda il suo Patrono, San Pancrazio, martire e primo vescovo della cittadina. A San Pancrazio è dedicata la bella Chiesa barocca che sorge sulle rovine di un tempio greco del quale è ancora possibile scorgere le pietre del basamento. Oltre al Santo
l’àncora dal mare e stendere la vela, quello è l’Italia.
Se vedi un mutilato di guerra, quello è l’Italia.
Ubriaco come una scimmia. Literally: Drunk as a monkey. Meaning: To be wasted.
Se vedi una donna piangere sulla tomba d’un Caduto, quella è l’Italia.
Se senti una voce che dice: – Coraggio! Nel lavoro e nella concordia godremo la libertà e la pace, – è l’Italia che parla.
Uscire allo scoperto. Literally: Go out uncovered. Meaning: Stand up and be counted.
Taormina
Poesia di Renzo Pezzani
La Festa di San Pancrazio
Patrono si porta in giro anche una statua di San Pietro. Questo perché proprio l’incontro con Pietro portò Pancrazio a convertirsi definitivamente. Non ci sono notizie storiche molto precise sul Santo Patrono di Taormina, bisogna quindi affidarsi alle agiografie dove si evince che nacque in Cilicia, ad Antiochia, nei
An aerial view of Taormina.
PAGE 24 – GIUGNO 2018
Fare il contropelo. Literally: Shave against the growth. Meaning: Go against the norm.
primi anni del I secolo. Fu lo stesso Pietro a battezzarlo, a ordinarlo sacerdote e quindi vescovo di Taormina dove iniziò a predicare. I suoi modi garbati e il suo fervore nella fede fecero in modo che molti pagani si convertissero al cristianesimo, compreso il prefetto e diversi appartenenti alle famiglie patrizie. I detrattori del vescovo però non gradirono l’alta considerazione in cui veniva tenuto e organizzarono un agguato per ucciderlo a capo del quale si pose un tale Artagato che viene definito nelle agiografie come “adoratore degli dei”. San Pancrazio. Invitò a casa sua Pancrazio per un banchetto con un gruppo di amici e impose al santo con la forza di baciare una statuetta lignea di un idolo. Si narra che egli fece il segno della croce e l’immagine andò in mille pezzi e ciò scatenò l’ira dei convenuti che lo aggredirono a
pugni, morsi, bastonate e lo uccisero, poi occultarono il suo corpo in fondo a un pozzo. I discepoli di Pancrazio però trovarono il cadavere grazie a una luce divina che illuminò il pozzo e poterono dargli una degna sepoltura. Non si conosce con precisione la data del martirio di Pancrazio, i documenti riportano che avvenne durante l’impero di Traiano, salito al trono nel 98 d.C. ed è dunque presumibile che il vescovo fosse già in età molto avanzata nel momento della sua morte. Il culto del santo ebbe inizio fin da subito, ma fu durante l’occupazione bizantina che venne intensificato grazie al fatto che Pancrazio era di origine orientale, così la sua venerazione da Taormina. In occasione del periodo di festa la statua di San Pietro viene portata in solenne Continua a pagina 25
The Duomo of Taormina.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Curiosando tra i Mestieri di Antica Maniera di Donato Di Pronio Dai racconti di Any, una ragazza di tanti anni fa, all’occorrenza LAVANDAIA ed anche TINTORA.
