March 2018

ITALIAN TIMES THE

Published 11 times annually by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com MARCH 2018 • VOL. 39, NO. 9

– CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED –

Let the ball begin!

As the coronation of the 2018 Carnevale Royal Court concluded, Il Re e La Regina (the King and the Queen) Ed and Stephanie Ciano issued their first proclamation: “Let the ball begin!” The 39th annual Carnevale, held Feb. 10, was a celebration of “Music, Masks and Merrymaking.” Many more photos from the event can be found inside this issue. (Times photo

by Tom Hemman)

Time to join or rejoin and bring on others to the ICC

Did you know thatanyone can join the Italian Community Center? Even non-Italians.

“Everyone is welcome to become a member. There is so much to share at our Community Center that no matter who you are, we have a place for you at our center.” said Mary Anne CerasoAlioto, an ICC director-at-large who is the new chairperson of the Membership Committee.

The ICC Bylaws, in Article III, Section 1, state that “Membership is open to any person of Italian heritage or other public-spirited individual supporting the purposes and objectives of the Italian Community Center.”

There are so many benefits to being an ICC member. For instance, you get this newspaper mailed to your home and an individual receives four Festa Italiana admission tickets. A family gets eight tickets. There’s also a discount for members who advertise in The Italian Times.

Members also get special event discounts. Among the special events are the Membership Christmas party and Il Grande Carnevale, the ICC pre-Lenten costume and mask ball, a children’s Easter party and a postChristmas party with La Befana,

the Epiphany gift-bearing witch of Italian lore.

In addition to the social events, the ICC offers its members cultural, educational and recreational Mary Anne programs and opportunities. Ceraso-Alioto There are also bocce leagues to join on weekdays for seniors and weeknights for all adults. We even offer hoop dance fitness classes for those who want to move a little bit.

There’s also use of the Members Room, where members can play cards, relax and watch TV and just watch the activities going on in the halls of a very active building.

By becoming a member, you will have a say in the direction of the organization. Each fall, the ICC holds an election of officers and directors. As a member, you will not only have voting privileges, but you can be nominated to run for an officer position or a director-at-large seat. You can join one of the many committees which Please turn to page 12

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 placed here.

An appetizer to wet your whistle for ‘A Taste of Italy’ on Apr. 22

by the Taste of Italy Coordinators The 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy” will take place on Sunday, Apr. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event is starting to take shape with new coordinators, Marie Andaloro Lieber, Christina Ziino and Valorie Sanfilippo Schleicher. Tony Zingale will head our volunteers and Fran Tollefson will be in charge of the raffle. We are all leaning on Ann Romano’s guidance and years of experience to continue to make this a successful event.

Thank you Ann! Our request for donations letters went out in January, and volunteer sign-up forms will follow soon. If you have not received one, please let one of us know and we will see that you receive the proper forms.

We want to acknowledge and thank the donors who have already generously committed to making “A

Taste of Italy” a great success: Patrick Cudahy, Glorioso Brothers, Suminski Family Funeral Homes, Joe Reina and European Gelato, Saz’s, Alioto’s, Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO and Dean Cannestra. If we missed anyone please forgive us.

If you or your business would like to support this event, please contact Marie, Christina or Valorie.

Their contact information appears at the end of this article. There are several ways to help make this event successful through monetary or product donations.

There will once again be some great entertainment in Festa Hall.

Vocalist/recording artist Jayne Taylor and our own Tradizione Vivente, Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee and I Bei Bambini, the Children’s Italian Dance Group will be performing that afternoon. The Sicilian Serenaders – Peter Balistrieri, Tom and Ted Pappalardo – Please turn to page 7

A message from Dean Cannestra, ICC President

I wish all of you who are reading this message could have attended our 2018 celebration of Il Grande Carnevale this past Feb. 10. It was spectacular from the start of the evening with the performance by our youngest children, the dancers of I Bei Bambini, to the sweet table served towards the close of the evening. Everything was great from the dinner to the coronation of our 2018 Royalty, all the pageantry and decorations, the mask and costume wearers to the fireworks.

I commend our Carnevale Chairpersons Rosemary DeRubertis and Joanne Czubek and their committee for doing an outstanding job. Our 39th annual Carnevale lived up to its theme: “Masks, Music and Merrymaking.”

While Carnevale is traditionally our last chance to celebrate before

the start of the solemn Lenten season, our Italian heritage allows us an opportunity to pay tribute to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ, in March. The ICC will, in fact, be doing this on Friday, Mar. 16 at noon. Mary Winard is again in charge of our St. Joseph’s Day celebration. If you can get away from work for a couple of hours or if you are retired, I encourage you to attend. Complete details are in this issue.

We will continue our recognition of all things Italian in April with the celebration of our 23rd annual “A Taste of Italy” on Sunday, Apr. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I know that chairpersons Valorie (Sanfelippo) Schleicher, Christina Ziino and Marie (Andaloro) Lieber are doing their best to make this Please turn to page 12

Cosa c’è dentro?

Remembering Mary Hoffman

What’s inside? page 2

Get your children signed up for ICC’s Easter party page 3

Last chance to register for St. Joseph’s Day Luneh page 3 Time to apply for UNICO scholarships page 4

Attend Pompeii Men’s Good Friday Fish Buffet page 5

Carnevale highlights pages 8-11

102 year-old Frances Maniaci dies

page 13

Judge John DiMotto retiring after 42 years

page 14

Anthony Busalacchi hosting benefit for St. Anthony Project page 13 Baldassaro’s new baseball book

page 15

Glorioso’s and other Italian businesses recognized pages 16 & 17

Mary Hoffman, whose life revolved around the ICC and Festa for over 30 years, dies at the age of 86

By Thomas Hemman Times Editor Mary C. (Pizzo) Hoffman, one of the people most commonly identified with the Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana from its inception in 1978 until the spring of 2010, died Feb. 12. She was 86 years old.

Hoffman, who started out as a volunteer administrative assistant, held several different titles in her 32 years with the ICC and Festa including Executive Secretary of the Italian Community Center, Festa Office Manager, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of Festa Italiana, Operations Manager and Executive Assistant to the President of the Italian Community Center.

For much of her career at the ICC, Mary Hoffman was directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization.

“Mary was a hard-working, dedicated employee, who gave her all to the ICC and Festa, often going beyond the call of duty to help us accomplish our goals,” said Dean Cannestra, ICC President. “She was profoundly proud of her Italian heritage and what the ICC and Festa are doing to positively demonstrate our culture and the virtues of the people of our ancestry.”

Hoffman’s husband, Ramon (Ray), a retired West Allis Public Works Department employee, also worked part-time for the ICC for the parking operations and maintenance departments from September 1988 until mid-February 2010.

Mary Hoffman was in attendance when a group of local Italian Americans met in the lower level of Glorioso’s on Brady in early 1978 and decided to forge ahead with plans for the first Festa Italiana on Milwaukee’s Summerfest grounds in August of that year. She initially worked as an unpaid secretary from a small storefront office on Brady Street.

With the success of Festa, Hoffman eventually received compensation for her work and was named Executive Secretary, a title she held until early 1990 when the ICC Board appointed her as Operations Manager. At that time, the ICC was headquartered in a former Masonic Lodge on N. Hackett Ave., but was nearing completion of a much larger facility on E. Chicago St. in the Historic Third Ward, the birth-

PAGE 2 – MARCH 2018

place of many of Milwaukee’s early Italian Americans. The position of Operations Manager was created to handle day-to-day operations until the time when the ICC Board hired a paid Executive Director. The late Phillip Purpero, a past president of the ICC, had been filling the Executive Director position in a voluntary capacity.

During the years that followed, Hoffman held Executive Assistant positions, sometimes holding that position for both the ICC and Festa at the same time. Prior to the opening of the current ICC facility in September 1990, she was in charge of virtually every administrative function in the ICC office, including bookkeeping and payroll. In the years that followed, she worked under the direction of the Executive Director, then the Business Manager and along with the accountant. For Festa Italiana, Hoffman worked under the volunteer Executive Director and was actively involved in virtually every aspect of the festival.

As the Festa Office Manager, Hoffman often arrived at the festival grounds during the four-day event at 7 a.m. and didn’t leave her duties until 1 a.m. or later.

As one of the charter members of the ICC, Hoffman volunteered for and chaired or co-chaired many events and activities. These include Il Grande Carnevale, the ICC’s preLenten costume and mask ball, an event she chaired or co-chaired several times and volunteered for virtually every year; the ICC’s Children’s party with La Befana, celebrating the Epiphany gift-bearing witch of Italian folklore; the Members’ Christmas party; installation dinners; New Year’s Eve parties; the ICC’s participation in the TV6 MDA Festival; “A Taste of Italy,” the organization’s Italian food-tasting extravaganza; the ICC’s festivities during the HarleyDavidson Motor Company reunions and many other events and activities.

From the spring of 1991 and every spring through 2009, she and her husband, Ray, volunteered to shop for and do the planting of flower seeds on the ICC grounds.

An annual donation was made by Joe and Mary Glorioso, both deceased, for the purchase of the seeds.

Mary Hoffman was well known for her seamstress skills, and, in

Mary Hoffman

her 32 years with the ICC and Festa, had done a lot of sewing of various items of apparel on a volunteer basis. She made hand-sewn specially designed Festa Italiana jackets for two United States Presidents, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, and many, many other dignitaries and celebrities. She made the initial costumes worn by the young women who participated in the group we now call The Festa Italiana Regional & Renaissance Dancers. Over the years, she sowed thousands of Festa or ICC shirts, sashes, jackets and other apparel for individuals, organizations and societies.

Another one of her skills was as a baker. She would often bring in the delicious treats she made at home for the enjoyment of the staff and visitors to the ICC and Festa offices. Many times, she baked dozens of treats for the sweet tables presented at Carnevale or other events.

Hoffman was a longtime member of the Pompeii Women’s Club, the Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in America and

the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO. She was elected as the first-ever recording secretary of the Mazzei OSIA Lodge in 2001.

The Pompeii Women’s Club recognized Hoffman as its “Woman of the Year” in 1988. The Milwaukee Chapter of UNICO honored her with a special recognition award at its scholarship and awards banquet in June of 1990. In 1999, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and the City of Milwaukee presented her with a “Community Service Award.”

Mary and Ray celebrated 66 years of marriage. In addition to Ray, Mary is survived by her children, Bill (Vicki), Linda (Gary) Kopacka, Susie and Lori (Ivano) DiPietrantonio, her grandchildren Candice (Chad) Hoepner, Willie (Tracy), Katie Wickersheimer, Giovanni DiPietrantonio, Samantha Ganim, Gino DiPietrantonio, Ray Hoffman and C.J. Howard and other relatives and friends. Prior to coming to the ICC, Mary worked for Kearney & Trecker, doing secretarial duties.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Children invited to ICC’s ‘Easter Carnival’ on Saturday, Mar. 24

by Rose Anne Fritchie Plans are in motion for a funfilled children’s Easter party at the Italian Community Center on Saturday, Mar. 24, beginning at noon.

The Avanti Committee is happy and excited to host this year’s party, the theme for which will be Festa di Pasqua, or Easter Carnival.

We can assure all who attend that it will be an entertaining, “crazy good” time. The atmosphere will be that of a carnival or county fair and will be tons of fun for everyone. As the children arrive, they will be given tokens to be used for the carnival games and the Ice Cream & Popcorn Shoppe.

At noon, all guests are invited to enjoy a delicious, child-approved lunch. There will be chocolate or white milk for the youngsters and coffee for adults.

After lunch, the games begin! The room will be filled with the sights and sounds of a festival, with carnival games such as the Ring Toss, Bowling Balls Push, Lollipop Pulls, Topple the Cans, Bean Bag Toss, and so much more. The children will also have an additional chance to win special prizes by participating in the guessing jars contest. Street artists will be painting faces, and balloon hats will be created for anyone inter-

ICC Childrenʼs Easter Party & Lunch Reservation Form

Names of boys attending

Saturday, March 24th • Noon to 2:00 p.m. age

Names of girls attending

age

Name(s) of adult ICC members attending: _________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Number of children attending: Number of adults attending:

x $15.00 per member

=$

_ x $20.00 per person = $

Total amount enclosed: $ Make your check payable to: Italian Community Center. Mail this form with your payment to: ICC, Attn.: Easter Party, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Deadline: Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

ested in wearing a special Easter hat.

During the festivities, we anticipate a visit from the Easter Bunny who will greet all of the children and lead them in a parade through the carnival. The children are welcome to wear their new hats and fill the room with the joyous noise of

their musical instruments. The parade will end at the stage where the Easter Bunny will have treats for all youngsters to take home.

The costs are set at $5 per child (ages 11 and under) and $15 per adult. To ensure that all children receive their special treats, only advance reservations will be ac-

cepted. All pre-paid reservations must be received by Wednesday, Mar. 21. Attendance at this event is limited to ICC members, their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Please use the form accompanying this article to make your reservations.

Reservations, required by Friday, Mar. 9, can be made by filling out the form below and sending it with a check or money order to the ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Reservations also can be made by calling Valentina at the ICC office at 414-223-2180 and paying with a credit card. People can also pick up at a St. Joseph’s Day flyer at the ICC which has a form for making reservations. Please note: No exceptions will be made for late reservations.

“Our luncheon – the 26th annual – will serve as a joyous preview to the actual observance of St. Joseph’s Day, which is March 19th and is celebrated in many Catholic churches in Italy, the United States and other countries,” said chairperson Mary (Mineo) Winard.

ICC Chaplain, the Very Reverend Timothy Kitzke, will be present for the invocation. He will also bless with Holy Water the St. Joseph’s altar, those attending, and the bags filled with fresh fruit and baked round bread that they will take home at the close of the luncheon.

Winard will welcome guests and introduce ICC President Dean Cannestra, who will act as master of ceremonies.

As in past years, pianist John Puchner is volunteering to play Italian songs and music appropri-

ate for the occasion during the serving of the lunch.

Part of the tradition of St. Joseph’s Day is the serving of a meatless meal. The meal will be prepared and served by the Bartolotta Catering staff.

Winard reports that the ICC menu for the observance will include pasta con sarde e finocchio (pasta with sardines and fennel), eggplant artichokes, tossed salad with grapefruit, Italian bread and coffee, tea or milk. The traditional and always-raved about Italian

Get your reservations in now for the ICC’s St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Luncheon on Friday, Mar. 16 at noon

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor In keeping with its tradition of celebrating the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the Italian Community Center is proud to announce its 26th annual St. Joseph’s Day luncheon on Friday, Mar. 16 at noon.

Both ICC members and nonmembers are invited to attend. The costs have been set at $20 per ICC member and $23 per non-member.

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.

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.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Please turn to page 7

The ICC presents the St. Josephʼs Day Luncheon Friday, Mar. 16 • Reservation Form

Name(s): _________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________

City: _________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: ___________________ Phone: ___________________________ Number of ICC members attending: ___ @ $20.00 per person = $

Number of non-members attending: ___ @ $23.00 per person = $

PRE-PAID RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MAR. 9.

Tables of 10 available. Please list the people at your table:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Weʼre attending and wish to make an additional donation to the event.

Besides my payment for reservations, Iʼm sending a $ contribution.

We are unable to attend, but wish to contribute $ this tradition in the high standard of the past.

to continue

Checks payable to: St. Josephʼs Luncheon. (One check preferable for all at same table.) MAIL TO: Italian Community Center, Attn.: St. Josephʼs Day Luncheon, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 3

UNICO organizations to present scholarships for 82nd consecutive year

College-bound students of Italian descent: Apply for scholarships from Milwaukee UNICO organizations by Mar. 31

Continuing a program started 82 years ago, the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National and the Ladies of UNICO, Inc. will award several scholarships this spring to high school seniors of Italian descent. The exact number of scholarships to be presented had not been determined as of press time.

To be eligible, applicants must attend a public or private school in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha or Walworth counties.

The spirit of this scholarship is

to help Italian American seniors with financial needs. Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of non-Italian descent dignitaries from the Milwaukee area. Financial need, scholarship, community/school involvement and personal character are the criteria by which the applicants will be judged.

Obtaining a scholarship application Applications will be available on the Milwaukee UNICO website, www.unicomilwaukee.com. Click

on the documents link found on the sidebar.

Application deadline Candidates must submit their applications by Saturday, Mar. 31 to: Scholarship Director of UNICO Milwaukee, 1333 N. 59th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208.

Applicants may be contacted to attend a personal interview at the Italian Community Center during school hours on Friday, Apr. 13.

The scholarships will be presented at a banquet on the evening of Tuesday, May 15. The recipient

Application deadline is Apr. 15

or his/her representative must be present to accept the scholarship award.

The Milwaukee UNICO scholarship program has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships over the past 82 years.

The Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National is celebrating 87 years in existence in 2017. The organization awarded its first scholarship in 1936. The Ladies of UNICO celebrate its 55th anniversary as an independent civic and service organization in 2018.

UNICO National offers scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate students of Italian ancestry

Students in the United States who are of Italian ancestry and are interested in pursuing either an undergraduate or post-graduate education may apply for UNICO National scholarships.

UNICO National offers four $6,000 undergraduate scholarships, several post-graduate scholarships and three scholarships for Ph.D. candidates. Presentations are made to recipients at events hosted by local UNICO chapters across the nation in the spring.

They are also recognized in the UNICO National Convention Journal, published for the 96th national convention which will take place July 25-29, in Delray Beach, Fla. The criteria that UNICO National uses in selecting its recipi-

ents are quite similar to those used by the Milwaukee Chapter in choosing local awardees.

The four undergraduate scholarships are designated as the Theodore Mazza Scholarship, the Major Don S. Gentile Scholarship, the William C. Davini Scholarship and the Alphonse A. Miele Scholarship. These awards do not require the applicant to specify a collegiate major. The Mazza scholarship was established to commemorate the contributions of the late Theodore Mazza of Milwaukee to both the national organization and the Milwaukee Chapter.

Additionally, there are several awards for matriculated college students, post-graduate and doctoral candidates:

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.

PAGE 4 – MARCH 2018

• 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

• Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation, Inc. will grant up to a maximum of $6,000, paid out at $1,500 per year, for a graduate scholarship. The awardee must be initiating graduate study, fulltime, at an accredited college/university program in the United States. A candidate must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.

• Dr. Benjamin Cottone Memorial Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation, Inc. will grant a $5,000 scholarship, paid on award, to a student pursuing graduate education at an accredited medical school in the United States. A candidate must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.

• Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships: The UNICO Foundation, Inc. will provide grants valued at $2,500 each, paid on award, to students attending accredited prelicensure or graduate nursing programs in the United States. Preference is given to applicants demonstrating financial need. A candidate must be a United States citizen. This program is open to nursing students of all ethnicities.

• DiMattio Celli Family Study Abroad Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $1,250 each, for study in Italy. Candidates must be currently enrolled, full-time, in an accredited college or university in the United States, pursuing a degree. The study abroad program must be eligible for credit by the student’s college/university. An applicant must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.

• Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation will provide two literary scholarships, valued at $1,000 each. Application for this program will be open to matriculated college students.

Terms of submission require the candidate to present, in writing, an original short story or essay celebrating their Italian heritage.

• Guglielmo Marconi Engineering Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation will grant a scholarship valued at $1,250 paid on award to a sophomore, junior or senior student enrolled full-time, in an ac-

credited college/university program in the United States majoring in engineering. An applicant must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.

• Louise Torraco Memorial Scholarship for Science: The UNICO Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing study of the Physical Sciences or Life Sciences. A nominee must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities.

• Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing a degree. A nominee must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities.

• Ralph J. Torraco Fine Arts Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation will grant two scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing a degree in the Fine Arts. A nominee must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities. A nominee must reside in the home state of an active UNICO Chapter. Online degree programs are not eligible for UNICO scholarships.

Maria and Paolo Alessio Southern Italy Scholarship: The UNICO Foundation will provide a scholarship valued at $2,500 to a student currently attending, full-time, an accredited campus based college/university program in the United States, pursuing a degree.

An applicant must be a United States citizen of Southern Italian descent, specifically including the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Latium, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicilia. *Open to all 50 states.

• Inserra Scholarships: The UNICO Foundation will grant two scholarships valued at $2,500 each to students currently attending, full-time, an accredited campus based college/university in the Continued on page 5

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Pompeii Men’s Club seeks your support of its Good Friday Fish Buffet on Mar. 30

You can show your support for the Pompeii Men’s Club by attending the organization’s annual fundraiser, the Good Friday Fish Buffet, at the Italian Community Center on Friday, Mar. 30 (Good Friday).

The fish buffet is the club’s biggest fundraiser and proceeds benefit its extensive charity work.

The meal is all-you-can-eat and will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. The cost is set at $16 for adults and $8 for children, 4-10 years, and free for children, 3 years and younger.

The menu consists of breaded and baked cod, potato pancakes, French fries, popcorn shrimp, mostaccioli with red sauce, coleslaw, tossed salad, Italian bread, watermelon wedges, choice of beverage (coffee, tea, or milk) and dessert. There will be a full range of condiments available.

Guests can park for free in the lot immediately south of the building.

The event will also feature a money raffle. Cash prizes are: 1st $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $150, 4th -

$100, 5th - $75, 6th - $50, 7th - $50 and 8th through 10th prizes - $25 each.

Raffle tickets are available for $2 each or seven for $10 and can be purchased by contacting Club President Tony Baudo at 414-324-6347 or Fish Buffet Chairman John A. Sanfilippo at 414-282-2667 or Tony Zingale at 414-444-4689. Tickets will also be sold at the event.

The Pompeii Men’s Club charitable outreach has benefited the ICC, along with several other local organizations including the So-

journer Truth House, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the Ronald McDonald House and Special Olympics of Southeastern Wisconsin.

The club also has strong ties to Three Holy Women Parish. The club was formerly the Holy Name Society of the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church, the predecessor to St. Rita of Cascia Church on Cass Street, and evolved into the Pompeii Men’s Club after the demolition of the Pompeii Church in the late 1960s.

The Pompeii Women’s Club celebrated its first dinner meeting of the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the Italian Community Center. President Suzanne Wypijewski began the evening by calling on Father Mike Hammer, one of the club’s chaplains, to lead the group in prayer.

Prior to the start of the business meeting, President Suzanne called up newest members Maria D’Am-

ato, Ashley Guttuso, Diane Otzelberger, Grace Primasing, Jean Primasing, Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahles and Betty Puccio to be sworn in as members and to receive their membership pins. Mary Ann Bellante, Valentina Sturdevant and Amy Domagalski were unable to attend and will receive their pins later in the year. Welcome to all the new members.

After the business part of the

meeting was over, our hostess, Maria D’Amato, took over and cut and served birthday cake as all sang “Happy Birthday.” Candy favors, birthday balloons and plant centerpieces decorated the tables.

The plants were then awarded as door prizes. The birthday theme was the idea of hostess Maria, and was intended as a way to celebrate all of the ladies’ birthdays in 2018.

Maria, who is the daughter of Ann

Skoczynski, did an extraordinary job.

Fr. Mike delivered a closing prayer.

The Pompeii Women’s February meeting is on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

The hostesses will be past president Pat Consolazione and past vice president Lucy Sorce.

– Submitted by Mary G. (Mineo) Winard P.R. Chair/Board Member

Pompeii Women’s Club report on its January meeting

Top photo, from the left: Jean Primasing, Sr. Anne Catherine Veierstahles, Grace Primasing, Ashley Guttuso, Diane Otzelberger and Maria D’Amato were sworn in as new members by Aggie Collura, Membership Chairperson. (Photo provided by Suzanne Wypijewski)

2663 N. Holton St., Milwaukee

Scarvaci Florists & Gift Shoppe Your Wedding and Holiday Floral & Gift Headquarters

The theme for the Pompeii Women’s Club January general meeting was centered around the celebration of all of the ladies’ birthdays in 2018.

Photo provided by Suzanne Wypijewski)

UNICO National offering undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships

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.

from page 4

United States pursuing a degree. A candidate must be an American citizen of Italian descent.

• Eleanor and Anthony De Francis Scholarship Fund for Natural Sciences. Open to only the students attending the following: California Institute of Technology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; School or Astronomical Studies at the University of Arizona, Tucson. UNICO Foundation will grant scholarships valued in the range of $2,500 to $10,000 to fully matriculating students currently attending, full-time, one of the above listed universities majoring in the Natural Sciences. The candidate must be at least eighteen years of age and a natural born United States citizen of Italian ancestry, having at least one parent of Italian descent.

Application forms for all UNICO National scholarships are available at www.unico.org/scholarships.asp.

The deadline for submitting applications, except as noted in each scholarship, is Sunday, Apr. 15.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

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

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 5

Calendar of Events February 28 – March 30, 2018

Wednesday, Feb. 28 • Pompeii Women’s Club general membership dinner meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 23 • Abruzzese Society social, 6 p.m.

Monday, Mar. 5 • Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Mar. 28 • Pompeii Women’s Club dinner and general meeting, 5:30 p.m., social, 6:30 p.m., dinner.

Thursday, Mar. 1 • Italian Community Center Membership Committee meeting, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Mar. 24 • Italian Community Center’s annual Children’s Easter party, noon.

Details in this issue.

Tuesday, Mar. 6 • Start of spring semester of Italian I and Italian II classes. Italian I class, 5:30 p.m. Italian II class, 7:30 p.m. Registration required. Details in this issue.

Friday, Mar. 30 • Pompeii Men’s Club annual Good Friday Fish Fry Buffet, 4 – 7:30 p.m. Details in this issue.

Wednesday, Mar. 7 • Pompeii Women’s Club Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Mar. 8 • Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 13 • Abruzzese Society meeting and spuntino, 2 p.m.

• Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National meeting, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Mar. 15 • Italian Community Center membership dinner, 5:30 p.m.

• Italian Community Center general meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 16 • Italian Community Center’s 26th annual Saint Joseph’s Day Luncheon, noon. Details in this issue.

Saturday, Mar. 17 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO general meeting, 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Mar. 21 • Filippo Mazzei Lodge/Order Sons of Italy in America Board meeting, 6 p.m.

Last chance to register for ICC’s weekly Italian classes for teens and adults which start Mar. 6

This spring, the Italian Community Center will offer an introductory class (Italian I) as well as an Italian II conversational class, both starting Tuesday, Mar. 6.

Both courses will be held on 10 consecutive Tuesday nights, with the final classes on May 8.

Instructor Enrica Tarantino Woytal described Italian I as being for those who want an introduction to the language and the culture of Italy. The introductory course will run from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.

The Italian II course will begin at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9:15 p.m.

“Italian II is ideal for those who have completed our introductory course and are ready to learn more about the language and culture of Italy,” Tarantino Woytal said.

Enrollment is open to ICC members and the general public. There is a limit of 25 students per class.

The fee for each course is $125 per person. The fee does not include the course textbook, entitled “Italian is Fun” by Amsco Publishing.

To register, complete the form accompanying this article. Checks or money orders are payable to the Italian Community Center. Registration will be accepted up to the start of the Mar. 6 classes if the enrollment limit has not been reached. People can also stop in at the ICC office, fill out the registration form and make their payment with a check or credit card.