Ascoltiamola: È arrivata la primavera: la risposta che l’inverno si merita. La natura si risveglia, i campi cominciano a rivestirsi a festa ed è tempo di fare le pulizie generali. Finalmente potremo andare a lavare lenzuola e biancheria pesante con l’abbondante e limpidissima acqua del vicino torrente. Per un bel po’ diremo addio al pubblico lavatoio, dove purtroppo si corre il rischio di ritrovarti nella biancheria qualche minuscolo pizzicoso insetto, e dove non di rado devi passare il tuo preziosissimo sapone a chi lava soltanto con acqua e … sapone di gomito. Di buon mattino, con in testa un canestro colmo di panni, scendevo nel vicino torrente, mi sistemavo in un punto il più possibile comodo, cercando di trovare una pietra piatta e rasposa per strofinarci sopra i panni (era troppo disagevole portarmi appresso l’annosa asse seghettata che mio nonno aveva ricavato da un tronco di quercia). Mentre si lavava, io e le altre
Taormina contina da pagina 24
processione, il 29 giugno, raggiunge San Pancrazio e insieme vengono accompagnati al Duomo dove vi rimangono fino al 9 luglio, giorno della solenne processione. Le statue in tale giorno vengono portate in processione con i loro fercoli per le vie della città. – dal comune.taormina.me.it
lavanderine, cullate (si fa per dire) dal gioioso gorgoglio dell’acqua, ci cimentavamo con le canzonette dell’ultima ora, imparate da chi tornava dai grandi centri; ogni tanto dovevamo alzare il tono della voce per zittire le ragazze che insistevano con i canti degli anni verdi delle loro nonne. Con il trascorrere delle ore …addio bel canto e allegria: curve e inginocchiate sulla ghiaia sparsa sul letto del torrente, tra l’insaponare e lo strofinare, il battere e lo sbattere i panni, l’acqua fredda, … le forze cedevano per la stanchezza. Grazie a Dio, oggi nelle case corre l’acqua fredda e l’acqua calda, le lavatrici risparmiano le mani e le forze; eppure, sapete che vi dico, belle mie, pure quei sacrifici avevano il loro lato positivo e non vi nascondo che la poesia di quelle ore l’ho ancora nostalgicamente nel cuore! Sentiamola ancora: Quando mio nonno se ne andò, purtroppo con anticipo, da questo mondo, ci ritrovammo senza abiti di colore nero da indossare, secondo la generale costumanza, in segno di lutto. La nonna non si perse d’animo. Mise a scaldare un gran pentolone d’acqua, vi versò una polverina e subito dopo vi immerse gonne e camicette di colori chiari. E così potemmo partecipare alla Messa di riuscita tutte ritualmente vestite in nero. Tingere i panni non fu certo un’invenzione della nonna di Any, né un’invenzione del Medioevo, bensì l’affermarsi ed il perfezionarsi di un’arte vecchia come l’uomo. Gli antichi popoli, Babilonesi, Assiri, Persiani, Egizi e via dicendo, furono abili tessitori ed espertissimi tintori. Il duro e
THE ITALIAN TIMES
logorante mestiere del tintore diventò nel corso dei millenni una vera e prestigiosa arte perché richiedeva abilità e fantasia nel creare, combinare e usare sostanze coloranti: i procedimenti venivano coperti da attenta e massima segretezza. Dopo l’avvento del Cristianesimo, i tintori, per conferir maggior
prestigio al proprio mestiere, si posero sotto la protezione di Gesù, sotto l’aspetto della sia Trasfigurazione (gli abiti di Gesù cambiarono colore), sia sotto l’aspetto di Gesù Bambino, il quale, secondo il racconto di un Vangelo apocrifo, da ragazzo andò ad imparare il mestiere del tintore presso un tintore di Tiberiade.