Tarantino Woytal began teaching Italian classes at the ICC more than 35 years ago.

Registration form for Italian I course & Italian II course

Name(s) _________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ____________________________________________________

Phone No. __________________Email _________________________________

I am (we are) enrolling in:

Daily and weekly classes and activities • Bocce leagues. The winter season runs through the week of Mar. 5.

The championship playoffs will take place Monday, Mar. 12.

• ICC Italian classes. The spring semester of Italian I, an introductory Italian class, and Italian II, a conversational Italian class, for persons, 13 years and older, will get underway on Tuesday, Mar. 6 and will continue for a total of 10 Tuesday nights through May 8. Look for details in this 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.

• Tradizione Vivente, The Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee. This folk dance group practices weekly on most Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at the ICC. Visit: www.tradizionevivente.com for details. Breaks are taken during the holidays. Ballate con noi! Dance with us!

• Hula hoop dance fitness class. Every Tuesday night, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. in the bocce court room. Everyone is welcome. Cost: $5 per member, $10 per non-member. No classes during the holidays.

Winter bocce season drawing to close; spring season to start week of Mar. 19

The winter season for indoor bocce leagues at the Italian Community Center concludes with the championship playoffs on Monday, Mar. 12. The first place teams from each of the five leagues plus three teams with the best overall runnerup record will compete in the playoffs. The action will start at 7 p.m.

A report on the tournament and picture of the championship team will appear in our next issue.

About spring leagues Competition in the spring leagues will get underway the week of Mar. 19. There will be teams competing in senior citizens’ leagues on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and in mixed couples’ leagues on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Each team plays once a week over an eight-week period provided that there is an even number in the league. Each league seeks a maximum of eight teams.

Please note: Recently both the daytime seniors’ leagues and the evening couples’ leagues have had difficulty filling eight-team rosters.

New players and new teams are en-

couraged to join.

If you’re interested in registering a team to play in a spring league, here are a few things you need to know. There are two sets of registration fees – one for those who are not members of the ICC and one for those who are ICC members. The non-member registration fee is $40 per person per league season. A discounted registration fee of $30 per person per league season is offered to an ICC member. Each team must consist of at least four players, with one player designated as team captain.

Each league is interested in having eight teams, which allows every team to compete each week of the season.

Team registrations are available from the league coordinators: Troy Halverson (Monday night), Craig Lieber (Tuesday afternoon), Tony Tarantino (Wednesday night) and Jeannie Prindiville (Thursday afternoon). The forms can also be obtained by contacting the ICC office at 414–223-2180. The forms must be submitted with full payment for all players by Tuesday, Mar. 13.

Italian I course Number of persons enrolling.

Italian II course Number of persons enrolling.

Course fee: $125.00 per person.

Make payment to: Italian Community Center, and send to: ICC, c/o Italian Class, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Enrollment in each class is limited to the first 25 students who send in this registration form with full payment.

Interested in advertising in our next issue? Get all of the details by calling 414-223-2189 or sending an email to Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.

PAGE 6 – MARCH 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

A sampling of what’s on tap for ‘Taste of Italy’

from page 1 will stroll all around the building.

The price of food tickets will be $2 each. All food and beverage servings require one (1) ticket except for calamari which will require two (2) tickets per serving due to the high market price.

We are pleased that Tony Zingale is returning as our volunteer coordinator. Please complete and mail your volunteer forms as soon as you receive them to Tony at this address: Tony Zingale, 6611 W Chambers St., Milwaukee, WI 53210.

There will be two Taste of Italy raffles – one for prizes and the other for cash. The tickets for both raffles will be $2 each or six for $10 or 15 for $20. The tickets will be sold in the galleria.

In the prize raffle, people will be able to place the tickets they purchase in a container next to the prize they want to have a chance to win. A drawing for each prize will occur before the end of the event.

The committee is working hard to secure some great prizes. If you’d like to make a donation, please contact Fran Tollefson at 262-7868276.

The cash raffle is what is commonly known as a 50/50 raffle, in which one ticket that is drawn giving the purchaser of that ticket 50% of the cash collected from ticket sales. The other 50% goes to the ICC. Raffle ticket sellers will ask purchasers to put their name and phone number on each ticket. That way, winners do not need to be present when the winning tickets are drawn.

Festa Italiana is our largest fundraiser for the Italian Community Center. “A Taste of Italy” is second and we could not do it without our Italian societies, businesses, volunteers and generous supporters of the Italian Community Center. We are so grateful for everything you have done to support our organization and look for-

from page 3 pastry zeppole will be served for dessert.

“We hope to see all of you who have been so faithful in attending our past St. Joseph’s Day celebrations at this year’s luncheon and we ask you to bring along your relatives and friends who might be interested in attending,” Winard said.

She added that donations, both small and large, are welcome to help with the various costs associated with the event, such as altar decorations and the program.

jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream or a butter and honey mixture. In Rome, Naples and the region of Sicily, these little pastries are sold on many streets and are sometimes given as gifts.

St. Joseph’s Day luncheon tradition continues at ICC

St. Joseph’s Day tradition St. Joseph’s Day is marked with celebrations across Italy. The lateICC Historian Mario A. Carini said Sicilian immigrants, who followed the observance in their hometowns, brought the tradition with them when they settled in Milwaukee starting in the late 1880s.

The subject has also been written about by Professor/Cavaliere Philip J. DiNovo, president of the American Italian Heritage Association of Albany, N.Y. In an article on the organization’s website (www.aiha-albany.org), DiNovo wrote: “In the Middle Ages, according to tradition, there was a severe drought that destroyed most vegetation and left many people in western Sicily dying of starvation.

People began to pray to St. Joseph asking him to ask the Lord for rain.

They promised if the rains came that they would honor St. Joseph for his intercession and perpetually honor him on March 19.

“At the stroke of midnight, the Lord sent the rain; it was on this day the prayers were heard. The people had water, the vegetation turned green, and there were fish for the fishermen. The St. Joseph altars are based on this traditional legend, which has been handed down from one generation to the next.”

Today in Italy, St. Joseph’s Day is also known as Father’s Day. The day, which used to be a national holiday, is traditionally celebrated with bonfires and sometimes pageants with scenes from the life of St. Joseph. Children give gifts to their fathers on San Giuseppe Day. Zeppole (or zeppoli in southern Italian dialects) are traditionally eaten on St. Joseph’s Day. Zeppole are deep-fried dough balls that are usually topped with powdered sugar and may be filled with custard,

THE ITALIAN TIMES

ward to your continued participation.

If you have any questions or want to make a donation, please

feel free to contact one of the coordinators, Marie Lieber, 414-7081607, Val Schleicher, 414-241-1194 or Christina Ziino, 414-218-2175.

This beautiful stained glass piece is going to be one of the prizes in the 2018 “A Taste of Italy” prize raffle. It measures 15 inches in diameter and includes a chain for hanging. This prize is being donated by ICC members Bill and Karen Dickinson. It was designed and crafted by Bill Dickinson. (Photo provided by the Dickinsons)

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 7

Masks, Music and Merrymaking

La Regina Stephanie Ciano and her husband and Il Re Ed Ciano.

Il Nonno Joe Mangiamele and La Nonna Ann D’Acquisto.

Seated: La Principessa Miro Mueller and Il Principe Ryan Lieber Standing: Carnevale Committee member Marie Lieber and Fr. Mike Hammer.

Il Piccolo Principe Izayah Angeles and La Piccola Principessa Maya Hamdan.

Il Gran Maresciallo John Alioto was about to lead the Grand March of Royalty and all those in masks and costumes. Behind him are Il Re Ed Ciano and La Regina Stephanie Ciano. The people in the Alioto family group were decked out as characters from the Disney film Aladdin.

Bagpipe players Rob McWilliam and Dennis Janzer performed as the yetto-be-crowned 2018 King and Queen Ed and Stephanie Ciano entered the ballroom. The bagpipers are with the Milwaukee Scottish Pipe Band.

PAGE 8 – MARCH 2018

All Times photos by Tom Hemman

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Il Grande Carnevale 2018

ICC President Dean Cannestra escorted the Carnevale Co-Chairs Rosemary DeRubertis (left) and Joanne Czubek to the stage.

Everyone who came to Carnevale wearing a mask had a chance to win a prize package. A panel of Carnevale Committee judges selected these three as the winners. Marissa Gatti-Taylor and her husband, Steven Taylor, wearing masks reminscence of the Italian Commedia dell’Arte era of the 16th through the 18th centuries, were awarded a wine basket and brunch at Saz’s State House. Six year-old Lilliana Lucente, wearing a decorative Carnevale-style mask, won a teddy bear and tickets to the Milwaukee Art Museum. She is a dancer in the group, I Bei Bambini.

All Times photos by Tom Hemman

Guests of all ages had an opportunity to get their picture taken by putting their face in the center opening of this huge Carnevale mask display. One of the guests who did just that was six year-old Emily Scott.

Marie Lieber, a volunteer member of Carnevale’s decorations committee, noted the splendor of the large centerpiece on the sweet table. This centerpiece was made by Carnevale Co-Chair Joanne Czubek.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Father Mike Hammer, who assisted at the coronation of the Royal Court, showed he was into the spirit of the event when he put on his mask, one, he told the attendees, that he bought during a visit to Venice, Italy.

Venice is, of course, famous for its Carnevale celebrations and elaborate masks.

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 9

More highlights from the 39th Carnevale

Here is Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee, performing one of its dances during Carnevale.

I Bei Bambini, the Children’s Italian Dance Group, performed before guests at the 39th annual Il Grande Carnevale.

ICC Chaplain/Father Tim Kitzke provided the invocation.

To the left: Angela Maria CrivellJones and Adam Hamdan were the flag bearers for the parade of Carnevale Royalty and masked and costumed attendees. Angela was part of a group that came in costume as the characters from Disney’s Aladdin. Angela was the Princess Jasmine character. Adam was Il Principe of Carnevale 2017.

All Times photos by Tom Hemman Bottom: Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto and John Alioto, who are seen here dancing, were part of a group that dressed in costumes from the Disney film “Aladdin.” John also had the role of Il Gran Maresciallo of Carnevale. The couple was the King and Queen of Carnevale in 2012.

The members of Tradizione Vivente invited guests to join them for a Tarantella and numerous people took them up on the invitation as this picture shows.

PAGE 10 – MARCH 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

All Times photos by Tom Hemman

The Carnevale Committee and the Italian Community Center thank you for your support and contribution to Il Grande Carnevale 2018 in making this a wonderful event.

John Alioto & Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto Pam Mazza-Mueller & Jon Mueller Bartolotta Catering at the ICC Sandy Mazza Jeff Bartolotta Ralph Busalacchi Dean Cannestra

Susan DeSanctis Christiansen Crazy Water Restaurant

Crown Plaza Hotel

Culver’s Frozen Custard

Metamorphasis Salon & Spa

Milwaukee Art Museum

Nails by Debra

Sal & Maria Purpora, Papa Luigi’s & Meyers Restaurant

Pietro Tarantino, Pietro’s Pizza

Joanne Czubek

Betty Puccio

Bill & Karen Dickinson

Saz’s State House

Rosemary DeRubertis

Divino Wine & Dine Kathy Emery

Fazio’s Sweet Memories Sweet Life Sonny & Melody Gensler

I Bei Bambini, the Children’s Italian Dance Group Craig & Marie Lieber

Tony Machi

Santino’s

Peter Sciortino Bakery Rose Purpero Spang

Tradizione Vivente The Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee

Wolverwine Fireworks

Joe & Christina Ziino

Please accept our apologies if your contribution was received after the printing of this edition.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 11

Time to join or rejoin and bring on others to the ICC

from page 1 work toward advancing the value of the Italian Community Center and planning events and services for our membership, and you will own a piece of the Italian heritage in Milwaukee.

You can become a member by completing the form that accompanies this article. Send it with your payment for membership dues to the ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. You can also apply for membership online by going to the organization’s website,

www.iccmilwaukee.com or simply stop in at the reception desk in the ICC office during regular business hours.

“While we certainly encourage and welcome all those who are not of Italian descent to join us, we strongly believe that those of you who are of Italian heritage should want to preserve the Italian culture in Milwaukee and become members of the ICC,” CerasoAlioto said. “Make it a family affair by having everyone from Nonno and Nonna to bambini become

members of the ICC.” She listed the following as important reasons why people of Italian descent should join the ICC: 1. To show our pride in our Italian heritage and respect for our ancestry.

2. To support an organization that represents all Italian Americans.

3. To demonstrate our pride in having one of the finest facilities in the United States.

4. To show our pride in an organization that sponsors the best

Italian festival – Festa Italiana – in the nation and to display our dedication to the continuance of Festa through our volunteer services.

5. To work for a common goal of presenting a positive and vibrant image of the Italian American community.

6. To make friendships with all members that will last a lifetime.

“Together, with all of our members regardless of ancestry, we can enjoy the wonderful benefits of our organization,” Ceraso-Alioto said.

A message from Dean Cannestra, Italian Community Center President

from page 1 Italian food tasting extravaganza a successful fundraiser for our organization.

After Festa Italiana, this is our second most important moneymaker. As your President, I ask that all of you participate either as

volunteers or attendees, and do your part to make this year’s Taste of Italy a big success. A lot of details about this event appear in this issue.

Planning for our 41st Festa is well underway. The budget is set.

We have evaluated everything that

we think we can and can’t do this year and made adjustments where possible. One thing we can’t control in the weather. We hope and pray for three dry days. Remember, Festa will be Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22. Mark your calendars now. Get involved

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

Ages 21 – 65

Annual Dues

Gratis – $0.00

Individual

Couple/Family

$100 per year

Ages 66 – 84

Annual Dues

Ages 85 & Older

Annual Dues

Couple/Family

$75 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.

Individual

$50 per year

Individual

Couple/Family

$50 per year

$30 per year

$50 per year

Effective: January 1, 2018. All Memberships Valid Through December 31, 2018.

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION FORM Names & Birthdates of Each Adult: _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Names & Birthdates of Each Child (under age 21): _____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________

Address, City, State, Zip Code: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________ Email Address: ____________________________________________ No. of Members under 21: _____ No. of Members 21-65: ______ No. of Members 66-84: ______ No. of Members 85 & Older: _____ Payment Amount: _______________ Method: Cash Check Credit Card – Card Type MC Visa Discover Other

Card No. :______________________________________________________ Expiration Date: _____________

___________________________________ Signature – Adult Member

____________________________________ 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 12 – MARCH 2018

and let your family and friends know that they should attend. You will be hearing much more about Festa in the coming months. Keep in touch with The Italian Times and on the Festa website, www.festaitaliana.com.

Lastly, I wish to extend our condolences to the family of Mary (Pizzo) Hoffman. Mary was an intricate part of the ICC and Festa for more than three decades. As a volunteer, an office manager and executive assistant to the Festa Executive Director, her life was dedicated to the success of our organization.

– Dean Cannestra ICC President

Deadline for April 2018 issue

All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in the April 2018 issue of The Italian Times must be submitted to the editor no later than Friday, Mar. 9.

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.

And now, a word from Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio A cappella- Music/songs/vocals sung without instrumental accompaniment.

The expression comes from Italian words meaning “in the manner of the chapel.”

Originally in reference to older church music which was written for unaccompanied voices.

Planning to have a spring sale. How about letting our readers know by placing an ad in our next issue.

Get all of the details by calling 414-223-2189 or sending an email to Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Frances Maniaci, longtime ICC member, dies at age of 102

Frances (Sgro) Maniaci, a longtime member of the Italian Community Center, died Jan. 22 surrounded by her family. At the time of her passing, she was be-

lieved to be the oldest living member of the ICC at the age of 102.

She was a member of the Italian Opera Chorus under the direction of the late John-David Anello,

The officers and directors of the Italian Community Center wish to thank and acknowledge all those who pledged, fulfilled a pledge, or made a contribution to the nonprofit organization.

To obtain information on how to make a pledge or a donation, please call 414-223-2808.

The following donations were received between Jan. 11 and Feb. 8, 2018.

Mary Rose Vicini Mary Winard Laurie & Mike Horne Christine A Prevetti

Thanks for your donations to the ICC

In memory of Peter Frank Sorce Peter T. and Kathy M. Sorce Christina Sorce

In memory of Dan Conley Sonny & Melody Gensler Mary Jo Bartel Frank & Linda Cannistra Regina Davis Mike & Felicia Giamo Sheila Goodman Doug & Margery Howard Shirley Howard Susie Inbusch Bob & Rosemary Jennaro Margaret & Mike Lange Joseph Mangiamele Jerry & Mary Mudlaff Heather Nelson (Ihsan M Atta) Jim & Jean Sagan Carla & Tom Shircel

In memory of Catherine Casamento Sonny & Melody Gensler In memory of Salvatore B. Purpero Associated Earth Movers Inc. Ray & Carol Besasie

In memory of Frances “Chi Chi” Maniaci Jimmy & Linda Spataro David T. & Ann M. Grabowski Caroline, Chick & Rob Maniaci Carolyn & Marty Lemens Shirley Jorgensen Steve & Mary Salmieri Camille Nicolai Elizabeth Germanotta Dale & Deb Sinkula Ken & Lori Kessenich Bob & Jane Zomboracz John & Amanda Couden Marie Moran Barbara & Joe Bonfiglio In memory of John Coffaro Jimmy & Linda Spataro Pompeii Men’s Club Gino A. Dentice

ICC Members: Planning to attend the dinner before the General Meeting on Thursday, March15th?

If so, you are kindly asked to make a reservation on or before Monday, March 12th. Call 414-223-2180.

Your reservation will help the culinary staff of Bartolotta Catering prepare sufficient food for the buffet.

which evolved into the nationally known Florentine Opera Chorus/Company.

Her family reported that Frances absolutely loved attending Festa Italiana and celebrating her heritage. For her, it was all about being with her family, seeing old friends and, of course, the music.

Frances and her late husband, Joseph, were married on Oct. 18, 1941. They had two children, Richard (Diane) and Vivian (Mark) Jorgensen. She was blessed with two grandchildren, Greg (Kendra) Maniaci and Lisa (Chuck) Miller and four great-grandchildren, Taylor and Joey Maniaci and Max and Ava Miller. Her family said that Frances will be missed by everyone she touched.

Frances Maniaci

by Anthony Busalacchi ICC member Last month, I turned 85 years old, and when I read of the St. Anthony Project, the conversion of the old St. Anthony’s Hospital at 1004 N. 10th St., built in 1931, into housing for low-income people, and remembering that I was born in that hospital, this seemed like the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. I decided to donate 85 works of art and artifacts.

Among the collection will be several icons from Europe. The event will take place at St. John’s on the Lake, 1840 N. Prospect Ave., on Saturday, Mar. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. The items will be on display in the Cultural Arts Center of St. John’s on the Lake, and each item will have a minimum donation amount. The checks will be made out to the St. Anthony Project.

None of the proceeds will come to me. With each room costing $1,000 to furnish, it is my hope to furnish several.

Managed by Heartland Hous-

ing, the plan is for 60 apartments.

So far, over $12 million of the needed $13.9 million has been raised. The next step is to provide for the furnishings of the apartments. Residents will pay one-third of their monthly income, which will include all utilities. The added bonus is the location, next to St. Ben’s, which for decades has provided free hot meals every day.

Having taught humanities at Whitefish Bay High School and Cardinal Stritch University, when talking about heroes, I always stated that my hero was Francis of Assisi, because he preached a sermon not of words but of action.

Also, as a young person, I subscribed to a national organization whose motto was “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” As a Shriner, I am a supporter of Shriners’ Childrens’ Hospitals. Because of my interest in art, I also support the Milwaukee Art Museum. The art and artifacts were collected during my wife Pat and my 58 years of marriage and world travel.

Invitation to art benefit for St. Anthony Project

Thank you for your cooperation!

Catering THE ITALIAN TIMES

ICC member Anthony Busalacchi will host an art benefit for the St. Anthony Project on Saturday, Mar. 17.

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 13

Judge John DiMotto retiring after a 42- year career in public service

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John J. DiMotto is retiring Feb. 28, after 42-plus years as a public servant, including 27 years as a judge and 15-1/2 years as an Assistant District Attorney. If you’re really counting, you could add another year as an unpaid intern in the District Attorney’s Office.

So what kept the 68-year old DiMotto going all those years as a public servant? The judge said, “Having the opportunity to help people – individuals whose lives may have been forever impacted – and the opportunity to empower the victims. For most individuals, the case that we’re hearing is the most important in their lifetime, and a judge needs to feel the importance of each and every case he or she hears. I think our most important job is to empower and protect the victims, give the people the opportunity to be heard, and see that justice is served.”

Italian Community Center members should take pride in knowing that Judge DiMotto has been a member of the organization since its inception in 1978. He volunteered at Festa Italiana and was a member of the Festa Patrol for about 20 years. In fact, he was the co-chair of the Festa Patrol with Ralph Busalacchi. The Festa Patrol provides a variety of services from crowd control and to being first responders to guests in need at the festival.

Judicial career DiMotto was first elected as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge in April 1990 and was officially sworn into his position on Aug. 1, 1990. He was re-elected without opposition in 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2014. During his 27 years on the bench, DiMotto served in every division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, which includes Misdemeanor, Felony, Civil, Probate and Children’s Court. He is completing his career as one of 12 judges handling cases in the civil division. He is a former presiding judge of the family division.

On average, DiMotto estimates that he presided over 500 to 1,000 cases annually.

In his time on the bench, DiMotto became widely recognized as a leader in judicial education and has generously shared his legal knowledge with judges across the state.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Drake Roggensack said on the judicial website wicourts.gov, “Judge DiMotto has taken so many independent steps to improve the level of judicial service in our state, he has almost become a legend in his own time. There can be no question that Wisconsin courts, as well as the people who appeared before him in court, have benefited because of his work as a member of the judiciary.”

DiMotto serves on the faculty of the National Judicial College and is a former Associate Dean of the Wisconsin Judicial College. He has served as an educator at numerous judicial conferences and on many committees, including the criminal jury instruction committee, which he formerly chaired. He has authored numerous outlines and guides to help judges navigate complex issues.

Starting in December 2009, DiMotto wrote a highly-regarded judicial blog, “Bench and Bar

PAGE 14 – MARCH 2018

Experiences,” to record and convey the daily experiences of a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge.

Milwaukee County Chief Judge Maxine A. White stated in a wicourts.gov news release that, “Judge DiMotto will be missed, not only for his in-depth knowledge of legal issues and procedures, but also for the compassion and care with which he handled cases of all types.

Over his long career, DiMotto has been recognized with many awards for his accomplishments, including recognition as “Wisconsin Judge of the Year” by the American Board of Trial Advocates and “Jurist of the Year” by the Wisconsin Justinian Society of Lawyers. This May, DiMotto will be a recipient of a “Leonardo DaVinci Award of Excellence,” presented by the Illinois/Wisconsin Chapter of the Order Sons of Italy in America, at a banquet at Roma Lodge in Racine.

In 2008, DiMotto was recognized in an article in the Wisconsin Law Journal for his record as a circuit court judge on appeal. From Jan. 1, 2000 through 2006, DiMotto’s decisions had been reviewed and affirmed by the appellate court 46 times without reversal, the Law Journal reported as the streak ended.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Kitty K. Brennan, who worked previously with DiMotto as a fellow assistant district attorney and circuit court judge, said in the same wicourt.gov news release that DiMotto represents what judges aspire to be. “Being a great judge is not just about legal knowledge, it’s about people skills. And John DiMotto is a man of the people. He understands and listens. Consequently, he gets the highest praise judges ever get – lawyers and their clients on both sides all want Judge DiMotto to preside on their cases.

He’s a class act and we are all better for having his leadership all these years,” she said.

In 2016, DiMotto ranked first among the state’s 249 Circuit Court judges in an anonymous statewide survey of 2,245 trial lawyers conducted by Gannett, the publisher of numerous newspapers including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Italian heritage influences Asked by The Italian Times if his Italian heritage and upbringing had an impact on his career as a judge, DiMotto responded affirmitely. “We Italians put great emphasis on family, stress good values and show you that you have the capacity to contribute to society. We stress the importance of being selfless and not selfish, so, yes, my Italian heritage made me what I am.”

Assistant D.A. years On Dec. 18, 1974, DiMotto graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Two days later, he began working in the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office as an intern, until he was sworn in to the Wisconsin Bar Association on Jan. 16, 1975 when he officially began his duties as an Assistant District Attorney. He served as an Assistant D.A. until his election as a judge in 1990. For nine years, he was the Director of the Sensitive Crimes Unit in the District Attorney’s Office, which was responsible for the review and prosecution of all cases of sexual assault, child neglect and child homicides committed by adult offenders.

While he graduated from law school with the intent to be a

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John DiMotto

lawyer, DiMotto said he was influenced most to remain in public service by the former, longtime Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann. “I was struck by his insistence to do the right thing, to see that justice was served fairly for all people. He would remind us everyday that we are here to do justice.”

His background Judge DiMotto was born and raised in the City of Milwaukee. He is one of two sons born to John and Anna Marie (Rudich) DiMotto. His father died in 1999. His mother is an active 93 year old. John’s brother is Michael DiMotto.

John attended Marquette University High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in 1972 and graduated with his Jurist Degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1974.

On June 30, 1973, the younger DiMotto was married to Jean Wouters. Like her husband, Jean served as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge for 17 years. She retired five years ago.

Being married to another judge has its advantages, DiMotto said. A judge can discuss his or her cases with another judge “so it has been wonderful to have another judge living in my household,” The couple has a daughter, Anna DiMotto, who is a Registered Nurse at the Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital. Her husband, Thomas Baker, is an information technician.

Judge DiMotto is a longtime member of the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National, La Società di San Giuseppe, the Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Lodge #2763 of the Order Sons of Italy in America and the Wisconsin Justinian Society of Lawyers. He is a past president of the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National (1990-91).

In retirement, DiMotto said he and his wife plan to do a lot of traveling that they have put off because

of their careers. They plan to do international traveling including going to Amsterdam and Munich this year. He said both he and his wife are in good health and want to enjoy retirement.

DiMotto said he will serve as a reserve judge and will likely do some mediation and nonprofit organization legal work. He might also go back to writing his blog.

The judge said he wanted to retire “when I felt the opportunity was right. You don’t want to leave being disheartened by the system.

Being 68 years old and feeling I accomplished what I wanted to, I started thinking about retirement last September.” He opted to leave at the end of February “so I could fully enjoy spring and summer for the first time in my adult life.”

DiMotto added that he will miss his colleagues – other judges, courthouse staff and lawyers – and miss the challenges of being a judge.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will appoint a replacement for DiMotto. Although there are two years left on DiMotto’s term, state law requires the position to be filled by an election in the following year. In other words, the appointee will have to decide whether he or she wishes to run for an elective, six-year term in 2019.

Editor’s note: Parts of this article are courtesy of a news report that appeared on www.wicourts.gov on Dec. 21, 2017.