E fatt’na risata
Due giovani, marito e moglie, scendono le scale per portare a spasso il loro piccolino. Lui tiene il figliolo per i piedi, con la testina in giù, facendogliela sbattere ritmicamente su ogni gradino. Lei sbraita: “ma che fai, cretino, così il bimbo perde il berrettino!” E il marito imperturbabile: “no che non lo perde, gliel’ho fissato con un chiodino!” * * * Un signore vede un bambino che sta fumando un grosso sigaro e di tanto in tanto si tracanna un lungo sorso di whisky: “ma che diavolo stai facendo? perché non sei a scuola?” E il bambino: “Ma, che scherza ho solo 5 anni!”. * * * Un bambino decide di fare una ed entra in una rapina pasticceria, appena entrato tira fuori la sua pistola. giocattolo e puntandola verso il cassiere esclama: “dammi tutto o ti ammazzo, metti tutto dentro questo sacco.” E il cassiere comincia a riempire il sacco di soldi e il
bambino esclama: “ma non voglio i soldi, voglio i dolci.” * * * Una bambina e suo padre sono a teatro e la bambina dice: “Papà, papà guarda com’è vergognoso quel tipo lì...sta dormendo!” Ed il papà: “e tu mi svegli per dirmi questo?” * * * Durante una passeggiata in campagna la mamma e la bambina vengono sorprese da un temporale. Un lampo illumina tutto il paesaggio e la bimba: “oh mamma guarda, è il signore che ci fà una foto!” * * * Ero un bambino così brutto, ma così brutto...che mamma mi allattava con una cannuccia! * * * Un bimbo chiede alla mamma se può avere la banana per cena. La mamma risponde di no perchè è troppo pesante. Dopo qualche minuto il bambino prende in mano la banana, la porta alla mamma e le dice: “guarda, non è pesante...la sollevo con una sola mano.”
GIUGNO 2018 – PAGE 25
The Little Corporal**
by Blaise Di Pronio In your writer’s ongoing quest of not rewriting history but rather clarifying it, the next inquiry deals with that famous French statesman and military leader who became prominent during the French Revolutionary Wars. With the Italianate name of Napoleon Bonaparte, surely he was Italian, right? And, of course, he was. He was born in 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica just 15 months after France had purchased the island from the Italian city-state of Genoa. The ancestors of Napoleon descended from minor Italian nobility of Tuscan origin who had come to Corsica from Liguria in the 16th century. His parents were Carlo Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Ramolino. They were born in Ajaccio when it was under Genoese control and, thus, were Italian as was their future son whose given birth name was Napoleone Buonaparte. He changed his name to the more French-sounding “Napoléon Bonaparte” when he was 27 at the time he embarked upon a career in the French military. Arguably then, Napoleon was legally French but also Italian per blood lines. But where were his loyalties? So, let’s consider a few
things: • His parents were culturally Corsican (Italian then). They did experience resentment to French ownership which was typical of Corsicans after the French purchase. • Napoleone means “Lion of Naples” (Italian city). • When the French revolution broke out, he fought for Corsica and not France, at one point leading troops against a French army. • He was an opportunist. He was “French” because he saw great opportunity in being French. When being Corsican benefited, he was Corsican. • He spoke with a thick Italian accent all his life. • Napoleon boasted of his Italian heritage. He said, “I am of the race that founds empires.” • He also once said, “I am more Italian or Tuscan than Corsican.” (“Io sono Italiano o Toscano, piutosto che Corso.”) • The ancestral home of the Buonaparte family is in San Miniato in Tuscany where there is a piazza Buonaparte and other reminders of the Buonaparte family. • He was a lifelong admirer of Caesar and often emulated the
ended up loving and fighting for France. But he never forgot and was forever proud of his Italian heritage. **The Little Corporal: This was an affectionate nickname given to Napoleon by some old soldiers after the battle of Lodi in 1796. They were so pleased with his bravery, that they elected him their corporal as a compliment. The nickname also referred to his short stature and great courage.
How to use that Italian bubbler
Napoleone di Buonaparte: The Emperor Napoleon in his study at the Tuileries. (By Jacques-Louis David, 1812)
Roman general. • He adopted the eagle as the rallying symbol for his troops just as the Romans had done. So, then, where are we? Well, let’s call him French-Italian as he
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 Individual
Annual Dues
Gratis – $0.00
Ages 21 – 65
Individual
Annual Dues
$50 per year
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.