And now, a word from Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio Accelerate- To cause to move faster and quicken the motion of or to add to the speed of.

It comes from the Italian accelerando which is a musical instruction indicating a passage to be played with increasing speed and accelerare or to hasten and make quicker.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Professor Emeritus/ICC member Larry Baldassaro brings together memories of 44 Major League players in his latest publication

Baldassaro’s new book, Baseball Italian Style, coming out in early March

When Lawrence Baldassaro published Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball in 2011, it was the first comprehensive book on the topic. His new book, Baseball Italian Style: Great Stories Told by Italian American Major Leaguers, is scheduled to be published on March 6 by Sports Publishing of New York. As was true of Beyond DiMaggio, the purpose of his latest work is to preserve the long and distinguished legacy of Italian American contributions to baseball, one of America’s most enduring social institutions.

Baseball Italian Style brings together the memories of 44 major leaguers of Italian heritage interviewed by Baldassaro since 1993.

Their collective careers span almost a century, from the 1930s up to today. In these first-person accounts, baseball fans will meet at an intimate level the players they cheered as heroes or jeered as adversaries, as well as coaches, managers, front-office executives, and umpires.

The speakers in this collection (which includes Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Ron Santo, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Tommy Lasorda, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre) go beyond facts and figures to provide an inside look at their Italian heritage and their life in the big leagues. Among the speakers are three former Milwaukee Brewers: Sal Bando, Chris Bosio, and Chris Capuano. Taken as a whole, these stories constitute a chronicle that documents not only the evolution of Italian American participation in the national pastime, but also the continuity of the game and the many changes that have taken place, on and off the field.

Frank Crosetti, a Yankees shortstop whose career began in 1932, describes how he and his brother used corn cobs for baseballs and pieces of wood for bats. At the other end of the time spectrum, Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto discusses the ways technology and sophisticated data are affecting the game. At a time when statistical analysis plays an increasingly prominent role in the sport, the stories in this book are a reminder that the history of baseball is passed on to future generations more eloquently, and with greater passion, through the words of those who lived it than it is by numerical data.

On Tuesday, March 27 at 7 p.m., Baldassaro will do a presentation and signing at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Avenue.

“Baseball Italian Style is a labor of love,” said Baldassaro. “Any and all royalties that I may earn from this book will be donated to the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.” * * * Editor’s note: Lawrence Baldassaro, professor emeritus of Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a member of the ICC, is the author of Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball, editor of Ted Williams: Reflections on a Splendid Life, and coeditor of The American Game: Baseball and Ethnicity. He has published articles in numerous sports encyclopedias and journals, has been a contributing writer for the Milwaukee Brewers magazine since 1990, and wrote the chapter on sports for the newly-published Routledge History of Italian Americans.

Word Search: A Taste of Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio

Welcome new Italian Community Center members!

The following persons became members of the Italian Community Center between January 11 and February 8, 2018. Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Ashley Guttuso of Mukwonago

Wayne & Mary Fasciano of Caledonia

Alyssa Patton (junior membership) of Milwaukee Daniele Calasanzio of Glendale Nick Mueller of Franklin

Mason Mueller of Franklin Miro Mueller of Franklin

Frank Santucci of Verona, Pennsylvania Kelly Huyler of Oak Creek

Jacob D’Acquisto of Milwaukee

Nick & Kim D’Acquisto and children Lola and Ava of Cudahy

Spring festivals across Italy

To find Word Search solved, turn to page ??

THE ITALIAN TIMES

“Festa della Primavera,” a spring festival, is held in many places in Italy on Mar. 21. This festival primarily centered around a region’s food and cultural events that include music and other performances.

Spring festivals are sometimes held to coincide with St. Joseph’s Day on Mar. 19.

St. Joseph’s Day donkey race part of festivities in Tuscan town

Palio dei Somari, a donkey race between neighborhoods, takes place on St. Joseph’s Day (Mar. 19) in Torrita di Siena, a medieval village near Siena in Italy’s Tuscany region.

A colorful, historic parade is also part of the celebration.

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 15

Glorioso’s Italian Market marks 72nd anniversary with big plans for 2018

To celebrate its 72nd anniversary and thank the local community for years of support, Glorioso’s Italian Market announced that it is planning events and promotions throughout 2018.

Festivities kicked off with a fiveday celebration sale on Glorioso’s brand products, Feb. 14-18. Birthday cake and coffee were served at the store on Feb. 17.

“Glorioso’s is one of Milwaukee’s top destination locations and a Milwaukee institution,” said Ted Glorioso, one of the original founding brothers and current owner. “It’s been family-owned and operated since 1946. We’ve been able to maintain the commitment to the product and our customers in keeping with the tradition started 72 years ago. As a family and a company, we’re proud to be celebrating this amazing milestone.”

Glorioso’s Italian Market, 1011 E. Brady St., Milwaukee, now located across the street from its original location, still has plenty of ideas for using its former structure.

Glorioso’s will open its new culinary center in its original location.

Called “Glorioso’s Appetito,” the center will combine three elements into one. The two historic buildings that comprised the former market will have one part named Scuola (School) to conduct classes, demonstrations, food and beverage events

and guest chefs.

It will have another part called Eventi (events) for private events, corporate events, team building, client entertaining, employee incentives and holiday events in addition to birthdays and

The current Glorioso’s Italian Market, 1011 E. Brady St., Milwaukee.

Words in an Italian word

by Blaise Di Pronio

How many words can you make with the letters in the word “Pietà” (Pity)

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ Answers on page 19

PAGE 16 – MARCH 2018

anniversaries, children’s parties, showers, rehearsal dinners, reunions and family gatherings.

The third element will be known as La Cucina (the kitchen), which will support their production needs in the market and allow them to

grow their catering business, chef’s counter, private lessons and culinary nights.

The entire culinary center provides a platform to bring people together to celebrate over food and beverage.

Left out – right in

The former Glorioso’s on Brady, 1020 E. Brady St., Milwaukee.

by Blaise Di Pronio I recently found myself driving on the left lane of a two-lane, oneway street with parking on both sides. I felt awkward and unsure so I crossed over to the right lane.

Being in the left lane, driving past parked cars just didn’t feel right.

Maybe some of our readers have felt the same way in that situation.

But why is that? After all, in England they drive on the left side on the road with no apparent problem.

But why do we have this quirk in driving practices to begin with?

Left or right of center.

The reasons date as far back as the Middle Ages when most people traveled on the left side of the road.

During those violent feudal times, swordsmen mostly were right handed because being left-handed was considered bad back then.

(Sinister comes from the Italian sinistra which means left handed.)

Swordsmen would stay to the left so their right arm could be closer to an opponent coming from their right. Plus, there was less of a chance to hurt someone on ones left side-where the sword was worn.

Also, it would be much easier to

mount a horse from the left side rather than the middle of horse traffic.

But, by the 1700s, teamsters (drivers of a team of animals) in France, Italy and the United States started hauling farm products from the countryside to the cities using wagons and the coachman (driver) would sit on the left hand side behind the left-rear horse. At first, they tried the left side of the road but that would cause the horses to pull to the left and then up onto the sidewalk. It was also realized that the driver would have a better view of the oncoming wheels to their left and thus avoid collisions. So then, off to the right became the favored method and eventually made mandatory in these countries.

Thus, when Napoleon conquered most of Europe, including Italy, driving on the right side spread with him. Those countries that were able to resist Napoleon stayed to the left and these included England, which continues left side driving to this day.

In Italy, the practice of driving on the right side began formally in Please turn to page 20

THE ITALIAN TIMES

A fond farewell

by Italian Senatore Renato Turano Dear friends, with this article, which I am writing after both Houses of Parliament have officially closed all legislative functions in preparation for the March 4 elections, I am letting you all know that I will not seek reelection. I am very proud of my five-year experience representing my fellow Italians living abroad. They have been intense years, during which I have lived through enormous changes within our political system. We have effectively transitioned from a bipolar to a tri-polar system now that the 5Star Movement has grown into a real political force.

Breaking away from a system we had grown accustomed to comes with its challenges: It is likely that no one will be able to win the upcoming elections outright. This has already happened in the past, leading to compromise governments.

When Enrico Letta was prime minister with the Partito Democratico, the entire center-right (with the exception of the Lega Nord) joined the government. After the center-right broke up, Matteo Renzi had a more left-leaning stance, but he still had to deal with many factions on the

other side of the aisle. In other words, a risk of paralysis is possible for the next legislature. It may be hard to find a new and unified majority.

In these past few years, I think our most important skill has been the ability to walk “the narrow path,” as Minister of the Economy Pier Carlo Padoan once said. We have been able to stay within the parameters of the European Union, keeping our spending under control and reducing the deficit, all while fostering growth. At one point, it seemed almost impossible to combine growth and deficit reduction.

There was the risk of free fall on both ends. But all three governments that presided over the legislature (Letta, Renzi and now Gentiloni) proved it was possible.

From an economic point of view, therefore, we can certainly say it has been a positive legislature. The road traveled by the Partito Democratico should be continued — this is vital for our country.

From a parliamentary point of view, and more precisely for our communities abroad, there has been a sort of awakening. Many important goals have been reached, and we were able to secure future

funding for Comites, CGIE, the spread of the Italian language and culture and much more.

More broadly, there have been many advances when it comes to our citizens’ private lives. I refer to civil rights, an abbreviated divorce process, the biological testament, and our youth’s future. Unfortunately, we were not able to change Italy’s laws to allow those born in the country to automatically become Italian citizens. I think we can definitely highlight this as one of the legislature’s low points. Some of my colleagues, surely in good faith, made the mistake of exploiting this situation. I’m sure, however, that the matter will be picked up again in the future, because it is very important and must be dealt with and solved by the end of the next legislature.

Now we enter the final phases of the electoral campaign. We can already hear the yelling and shouting to draw attention to varying political positions. But I am not that kind of politician. For me, politics is reasoning, reflecting and mediating. It is solidarity and dialogue, getting together at a table and finding solutions. I don’t like propaganda and I hope no one will make

by Blaise Di Pronio Every year, Wisconsin’s largest locally owned and operated newspaper, the Shepherd Express, publishes its “Best of” issue. The edition lists the results of competition involving many local businesses, people and organizations offering many products or expertise but emphasizing the food service industry. The contest is conducted by letting readers vote for their favorite choices.

Grocery: Ethnic grocery / gourmet / take-out deli: Glorioso’s Italian Market. “Prices are great and there’s more than you’d ever imagine in luscious gelatos, bakery, cookies, candies, nuts, imported and artisanal cheeses, olive oils, vinegars, olives, fresh sausages, sauces, pastas, pizzas, paninis, coffees, sandwiches, produce, wines and beers and every sort of salad, even octopus.”

Neighborhood bakery: Peter Sciortino’s Bakery (Vella). “Everyone knows these are the best rolls in town. The Italian cookies are

Gelato shop: Glorioso’s Italian Market. “It could probably thrive on just its status as an historical Brady Street landmark, but Glorioso’s is also the best place for Italian, Mediterranean and even artisanal Wisconsin foods and drinks.”

Pizzeria-wood fired oven: Carini’s La Conca D’Oro. “The 12inch pizzas are Neapolitan style; the crust is slightly crisp at the edges but soft as pastry inside, neither thin nor thick, and the charring on top from the intense fire adds a touch of smoky flavor to the toppings.”

Romantic restaurant: Lake Park Bistro (Bartolotta). “It’s perched on a bluff overlooking an elegant old stairway wending its way down to the Lakefront. And what could be more romantic than a stroll through Lake Park, in which the bistro is ensconced, after your meal?”

Restaurant with a view: Harbor House (Bartolotta). “....offering an extensive seafood menu with a remarkable view of the shoreline and lake.”...

Frozen pizza: Palermo’s (Fallucca Family). “In addition to their classic pies, they also offer varieties of thin crust, pizzeria style, and “King Cheese” pizzas. Their Menomonee Valley production plant also offers a popular factory tour, complete with pizza samples and beverages.”

Italy has won the World Cup four times, which is second only to Brazil with five.

Italy has hosted the Olympics three times in 1956, 1960, and 2006.

Pretzels were actually first made in Italy in 610 by an Italian monk who gave them to children who learned their prayers.

No wonder why Italians love caffeine: The espresso machine is an Italian invention built by Angelo Moriondo in 1884.

In 1896, the first ice cream cone was created by an Italian immigrant who settled in New York City.

You can thank Bartolomeo Cristofori for developing the very first piano in 1698. Other musical instruments invented in Italy include the violin, the guitar, and the

organ.

Italians consume over 45 bottles of wine per year, per capita.

On average, Italians eat half a pound of bread a day. What’s more, estimated pasta consumption is 70 pounds per person annually.

According to Italian culture, you must respect your elders. Always stand when an elder person enters the room.

On the beaches of Eraclea on the Venetian Lido, it is illegal to make sandcastles or any other kind of sand structure.

In 2012, the town of Falciano del Massico in Campania made it illegal for residents to die because the town’s cemetery is full.

In the city of Turin, dog owners must walk their pooch at least three times a day or risk being fined. Woof!

Retiring Italian Senator Turano

use of it to take advantage of our dear communities of Italians living abroad.

In closing, I would like to thank all those who supported me throughout these wonderful years, as well as those who criticized me, because thanks to all of you, I have grown from both a political and a human point of view. Grazie.

Local Italian businesses come out on top in Shepherd Express’ ‘Best of’ issue

Several Italian Community Center supporters, sponsors and members were featured prominently as first place winners in the food service categories and we are limiting our highlights to such categories only. These winners are listed below and the comments shown are excerpted from the paper’s reviews of the winners:

heavenly, too. Happily, they’re small – two bites and then the memory – and sold individually, so you can sample many different flavors.”

P.S.: Although not a winner in the Best of above, another great sponsor and supporter of the ICC, Reina International Auto in Brookfield, was listed and rated as one of the best luxury dealerships in the “Midwest by Best Things Wisconsin” at bestthingswi.com Its specialty European vehicles include Ferrari, Fiat, Jaguar, Lamborghini and many more.

Word Search solved: A Taste of Italy from page 17

I didn’t know that!

THE ITALIAN TIMES

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 17

La Pagina Italiana

Il territorio di Corleone e le sue bellezze

Non esiste in tutta la Sicilia occidentale contesto più ricco e di straordinaria bellezza concentrato in un area così poco estesa. Delle 14 aree di interesse naturalistico individuate dall’Azienda provinciale per il Turismo di Palermo e principali associazioni dalle ambientaliste (Legambiente, WWF, LIPU), ben sei ricadono nel Corleonese o nelle immediate vicinanze. In un raggio di meno di 80 km si possono visitare le seguenti aree: Ficuzza, Serre della Pizzuta, Serre di Ciminna e Capezzagna, Valle del fiume Sosio, Monte Genuardo e Santa Maria del Bosco, Monte Carcaci, Montagna delle Rose e Monti Sicani. Volgendo lo sguardo al territorio che circonda Corleone racchiusa in uno scenario di grande effetto, il visitatore amante della natura e della storia di un luogo difficilmente non rimarrà affascinato dalle vicissitudini trascorse da questa città.

Rocce, vegetazione, fauna e flora celano i trascorsi storici vissuti in questo agglomerato urbano basato prettamente sull’agricoltura, riuscendo ad amalgamarsi in uno scenario conservato intatto nei secoli.

Qui sono presenti nicchie ecologiche che grazie al basso grado di industrializzazione riescono a mantenere i loro equilibri inalterati nel tempo. Per constatare questo basta visitare il territorio limitrofo al paese e godere della bellezza di un Bosco di svariate migliaia di ettari come il Bosco della Ficuzza, nato per volontà del re Ferdinando di Borbone al cui interno fece

PAGE 18 – MARZO 2018

costruire una casena di caccia dall’arch. Marvuglia. Riparato dalla grande vetta della Rocca Busambra il bosco fitto di aghifogli, querce e castagni offre rifugio a parecchi animali selvatici quali cervi, cinghiali, istrici, martore, gazze, cinciallegre, barbagianni, gheppi, falchetti pellegrini, e tanti altri. Passeggiando in silenzio al suo interno facilmente si possono avvistare questi animali e ammirare un sottobosco ricco e variegato formato da muschi, licheni, moltissime varietà di felci, pungitopo e dalle bellissimi orchidee selvagge dalla coloratissima fioritura primaverile.

Per gli amanti dell’archeologia adiacenti al Bosco sul versante occidentale del massiccio della Rocca Busambra, nella parte sottostante Pizzo Nicolosi, troviamo parecchi insediamenti di particolare rilievo storico archeologico come Grotta Cutropia, Grotta Cicio, Villaggio Pirrello e l’insediamento del Pizzo Nicolosi risalenti all’Età del Rame e del Bronzo. Prima di arrivare a Corleone, mimetizzato dal paesaggio dei seminativi, negli anfratti naturali scavati dai corsi d’acqua troviamo uno spettacolare scenario lungo il fiume Frattina, le Gole del Drago, formate da rocce scavate dall’acqua dalle forme suggestive e sinuose che danno origine a piccole cascate che si riversano una nell’altra ai bordi dei quali si affaccia una natura lussureggiante tipica degli ambienti fluviali.

Piccola oasi di natura incontaminata e un luogo indicato

per gli appassionati di birdwatching, i quali possono facilmente avvistare poiane, nibbi ed i più fortunati potranno scorgere l’aquila del Bonelli. Nei dintorni del paese ci si può imbattere facilmente in uno dei tanti monumenti campagnoli che meritano un’attenzione particolare, sono le vecchie masserie, molte delle quali ancora ben conservate.

Per chi vuole fare una lunga camminata a piedi si raccomanda una escursione alla Montagna Vecchia, che sovrasta il centro abitato garantendo un gradito e spazioso panorama e parecchie sorprese archeologiche essendo stata una dei più importanti siti archeologici oltre che per dimensione per ricchezza di ritrovamenti che attualmente vanno ad arricchire il patrimonio il museo di Corleone.

Inoltre proprio nel cuore del paese nella parte più antica di esso alla fine dell’antichissima Via Lombardia ai piedi del “Castello Soprano” utilizzato dagli arabi come punto di avvistamento, troviamo il fiore all’occhiello della

nostra zona la “Cascata delle due Rocche” formate dal salto del Torrente San Leonardo o Torrente di Corleone che nei secoli ha scavato un suggestivo Canyon che prende il nome dal nostro paese.

Prima di lasciare il paese bisogna visitare la Villa comunque Comunale, giardino pubblico di oltre 4 mila metri quadrati, realizzato agli inizi dell’800, costituito di una ricca varietà di specie botaniche tra cui spiccano grandi palme da dattero che ben si sono ambientate nei secoli al nostro microclima.

Il territorio di Corleone, esteso oltre 22.000 ettari, presenta un contesto ambientale di straordinario interesse naturalistico, paesaggistico ed archeologico tale da soddisfare le curiosità e le esigenze di qualsiasi tipo di visitatore, raggiungibile dalla Strada Statale 118 PalermoAgrigento nel suo percorso arzigogolato può offrire ulteriori sorprese paesaggistiche ai visitatori più attenti.

– dal sito comunale: comune.corleone.pa.it

10 ottimi motivi per visitare Corleone

Oggi la città ha in parte conservato il suo aspetto medievale e comunque ci sono almeno 10 ottimi motivi per visitarla.

1. Per chi ama la natura, la

cascata delle Due Rocche con il famoso Canyon offre un angolo di paesaggistica bellezza incontaminato.

2. La possibilità di visitare Continua a pagina 19

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Il Re Mais e la Regina Polenta

di Donato Di Pronio Nel libro sacro dei MAYA, il POPOL VUH, è detto che l’uomo sarebbe stato creato dopo tre tentativi Il primo esemplare, costruito di argilla, ebbe vita brevissima: ci fu un’inondazione e l’acqua lo disciolse; il secondo fu fatto di legno, ma anch’esso fu distrutto dalle piogge; finalmente il terzo, ricavato da una pannocchia di mais sopravvisse … e noi saremmo i suoi discendenti!!!. Nel giornale di bordo tenuto da Cristoforo Colombo, il navigatore più famoso della storia, durante il viaggio di ritorno, sotto la data 5 novembre 1492 si legge: “C’erano grandi campi coltivati con radici, una specie di fava e una specie di grano chiamato MAHIZ”. Tra le altre cose riportate, Colombo aveva aggiunto una manciata di chicchi di mais. Furono seminati dando ottimi risultati. In breve tempo se ne diffuse la coltivazione; intorno al 1560 il mais svettava superbo anche nei campi del Veneto.

In Italia la coltura del mais, detto anche granturco (dove turco sta per esotico, ossia proveniente da lontano) è la più importante dopo il grano. Le granella, come noto, sono

utilizzate soprattutto per l’alimentazione umana e del bestiame e per l’industria che ne ricava amido, olio e altri prodotti.

Mentre scrivo, un nipotino mi chiede con insistenza una moneta per andare a comperarsi una bustina di popcorn, mentre a me sta venendo un gran desiderio di una scodella di fumante e profumatissima polenta cosparsa di una abbondante grattugiata di gentile e forte pecorino abruzzese!

A Roccamorice, antichissimo paesino alle falde della Maiella, sino a qualche anno fa, il 17 del mese di gennaio, giorno in cui la cattolica commemora Chiesa Sant’Antonio Abate, il Santo eremita vissuto per 106 anni tra il III e secolo e il IV, nel deserto egiziano, alcuni devoti di questo “esponevano” davanti Santo all’uscio di casa un grande recipiente colmo di mais bollito: i passanti ne prendevano piamente un assaggio (qualcuno a jummèlle, a piene mani non per … sola devozione! Nel predetto paesello di Roccamorice, la sfogliatura delle brattee che rivestono le pannocchie del granturco, veniva fatta a mano.

Ecco il ricordo di una sfogliatura

A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello.

Every bird finds his own nest beautiful.

Equivalent: Home sweet home.

alone so this phrase implies that if you’re at the table, you’re also surrounded by family and friends.

Italian idioms and expressions

Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire.

No matter where you go or turn, you’ll always end up at home.

Backround: In Italy, it’s not uncommon for unmarried adult children to live with their parents. The family is a source of joy, so families try to stay together as long as possible.

Una buona mamma vale cento maestre.

A good mother is worth a hundred teachers.

A tavola non si invecchia.

At the table, you don’t get old.

Backround: Italians never eat

L’ affetto verso i genitori è fondamento di ogni virtù.

Literally: Loving one’s parents is fundamentally the greatest virtue.

Equivalent: Honor thy father and mother.

La goccia che ha fatto traboccare il vaso.

Literally: the drop that made the vase overflow.

Equivalent: It’s the last straw.

Sputare nel piatto dove si mangia.

Literally: Spit in the plate one eats from Meaning: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

10 ottimi motivi per visitare Corleone continua da pagina 18

moltissime chiese tra cui la chiesa Madre con le sue innumerevoli opere d’arte, rende giustizia dell’appellativo di Città dalle cento Chiese.

3. La villa comunale, una delle più grandi della zona, ricca di vegetazione mediterranea che grazie al particolare microclima di cui gode, vede vegetare rigogliosamente diverse varietà di palme evento eccezionale considerando il fatto che Corleone è a circa 600 m. s.l.m.

4. Suggestivi da vedere per le loro strategiche posizioni le due rocche Soprana e Sottana conosciute agli studiosi come “I faraglioni di Corleone” dove si possono ancora ammirare i resti di una fortificazione Saracena.

5. La possibilità di conoscere le svariate tradizioni popolari, soprattutto le processioni sentite dalla popolazione le più suggestive delle quali sono quella del Venerdì Santo e quella del Corpus Domini, la corsa di San Leoluca protettore del paese, le

sagre svariate manifestazioni rionali che si effettuano nei periodi estivi.

6. Per gli appassionati delle escursioni, consigliamo quella del bosco della Ficuzza e di Rocca Busambra.

7. Obbligatoria una visita alle Gole del Drago, lungo il fiume “Frattina”, che costituisce un biotipo naturale di eccezionale bellezza.

8. Un interessante itinerario archeologico è offerto dagli scavi su Montagna Vecchia i cui reperti vengono conservati presso il Museo Civico, nonché i siti archeologici di Monte Jato e Rocca d’Entella.

9. Di tutto rispetto l’artigianato locale, soprattutto pizzi, merletti e ricami lavorati dalle donne del luogo con l’amore e la bravura tramandata dalle “nonne”.

10. Infine la possibilità di godere nel tempo libero di svariati relax, piscina campi da tennis, maneggio, tiro al volo e calcetto.

– da comune.corleone.pa.it

THE ITALIAN TIMES

riassunto da una mia pubblicazione su Roccamorice: Ieri sera, sabato, sono andato da nonna Carmenèlle. Le donne del vicinato e alcune ragazze bellamente ‘ripulite’ per ben figurare nel ballo che avrebbe chiuso la serata, già erano all’opera intorno ad un grosso mucchio di pannocchie di mais e cantavano facendo eco ai canti provenienti da un’aia vicina. I due cori, tra canti e spensierati, scherzosi diffondevano per i campi, avvolti nel silenzio della notte, un’ondata di gioia armoniosa e di spensierata allegria. Persino l’abbaiare dei cani era diventato sommesso e quasi … musicale.

Al grido giulivo che Giuvànne levò sulle risate e sui canti quando gli capitò tra le mani ‘na zingarèlle (una pannocchia dai luccicanti chicchi turchini), ebbi la sensazione che anche le stelle si chinassero curiose sull’aia per ‘godersi’ il caldo bacio che il giovinotto impresse sulle gote rosso-vermiglie di Rosinella mentre le donava la zingarella..

Di lì a poco, il fortunato, un pezzo di pane nella tasca del logoro giubbone, la zappa sulle spalle, rivivendo tutta l’ebbrezza di quel bacio che, forse, ma no, senza meno, ha segnato l’inizio d’un amore, prenderà la via dei campi per un altro giorno di fatica e di sudore.”

Poesie a San Giuseppe

San Giuseppe vecchierello San Giuseppe vecchierello cosa avete nel cestello?

Erba fresca, fresche viole nidi, uccelli e lieto sole!

Nel cantuccio più piccino ho di neve un fiocchettino, un piattino di frittelle e poi tante cose belle!

Mentre arriva primareva canto a tutti una preghiera, la preghiera dell’amore a Gesù nostro Signore. ***

San Giuseppe l’artigiano San Giuseppe nella mano per lavoro quotidiano non aveva che il martello, una pialla e lo scalpello.

Ma era giusto ed era santo; e a Gesù fu posto accanto, per la sua grande bontà, gentilezza e soavità.

Così al mondo il Redentore, qui venuto per amore, si presenta per la mano a San Giuseppe, l’artigiano.