Couple/Family
$100 per year
Individual
Ages 85 & Older
Individual
Annual Dues
Ages 66 – 84
Annual Dues
Couple/Family
$75 per year
$50 per year
Couple/Family
$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
____________________________________ 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.
PAGE 26 – JUNE 2018
by Blaise Di Pronio This article is directed to those readers who came from, lived in or visited Italy. You lucky ones had the good fortune to discover that very Italian bathroom accoutrement: the bidet. A bidet is a low riding oval basin placed next to the toilet and is used for washing one’s nether regions. It is a very strange concept to foreigners. They stare in wonderment at the fixture and often just use it to wash their feet after a day at the beach. The bidet originated in the early 1700’s and it has come a long way from its roots. Modern bidets are now sleek and operate by shooting jets of water upward and washing your private areas. Today, many bidets come with functions such as a heated seat, a self-cleaning mode and a drying and deodorizing option. You can also control the temperature of the water with the touch of a button. Not a bad alternative to the days of dried leaves and newspapers. Now that we all know what bidets are and we further know that they are rarely used for their intended purpose. Let’s let our imaginations wander and think of alternate uses for a bidet next time you stay in Italy. Here are some I contemplated (I have too much free time, methinks): • Pull up a chair and make it a soaking foot spa. • It’s a private sink for small children. • Clean your mops there. • Make it your pet’s drinking bowl. • And your cat’s bathtub. • And Barbie’s hot tub. • Wash your wiener in it, a Dachshund that is. • A place for wet umbrellas. • For soaking hand washables. • Home for fish when changing their water. • Fill with ice and it’s a beer/wine cooler. • Baby’s bathtub, floor nearby if dropped. • Wash stinky feet. • Last minute leg shave. • Huggable when room is spinning. • Store fresh-cut flowers. • Take a sponge bath and save water. • Clip those toenail clippings in place. “So it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination.” – Michel de Montaigne I plead guilty.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
by Barbara Collignon Last month, I wrote about Monteverdi’s opera, L’Incoronazione di Poppea. It was noted that the Florentine Opera is scheduled to perform the opera in March 2019. The once neglected opera experienced a revival in the 1960s and has since entered the repertoire of major opera companies worldwide. That’s easy to understand since it is considered the culminating point of Monteverdi’s work. As an innovation in the development of opera, it contains tragic, romantic and comic scenes and the characters are drawn more realistically, motivated with human faults of ambition and greed. This month, we take a deeper look into this masterful composer. How fortunate we are that such a revival has taken place for Monteverdi’s art (1567 – 1643)? His music is so very beautiful. He was and is greatly revered. He died about a year after the opera opened and he was honored by being buried in the church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. This is an important Franciscan church that bears the status of a minor basilica. It contains exceptional art including Titian’s “The Assumption” and Bellini’s “Triptych of the Virgin Mary and Saints.” Monteverdi is buried in the 2nd chapel to the left of the main altar where his memorial service was held. Wagner visited there in 1861 and was inspired to compose The Meistersingers. The church is often referred to as “Frari.” Music critic Denise Midgley Arnold writes, Monteverdi “also did much to bring a ‘modern’ secular spirit into church music.” A precocious pupil, Monteverdi, the son of a barber, surgeon and chemist, studied under Giaches de Wert. De Wert’s music was very emotional. His pupil published several books of religious and secular music when he was still only in his teens. In 1603 and 1605, Monteverdi published two more books of madrigals, considered masterpieces. Orfeo, composed in 1607, established him as a composer of large-scale music rather than of exquisite miniature works. Arnold writes, “In Orfeo, he showed that he had a much broader conception of the new genre than did his predecessors. He combined the opulence of dramatic entertainments of the late Renaissance with the straightforwardness of a simple pastoral tale told in recitative, which was the ideal of the Florentines. His recitative is more flexible and expressive than theirs, based on the declamatory melody of his madrigals rather than on their theories about heightened speech. Above all, he had a greater gift for dramatic unity, shaping whole acts into musical units, rather than assembling them from small sections. He also showed a sense of matching the climaxes in the drama by musical climaxes, using dissonance, the singer’s virtuosity, or instrumental sonorities to create the sense of heightened emotion.”
Florentine Opera’s production In the Florentine Opera’s production of L’Incoronazione di Poppea, bass Mathew Treviño will portray the philosopher Seneca. After warning Nerone not to get involved with Poppea, Seneca is ordered to commit suicide. His nobility is strikingly revealed when he announces to friends and family his intention to carry out Nerone’s order. A trio of his students entreat him to not die and sing how reluctant they would be to die.
Opera insights
Bass Mathew Treviño
Here is the English text of Seneca’s aria, his students’ objections, and Seneca’s last words: Seneca: My friends, the time has come to put into practice with facts that virtue I have celebrated
so much. Death is brief anguish. A wandering sigh leaves the heart where it has been for many years, almost like a guest, like a foreigner, and it flies up to Olym-
by Barbara Collignon Silvana Bastianutti Kukuljan is a familiar and beloved name to many students of Italian studying through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and to many students of a certain age who attended St. Rita’s School, Vieau, Fratney or Gaenslen. She recently wrote My War, My Peace, A memoir of World War II and how its aftermath caused her Italian family to seek a new life in the United States and in Milwaukee, in particular. As a young girl, she experienced the horrors of German occupation and fled as a refugee after the Fascist government’s collapse. Her memoir recounts how she, a 16year-old Italian girl, and her family fled their home in Fiume, Italy (now Rijeka, Croatia). Her journey involved many encampments in various countries and is told through rich observations and humor. Michele Merens, writer and educator, says, “Her voice is that of a poet’s.” Actress and writer Catherine Jones writes, “My War, My Peace is an exceptional story of loss, tenacity and courage”. Throughout all her varied experiences, Bastianutti Kukuljan was determined to maintain her Italian culture and language. In one of the first chapters, Bastianutti Kukuljan describes her childhood in Fiume. War had started far away. Ration cards were needed. There were family dinners cooked over a wood-burning stove. There were trips to the beach. Life was good but challenging. Then in 1943, the Germans entered her city. There were curfews, marching songs, the sound of boots hitting the pavement in unison. Bombs became so frequent that they had to live in shelters for days and weeks. Lest, I give away too much, I’d encourage you to read this warm and inspiring memoir that will be available in the Market Place during Festa Italiana, July 20-22.
Her story is poignant and relevant today as people from war torn countries immigrate to new countries, Italy and our own among them, to flee oppression and eventually make significant contributions to their new countries of allegiance. Bastianutti Kukuljan contributed much to Milwaukee as an Italian immigrant through her passion for teaching children and as a teacher of Italian language and
THE ITALIAN TIMES
pus, the true home of happiness. Students: Do not die, Seneca. For my part, I do not want to die. This life is too sweet. The sky is too clear. All bitterness, all poison, is just a small obstacle. If I lay down to easy sleep, I wake up in the morning but a tomb of fine marble never gives back what it receives. Seneca: Go, all of you, to prepare my bath. If life runs like a river flowing in a warm river I want this innocent blood to go. I want it to color my road to death. The Florentine’s performance promises to be extraordinary! The Coronation of Poppea will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Jory Vinikour, world renowned harpsichordist, will lead an authentic Baroque ensemble. Not to be missed, the opera will be performed March 22, 24, 30 and 31, 2019. The Florentine will be under new direction since this past May 9, the Florentine announced the resignation of William Florescu.
Silvana Bastianutti Kukuljan writes of her memories in war torn Italy in new book to be available at Festa this July
culture. Bastianutti Kukuljan is also the author of two children’s books: A Girl Who Loves to Read and The Story of Roxy. She and her Osher students published Tastes of Italy/I Sapori D’Italia, a bilingual cookbook. Note: My War, My Peace is published by Cosala Publishing, Whitefish Bay, WI.
JUNE 2018 – PAGE 27
Live and learn: Tripping in Italy
Compiled by Blaise Di Pronio Are you planning a trip to Italy this year or in the near future? If so, here are some helpful hints and insights which will save you time, energy, frustrations and some money and make your trip more enjoyable: 1). It is cheaper to stand at a bar/cafe than sitting down. That’s because there is one price for coffee, pastries or drinks and another price for table service if you sit down to enjoy them. Also plan to pay more if there is a tablecloth on your table. Thus, order al banco (at the counter) and stand and enjoy with all the others. 2). You do not need to tip in Italy as it is not required and can even be deemed offensive. Just be careful if you feel the need to tip, since it is possible that they will feel like you are trying to give them a “handout.” Usually, the menu will guide you on any service charges. 3). How to spot mass-produced gelato from the real, freshly made? The color of gelato should be a muted, natural color and not brightly colored as it is sign that it is made with artificial flavoring and colors. Also if the gelato is all fluffed up and set inches above the container – also a sign there are preservatives and thus not natural or artisan. Trick: Check the banana gelato and if it is a grayish hue, it was made with real bananas and if it’s bright yellow, stay away. Also look for a pistachio that’s a dull grey-green and you’ll know it’s yummy. 4). Cash talks and credit cards balk, especially in street markets. Stores most likely will not accept cards for purchases of less than 10 euros as it’s not worth it for them to
PAGE 28 – JUNE 2018
pay the transaction fee. 5). Always demand and walk out with a bill or receipt as the Guardia di Finanza (sales tax police) can stop you. If you can’t produce it, both you and the shopkeeper are in serious trouble, fine wise. 6). After you buy a ticket for a train/bus/vaporetto, it isn’t considered valid unless you validate it at a nearby ‘punch-in’ like machine before boarding said train/bus/vaporetto. The machine time and date stamps your ticket so that it cannot be reused. 7). Don’t assume you can buy your train/bus/vaporetto ticket on board. You’re required to buy your ticket before boarding. If there is no machine (a real possibility), look for the nearest tabaccaio (tobacco shop) to purchase your ticket. If you plan to travel on a Sunday, purchase your ticket ahead of time. Better safe... and validate! 8). Major churches enforce dress codes so cover those bare shoulders and knees when entering. 9). Most public places close between noon and 3 p.m. for lunch and rest/nap. 10). When visiting markets, keep your hands to yourself! Always ask permission to see something and the vendor will get it for you. If handling produce, plastic gloves should be provided and make sure you use them. 11). Look out for the Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTF) to avoid high traffic fines. These are touristy areas where car traffic is very limited or forbidden at certain times of the day or night. 12). When you order a Coca (Coke) or any other soda, that is all you get: one! No refills! Also, you must specify if you want “tap
water” (which is free) or “mineral/bottled water.” If you don’t, the waiter will bring you bottled water and you’ll be charged for it. 13). Italy lacks what we call personal space. It is consider polite to be close to someone while talking
and it isn’t awkward to talk while touching your hands and arms. So, don’t backpedal. 14). Stay away from any and all street games of chance as you have no chance! Buon viaggio!
Flowers presented to originator and longtime chair of ‘A Taste of Italy’
In recognition of her many years of service as the general chairperson of the Italian Community Center’s “A Taste of Italy,” a bouquet was presented to Ann Romano at the May 17 general meeting. Ann served as chair of 21 of the 23 Taste of Italy events held by the organization, including initiating the first one in 1996. “A Taste of Italy” serves as an essential and profitable fundraiser for the ICC. As President Dean Cannestra announced the recognition, Vice President Joe Emanuele presented Ann with the bouquet. Ann served as a consultant for this year’s Taste of Italy. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
THE ITALIAN TIMES