Tre preghiere a San Giuseppe* in dialetto Siciliano San Giusippuzzu vui siti lu patri Vergini e puru comu la matri Maria la rosa Giuseppi lu gigghiu Datimi aiutu tra peni e perigghiu Unn’a scurari sta iurnata senza essiri cunsulata P’u bambineddu c’aviti ‘mbrazza Patri ranni facitimi a razia E pi l’amuri di Maria Facitila a mia * * * San Giusippuzzu fustivu patri Virgini e puru comu la matri Datimi aiutu di pani e cunsigliu Avanti chi scura sta iurnata

Vogghiu essiri cunsulata San Giusippuzzu binidiciti * * * * San Giusippuzzu Lu vicchiareddu Umili e dignu a lu puvireddru E la rosa a lu cappeddu Lu cappeddu vi cadiv E la rosa vi sciuriv Taliati comi è misu Comu u re du paradisu Avanti ca veni a luminacaria Cunciditimi a grazia a mia * * * *Santo Patrono della Sicilia

Dialect- Lazio: E meju l’ou oggi che la allina a Pasqua.

Literally: It’s better to have the egg today, than the hen at Easter.

Meaning: It’s better to eat the egg today, than to wait around for the egg to turn into a hen and then to eat it at Easter.

Equivalent: Live for the moment.

Dialect-Lombardia: Mangia pocch, mangia pian, va de lontan se semper allegher se te voeuret staa san.

Eat little, eat slowly, go far and always be happy if you want to stay healthy.

Detti popolari – Popular sayings

Dialect-Lazio: Femmene e ‘nzalate onno esse maniate.

Literally: Women and salads need to be mixed.

Meaning: Women are like salads – they both need to be handled with care.

Dialect-Lazio: La donna e come la castagna: bella di fuori e dentro magagna.

A woman is like a chestnut – beautiful on the outside, but troubled inside.

Meaning: Watch out!

Dialect-Lombardia: La minestra de ‘l vezin l’e pusee buna.

Literally: The meals of those close to one taste better.

Meaning: The cuisine of one’s hometown is better than that found elsewhere.

Equivalent: Home sweet home.

Dialect-Lombardia: La robba pussee bona l’e quella che se mangia in ca di olter.

Literally: What is eaten in other people’s homes tastes better.

Equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side.

Continua a pagina 20

Words in an Italian word from page 16

The answer: 38 words in the word “Pietà.”

1. pieta 2. pate 3. peat 4. piet 5. pita 6. tape 7. tepa 8. ait 9. ape 10. apt 11. ate 12. eat 13. eta 14. ita 15. pat 16. pea 17. pet 18. pia 19. pie 20. pit 21. tae 22. tai 23. tap 24. tea 25. tie 26. tip 27. ae 28. ai 29. at 30. ea 31. et 32. it 33. pa 34. pe 35. pi 36. ta 37. te 38. ti MARZO 2018 – PAGE 19

Un caro addio

di Senatore Renato Turano Carissimi, con questo mio articolo e a camere sciolte vi comunico che ho scelto di non ricandidarmi.

Un’esperienza durata oltre cinque anni che mi ha reso orgoglioso di rappresentare la nostra comunità all’estero. Sono stati anni intensi, ho vissuto il cambiamento macroscopico del passaggio dal bipolarismo a tripolarismo, con la presenza del Movimento 5 Stelle.

La rottura di questo schema porta con sé una caratteristica: diventa altamente probabile che nessuno vinca le elezioni. Come in effetti è successo in passato, ed infatti si è dovuto costruire un governo attraverso forme di compromesso. Con Enrico Letta, assieme al Partito Democratico c’era tutto il centrodestra, tranne la Lega Nord. Con Matteo Renzi, a causa della frantumazione del centrodestra stesso, si è formato un governo a netta guida PD, che però doveva fare i conti con queste componenti. Il rischio paralisi dunque c’è anche per la prossima legislatura. Il rischio è che si riproduca la stessa difficoltà a trovare una maggioranza omogenea.

Credo che in questi anni la cosa più importante sia stata quella di essere riusciti a percorrere quello che il ministro Padoan chiama “il sentiero stretto”, quello che ha consentito di rimanere dentro le regole europee, di tenere sotto controllo i nostri conti e ridurre ogni anno il deficit, aumentando allo stesso tempo la crescita. In effetti sembrava impossibile coniugare crescita e riduzione del debito. Un sentiero con il baratro su entrambi i lati. Questi ultimi tre governi — Letta, Renzi e adesso

Detti popolari – Popular sayings

continua da pagina 19 Dialect-Lombardia: L’ai l’e ‘l spissier del contadi.

Literally: Garlic is the pharmacy of the peasant.

Meaning: Prior to World War II garlic was widely used to cure all sorts of ailments by those living in the Italian countryside.

Courtesy of italyrevisited.org

Gentiloni — hanno dimostrato che è possibile. Il lascito di questa legislatura, dal punto di vista economico, è sicuramente positivo.

Il percorso seguito dal PD è un percorso da continuare, è la cosa più importante per il futuro del Paese. Dal punto di vista e più parlamentare specificatamente per le nostre Comunità all’estero c’è stata una presa di coscienza, sono stati raggiunti diversi obiettivi e con la legge di stabilità siamo riusciti a dare un forte contributo ai COMITES, al Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all’Estero, ai Corsi di Lingua e Cultura, alle Camere di e tante altre Commercio, importanti iniziative per le nostre comunità.

Più in generale, mai come in questa legislatura c’è stato un avanzamento così profondo su questioni che riguardano la vita delle persone.

Mi riferisco innanzitutto alla partita sui diritti civili, al divorzio breve, al testamento biologico, il dopo di noi.

Sullo ius soli e sulla legge di Cittadinanza, invece, non si è trovato nessun punto d’incontro.

Possiamo dire che questo sia uno dei punti più bassi della legislatura, purtroppo.

C’è stato l’errore di alcuni miei colleghi, in gran parte in buona fede, di volere strumentalizzare quanto si stava per raggiungere, ma credo che se ne riparlerà perché è un tema importante. La legge sulla cittadinanza rimane la grande incompiuta di questa legislatura.

Un impegno da dover portare a casa nella prossima legislatura.

Ora che siamo nelle fasi finali della campagna elettorale, si iniziano già a sentire le urla dei comizi. Io però non sono un politico che arringa le folle. Per me la politica è ragionamento, riflessione e mediazione. La politica è quindi solidarietà e dialogo, mettersi intorno a un tavolo e trovare soluzioni. Non mi piace la propaganda e spero che nessuno ne voglia fare a discapito delle nostre Comunità.

Ringrazio tutti quelli che in questi anni mi hanno sostenuto e quelli che mi hanno criticato perché grazie anche a loro sono cresciuto politicamente e umanamente.

Grazie a tutti!

E fatt’na risata

Prof: “Che materia ti piace?”

L’alunno: “La ricreazione.”

Due bambini vanno a fare una gita in montagna. Vedendo una casa in legno, un bambino chiede all’altro: “Perchè le case sono in legno?” e lui: “Forse perchè hanno avuto bisogno di pietre e sassi per costruire le montagne” risponde l’altro.

Due papà si stanno vantando delle capacità dei loro bambini.

Il primo afferma che il figlio di due anni riesce a tenere alzato un martello!

Allora, il secondo replica: “Bhè, questo e niente, mio figlio di un anno, ogni notte riesce a tenere alzata tutta la famiglia!”

Dolce cuore di Gesù, fa che prenda 7 piu’, dolce cuore di Maria fa che non mi interroghi in geografia, San Giuseppe se ci sei fa che prenda almeno 6, San Giovanni protettore fa che crepi il professore!!

Compito in una scuola elementare: “Come hai trascorso la

PAGE 20 – MARZO 2018

vacanze di Natale?”

Svolgimento: “Molto bene grazie signora maestra. E lei?”

Una mamma e sua figlia fanno il pane con la marmellata. La figlia dice: “Mamma, perchè metti la marmellata in tutti e due i lati del pane?”

E la mamma dice: “Perchè altrimenti i denti di sotto ci rimangono male!”

La maestra chiede a Giorgio: “Il femminile della pantera nera” e Giorgio risponde: “La pantera rosa.”

La maestra dice: “Bene avete capito, passiamo alla pagina 103....marco leggi tu.” e Marco dice: “Scusa maestra mi sono perso nella nebbia a pagina 102”.

Un bimbo è in un treno e va dall’autista: “Autista, cacca,cacca!” e l’autista: “Ma vai dalla tua mamma!”

Il bimbo ritorna: “Autista cacca,cacca!” Ad un certo punto cade una valigia in testa all’autista e il bimbo gli dice: “Te l’avevo detto che caccava!”

Burying Saint Joseph

by Blaise Di Pronio If St. Joseph were alive today, he could easily make a good living selling houses instead of the hard work of building them. (He was a carpenter, after all). All he would have to do is sell statues of his likeness to home sellers. Sacrilegious, you say? Not really, if just asking for some friendly intercession in the sale. Everyone has heard of the statue burial trick when trying to get rid of a hard to sell house, but from where did this strange custom stem?

The reputed origins of the practice vary greatly and are hard to prove with empirical evidence. One story says that an unknown order of European nuns in the Middle Ages buried a medal of St. Joseph while asking the saint to intercede in their quest for a convent that eventually was built. Another claims it may be connected to a practice of German carpenters who buried the statues in the foundations of houses they built and said a prayer to St. Joseph, a Patron of carpenters.

And closer to America, some trace the connection to a chapel building effort in Montreal in the late 1800s when a Brother, Andre Bessette, wanted to buy some land on Mount Royal in Montreal to construct a small chapel called an oratory. When the landowners refused to sell, Brother Bessette began planting medals of St. Joseph on the property. In 1896, the owners suddenly relented and sold the land to Bessette who was able to build his oratory. Coincidence? Who knows, but all legends have to start somewhere.

What does the Church have to say about these goings-on as superstitious behavior is frowned upon and is actually forbidden if the Church wanted to really play hardball?

But one profound Catholic put it more succinctly and on point when she said: “When you abide by the practices of our faith and never cross into superstition induced behavior, it could make perfect sense to bury a statue because it isn’t the act of burying the statue that you see as having value and benefit but, instead, the intercession of St. Joseph, whom you rightly call upon

for help. These things that move you towards a deeper relationship with God and an understanding of His commands can be good for you.

They can help you grow in your faith,” stated Cheryl Dickow, in catholic.org, This writer would argue that this is then a kind of imprimatur to go ahead and bury to one’s content without risk of ecclesiastical repercussions.”

Today, the custom of burying St. Joseph statues has become so widespread that some retailers even offer a home sale kit, which includes a plastic statue, a prayer card, and an introduction to the St. Joseph home sale practice. Here are some typical instructions on how to proceed with the ritual: Burying instructions: • Always bury the statue upside down. The theory behind this request claims that Joseph will work harder to leave the ground when buried upside down so he can find a comfortable home in which to dwell.

• Some say that burying the statue sideways so that Joseph’s praying hands are pointing directly at your house helps direct potential buyers to your home.

• Bury a St. Joseph statue in the backyard of your home near a flowerbed, shrub or other natural growth to expedite selling your home.

• You can also choose to bury St. Joseph one foot underground (again, to make Joseph work harder to leave the ground and quickly find a nice home) next to your For Sale sign, even if it is in the front yard.

• Once your house is sold, dig up the St Joseph statue and give it a place of honor in your new home.

Let’s end this article with a smile with a tale from Stephen Binz’s 2003 book, Saint Joseph, My Real Estate Agent, which indicates that everything doesn’t always go as planned. He tells of one impatient man who moved his statue from the front yard to the backyard and then to the side of the house and finally threw it in the trash. A few days later, the frustrated seller opened the newspaper and saw the headline “Local Dump Has Been Sold.” You never know!

Left out – right in

from page 16 the 1890s and was made law in to have the driver seated near the 1912. Today, only four European center line of the road, both to countries drive on the left side and judge the space available when they are England, Ireland, Cyprus passing oncoming cars and to allow and Malta. Outside of Europe, the front-seat passengers to get out of left side practice is limited to old the car onto the pavement instead United Kingdom colonies. As for of into the middle of the street. reasons, it should be noted that in A Ford catalog from 1908 exEngland there was more travel by plains the benefits of placing the coaches (the main mode of travel controls on the left side of the car: for English urban dwellers) than “The control is located on the left wagons and the coachmen sat on side, the logical place, for the folthe right side of the carriage. If he lowing reasons: Traveling along the were to whip the horses, there was right side of the road the steering a chance he could hit and injure wheel on the right side of the car pedestrians strolling on the side- made it necessary to get out on the walk. Thus, the left side remained street side and walk around the car. favored by the English and their This is awkward and especially incolonists. convenient if there is a lady to be Almost always, in countries considered. The control on the left where one drives on the right-hand allows you to step out of the car on side of the road, the cars are built to the curbing without having had so that the driver sits on the left- to turn the car around. In the mathand side of the car. Conversely, ter of steering with the control on driving on the left-hand side of the the right, the driver is farthest away road usually implies that the dri- from the vehicle he is passing, going ver’s seat is on the right-hand side in opposite direction; with it on the of the car. It used to be different, left side he is able to see even the though. They changed to left-hand- wheels of the other car and easily drive in the early 1900s as it was avoids danger.” Makes sense to me, decided that it was more practical but go tell that to the Brits.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

by Barbara Collignon There’s a favorite aria sung to a tree, beloved for its shade and the peace of mind that the plane tree, with its beautiful resplendent leaves, inspires. It is entirely within the tradition of praising the beauty of nature in song.

Here are the words of the recitative poem that precede the aria: Frondi tenere e belle del mio platano amato per voi risplende il fato.

Tuoni, lampi, e procelle non v’oltraggino mai la cara più ne giunga a profanarvi austro rapace.

“O leaves tender and beautiful of my beloved plain tree. On you may fate shine resplendent. May thunder, lightning and storms never intrude, ever on your dear peace of mind, nor may there be any wind that comes to violate you, some violent wind from the west.”

The lyrics that so tenderly praise this tree are few but are repeated in a melody unforgettable as the image of the tree it evokes.

Ombra mai fu Di vegetabile, Cara ed amabile, Soave più Cara ed amabile Ombra mai fu Di vegetabile Cara ed amabile Soave più, soave più Ooh di vegetabile Cara ed amabile Soave più Soave più.

Never was shade of tree sweeter, more dear and lovable.

The aria is from Handel’s opera Xerxes, an opera based on Xerxes

Opera insights

the Great (486 BC to 465 BC), famous for invading Greece from across the Hellespont in 480 BC. You may remember that he was married to Esther from the Bible.

His grandfather was Cyrus the Great who abolished slavery in his kingdom. Xerxes upheld his grandfather’s philosophy and, interestingly enough, is famous for a quote about happiness. “God did not just create the world. God created Happiness for Mankind.” (One does learn the most amazing facts from the internet!)

The Hellespont is named after Helle whose brother Phrixus was rescued by a ram with a golden fleece. The Sea of Helle connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmora and Black Sea and is considered the boundary between Europe in the northwest and Asia in the southeast. It is 65 kilometers long now but in 480 BC it was only 1500 meters wide. The opera is not about empire building but romantic relationships.

Ombra mai fu is known as “Handel’s Largo” but it is marked “largetto” in the score. The opera is unusual for its many short, onepart arias when long three-part da capo arias were the norm. Giovanni Bononcini wrote the libretto.

Xerxes (Serse in Italian) is set in Persia in 480 BC although there is little in either the libretto or the music relevant to that setting (Wikipedia). In modern times, this aria from Handel’s Xerxes (first performed in 1738) is most often sung by a soprano or countertenor. However, it was written for castrato.

It was in 1588 that Pope Sixtus V banned women from public singing and castrated boys took on feminine roles. The practice was

THE ITALIAN TIMES

stopped only rather recently – in 1870! Castrati were the rock stars of their day. Alessandro Moreschi (Nov. 11, 1858 –Apr. 21, 1922) was a castrato singer of the late 19th century and the only castrato to make solo recordings. There is even a recording of “Ave Maria” by Alessandro Moreschi (singing in chest voice as well as in head voice) that you can hear on YouTube.

Why Xerxes’s role required a castrato rather than a tenor is perhaps explained by the way he is portrayed on an ancient carved stone relief. It shows him to have long curly hair, a curly beard and an earring in his pierced ear. This to modern people may suggest femininity or androgyny but this image merely reflected the fashion of men at the time in ancient Persia.

Perhaps you heard the amazing countertenor Randall Scotting in the Florentine Opera’s presentation of Dido and Aeneas this past month. You can hear the voices of several other remarkable countertenors on YouTube, among them Philippe Jaroussky and Andreas Scholl.

Another interesting fact: Ombra mai fu was the first piece of music to be broadcast on radio, broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1906 by inventor Reginald Fessenden of Canada.

According to Wikipedia, “Fessenden reported that on the evening of December 24, 1906, Christmas Eve. He had made the first of two radio broadcasts of music and entertainment to a general audience, using the alternatortransmitter at Brant Rock.

Fessenden remembered producing a short program that included a phonograph record of Ombra mai fu….followed by Fessenden playing

Adolphe Adam’s carol O Holy Night on the violin….” The intended audience for both of these transmissions was primarily shipboard radio operators along the Atlantic seaboard. One can only imagine the thrill of hearing these pieces coming over the waves, literally over sound and water waves, through the darkness of Christmas Eve.

Festa della Donna celebrated in Italy on Mar. 8

On Mar. 8, Italians will honor the women in their lives by celebrating the national holiday known as “La Festa della donna” (“Women’s Festival”). The day is usually marked by the presentation of yellow mimosa flowers to wives, mothers, sisters and daughters.

As innocent as the sentiment of the holiday sounds, its roots are actually in early 20th century women’s movements. On Mar. 8, 1917, there was a large woman-led protest calling for the end of World War I. The mimosa flower blooms in early March. Their association with La Festa della Donna began in post-World War II Rome, when it is believed that men began to present the women in their lives with the delicate flower as a token of respect and appreciation.

Festa della Donna is a big day for restaurants across Italy like Mother’s Day is in the United States.

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 21

Those snappy, savory, spicy and saucy sauces

by Blaise Di Pronio Did you know that there is a class of pasta sauces that not only shares the common denominators of being hot, peppery and spicy but is also known by colorful, lively and even a bit indelicate names? You may have seen them featured in local restaurants including Cafe La Scala and may have further wondered what these descriptive names really meant. Look no further and just read on.

Pasta Arrabiata literally means “angry” pasta in Italian. Of course, what is angry is the spicy sauce made from garlic, tomatoes and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. The spice level is a highly personal decision and different people have wildly different heat tolerances. Also keep in mind that different chilies, whether fresh or dried, can have a broad range of intensities. So, watch out, because underneath the “anger” lies a fiery streak.

Pasta Alla Vesuviana is pasta “Vesuvio” style. Vesuvius, of course, is the Neapolitan volcano that

cooked and buried Pompeii many years ago. This sauce is a volcaniclike explosion of flavors from the Mediterranean area bordering the famous fiery mountain. The melted mozzarella and tomato sauce on the

pasta is supposed to resemble Vesuvius lava and the fire part comes from the chilies used. Caution is suggested here. Remember what happened to Pompeii.

Pasta Fra Diavolo is pasta

“Brother Devil” style. It is the name given to a spicy sauce, apparently from hell. Most versions are tomato-based and use chili peppers for spice, but the term is also used for sauces that include no tomato, or that use cayenne or other forms of pepper.

Some legends say that the pasta was named after a certain Fra Diavolo (1771–1806), which was the popular name given to Michele Pezza, a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader, who resisted the French occupation of Naples. He was known as an out of control and naughty child, who grew into an adult with a fiery temper just like the namesake sauce.

In addition, in Italy, Brother Devil fires are those large fires that are dangerously out of control, our fire from hell, with an implied reference to Dante’s Inferno (Hell).

Pasta Puttanesca is pasta “trollop” style or, in effect, hot, piquant, racy, salty, spicy and tangy like a fallen woman of the night It is a sauce invented in Naples in the Please turn to page 23

Maratona di Roma set for Apr. 8

One of the most popular and beautiful marathons in Europe – the 34th Maratona di Roma – will take place Sunday, Apr. 8.

The 42-km marathon (26.1 miles) – in which more than 12,000 athletes are expected to participate – will start at 9 a.m. on the Vai dei Fori Imperiali in the shadow of the Colisseum.

The route continues past some of the Eternal City’s most famous landmarks such as the Piazza di Spagna, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Saint Peter’s Basilica and Piazza Venezia.

While Rome is known as the “City of Seven Hills,” the race route is fairly flat. The greatest problem some of the runners encounter are the cobblestone streets.

The 2017 marathon winners were Shura Kitata of Ethiopia in the men’s division, with a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 30 seconds, and Rahma Tusa of Ethiopia in the women’s division (2:27:23 time).

The fastest run in the men’s division was achieved in 2009 by Kenya’s Benjamin Kiptoo in 2:07:17. In the women’s division,

Pasta Arrabiata

the record time was set by Russian Galina Bogomolova (2:22:53) in 2008.

The last Italians to win were Alberico Di Cecco in 2005 in the men’s division (2:08:02). In 2004, Italian

runners won both divisions: Ruggero Pertile in the men’s division (2:12:12) and Ornella Ferrara in the women’s division in 2004 (2:27:49).

The marathon has been run an-

nually since 1982, except in the years 1992, 1993 and 1994 when it was not held. Italian men have won the run nine times. Italian women have captured first place 12 times.

No American man has ever won the marathon, although two American women won in consecutive years in the 1980s – Janet Richardson in 1985 and Katherine Gregory in 1986.

Alongside the more serious and intensive Maratona di Roma, a parallel event is held for those less athletically inclined. Known as “La Stracittadina,” this “Roma Fun Run” is geared toward families and seniors and benefits dozens of Roman charities.

And now, a word from Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio Accordion- A portable bellows-like wind instrument with a small keyboard and free metal reeds that sound when air is forced past them.

From the Italian accordare which means to have a musical concord/unison of sounds(or chords) which are in agreement and thus in harmony.

PAGE 22 – MARCH 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Percentage of Wisconsinites with Italian roots by zip codes

You might be surprised to learn which cities in Wisconsin have the largest percentage of residents claiming Italian ancestry in a 2017 zip code report.

According to Zipatlas.com, the

five cities (towns) with the highest percentage of Italians in Wisconsin are all located in Iron County in the far northwestern part of the state.

Zip Atlas uses zip code boundaries, which usually extend beyond actual

city or town limits to determine population totals.

Topping the list is Montreal, where just over 27% of its residents claim some Italian ancestry. Montreal’s population is 731, which

by Blaise Di Pronio Call it a gaffe, a Freudian-like slip or political affiliation rearing its unwelcome head. All of our proofreaders (including your blushing writer) missed a blatant and readily obvious typo in our February 2018 issue. The astute reader who turned us in was none other than our favorite politician of sorts (as he was an elected Circuit Court Judge after all), Bill Jennaro. He informed us of our political faux pas (smiling all the while) as soon as he spotted it.

Let’s see if our readers can find it themselves before reading on.

Here’s a hint: Go back and read

the article on Italian American musicians we lost in 2017 on page 9 of the February issue. If you don’t have the issue, you can find it at the ICC internet site (iccmilwaukee.com) under The Italian Times link. Further hint: It has to do with the Buddy Greco portion of the article.

The culprit sentence, of course, was this: “His most successful single was “The Lady is a Trump,” which sold more than one million copies.” The correct word is, indubitably, ‘tramp’ and not ‘trump’.

But the word ‘trump’ is an interesting word that can stand on its own. Merriam-Webster defines

‘trump’ as: 1. A card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is not of this suit – called also trump card.

2. A decisive overriding factor or final resource – called also the trump card.

3. A dependable and exemplary person.

In today’s volatile and divisive state of the nation, would you agree that that third definition could be considered a kind of poetic justice or the epitome of irony, all depending on your political inclinations? Can anybody trump that thought?

from page 22 mid-20th century. Its ingredients typically include tomatoes, olive oil, anchovies, olives, capers and garlic.

But why this saucy sauce name?

One story claims that at the end of the evening, the workingwomen would come begging at local restaurants for leftovers. This sauce was

made of all leftover ingredients. If there was sauce on the stove, anything that may be going “bad” was put into the simmering sauce.

It is also claimed that the name purportedly comes from the fact that the resulting intense fragrance of this sauce was like a siren’s call to the men who visited such “ladies

of pleasure.” And another version stressed that the ladies needed to make something speedy and nutritious between appointments and they could cook the sauce in the time it took her to meet with the client and then enjoy it between subsequent appointments.

Slip of the tongue

Let talk about those sauces

THE ITALIAN TIMES

means some 199 residents come from an Italian heritage. The Montreal zip code is 54550.

Second on the list is Iron Belt, where 26.74% or approximately 72 of its 269 residents claim some Italian ancestry. Iron Belt is in the 54536 zip code Hurley (54535 zip code) is third.

The city’s zip code area has a population of 2,912, of which 19.72% have some Italian ancestry, according to Zip Atlas. Numerically, that would mean approximately 574 residents trace their roots to Italy.

Fourth on the list is the sprawling metropolis (just kidding) of Upson (54565 zip code), with a population of 50, where 19.56% of the residents are of Italian ancestry.

So, nearly one-in-five people in Upson zip code area report Italian roots.

Rounding out the Top 5 is the town of Gile, where 12.42% of its 1,226 residents claim an Italian ancestry. By the numbers, about 152 residents have Italian roots. The zip code for Gile is 54525.

All of these towns came into existence in the late 1860s and 1870s when the iron mining and lumber business began to flourish in northwestern Wisconsin.

Immigrants from southern Italian regions of Abruzzo, Calabria, Sicily, Molise and Campania settled in this area of the state, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Kenosha ranks seventh of the Zip Atlas list, with 9.61% of its 104,686 residents having Italian Please turn to page 24

MARCH 2018 – PAGE 23

Percentage of Wisconsinites with Italian roots by zip code

from page 23 roots. Kenosha is covered in four different zip code areas.

Milwaukee is 87th on the Zip Altas list. The list shows that 3.30% of the 821,015 residents in the 29 Milwaukee zip codes claim Italian ancestry. That figure means that about 27,093 residents have Italian roots.

Zip Atlas is a structured collection of zip code, area code, city and state demographics, social and eco-

nomic profiles. Persons will find employment and unemployment rates, industry statistics, household and personal income reports, property value assessment, housing unit occupancy and vacancy breakdown, mortgage and rent analysis, age, gender, ancestry and racial profiles, education attainment levels and school enrollment, among many others.

Zip Atlas data collection features more than 100,000 maps, in-

cluding state, city and zip code boundary maps as well as zip code

demographics heat maps to allow for simple visualization of data.

Interested in advertising in our next issue. Get all of the details by calling 414-223-2189 or emailing Editor Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com

Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day with warm, comfort foods from my cookbook, “Recipes My Nonna Taught Me.” I also have several meatless recipes for Lent including lentil soup. No cheese is eaten on St. Joseph’s Day to remind us that Italians were too poor to have cheese. Pasta is sprinkled with bread crumbs which is a reminder of the sawdust of St. Joseph the carpenter.

Sale price $10.00 w/ FREE S & H to FRANCENA, 125 Boyce Road, Centerville, OH 45458.

937-43307313 • fslyd@aol.com.

PAGE 24 – MARCH 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES