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The Pino Cicala Archives
Progress continues, with an eye toward a December 2020 opening
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Progress continues on the planning, design and fabrication of the new Italian American Museum of Washington DC (IAMDC) at Casa Italiana, despite timing set-backs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The museum will occupy four lobby spaces of the newly constructed building and will focus on Italians and Italian Americans who have a direct connection to the Washington, D.C. area.
As indicated in the images at right, the museum will reflect on the following themes: how Italians and Italian Americans influenced the design, construction and beautification of the capital; the lives, struggles and achievements of Italian immigrants in the area; the creation and historic evolution of Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana; and an exhibition gallery showing the works of local Italian and Italian American artists.
The museum will also include the Mar coni Project, a series of oral interviews with local community members, including Holy Rosary Church parisioners and members of the larger Italian American community.
During these times of a national revisit ing of our history as a country with a diverse population, the mission of IAMDC to preserve our rich Italian cultural heritage, seems particularly relevant.
The planned opening of the museum is before the end of 2020.
Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center Establishes the ‟Pino Cicala Archives and Virtual Collection”
The passing of community "communicator-in-chief" Pino Cicala three years ago, left a void in our Italian American commu nity. To keep his legacy alive, Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center, Inc. (CISC), will name its archives and virtual collection in his memory. The Pino Cicala Archives and Virtual Collection will consist of hundreds of Pino’s files, donated by his son Luigi and his brother Melo Cicala. The files chronicle and record the history of Italian American organizations and their major events in the Washington area for nearly 60 years. Plans are also underway to digitize a large collection of community photographs from the Holy Rosary Church collection for the archive. “Pino devoted most of his life in the service of our Italian American commu nity—as a radio host, TV producer and in later years as editor of the Amico web site,” said Francesco Isgro, president of CISC. “We are fortunate that we can safeguard his historical records and share them with our community. We thank Fr. Ezio Marchetto, pastor of Holy Rosary Church and chair man of CISC, for his vision and for providing a place for them in Casa Italiana. The archives are a good complement to the Robert A Facchina Italian American Museum in Washington DC (IAMDC), and the Mar coni Project of oral histories.” “My father loved the Italian American community in Washington and all things Italian,” said Luigi Cicala. “I am delighted that his memory will be kept alive at Casa Italiana through this exciting collection.” Melo Cicala stated, “My brother’s life re volved around the Italian American community in Washington and his love for Italy. I could not think of a better place to honor his memory and contributions than by keeping his archives at Casa Italiana.”
Cataloguing and digitizing Pino’s collection will require financial resources; an initial $50,000 is needed to begin the project. At a future date, an official reception will be held in Casa Italiana for supporters, and Pino’s many friends.
As we begin to work on Pino’s col lection, we invite others with historical files about our area’s Italian community to consider donating them to the Pino Cicala Archives, which will be available to researchers and others interested in the Italian presence in our nation’s capital. If you would like to donate materials, please contact Nancy DeSanti at nancy.desanti@ casaitalianacenter.org
Holy Rosary Church Reopens, with Limitations
After three months of being closed, Holy Rosary Church reopened its doors to parish ioners on Sunday, June 28, 2020, following guidelines issued by the Archdiocese of Washington.
The Sunday bilingual mass at 10:30 a.m. has been streamed live via Facebook since the pandemic lockdown, and will continue to be broadcast for parishioners who are unable to attend the live mass.
Parishioners who wish to attend the live mass must register by contacting the parish office. Reservations are taken no later than the Thursday before the Sunday mass you would like to attend. Those attending will be required to wear masks or appropriate face coverings and to use the hand sanitizer pro vided at the church entrance.
For additional information, please con tact the parish office at 202-638-0165.
MARIA MARIGLIANO
Lido Civic Club Awards $70,000 in College Scholarships
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Dominic F. Antonelli, Jr. Scholarship); Matthew Fairbanks, Catholic University (recipient of the Madeline and Antonio Germinario Scholarship); Chiara O’Neill, Drexel University (Gastone Monticelli Memorial Scholarship); and
Angelo Tundo, University of Maryland (Angelo Caputo and Frank Trimboli Scholarship).
Other recipients are: Dominic Allegra, George Mason University; Patrizia Manziano, Notre Dame University; Gaia Mieren, University of Maryland; Domenico Toscano, University of Del
aware; Stephanie Farace, University of Maryland; Alyssa Marinaccio, East Stroudsburg University; Asa Nugent, NOVA Community College; Manuel Rettore, Catholic University; Paul Russo, Liberty University; and Sofia Sergi, Catholic University.
COMMUNITY NEWS Italians in DC (IDC) Elects New Leadership
The association Italians in DC (IDC) has has announced the election of a new leadesrship team. Maby Palmisano, an in ternational development professional, is the new president, replacing out going president Claudio Ba zzichelli. Also elected were: Paolo Omen etti, vice president; Giovanni Sciannameo, treasurer, Ser ena Ardizzoia, secretary; Leonardo Cecchi, socal events; and Anna Lawton, Parolab, the IDC's book club.
Funds Available to Help Community Members Impacted by Coronavirus
Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center, Inc. has established a #WeAreOneCommunity Coronavirus Emergency Fund. Contribu tions will benefit members of the Italian American/Italian community in our metro area who may need financial assistance at this difficult time.
To date, more than $6,000 has been donated. To make a contribution, please donate at the #WeAreOneCommunity Go FundMe account. Or, write a check payable to CISC, Inc., indicating its purpose, and mail to: CISC, Inc., 595 Third St. NW, Washington DC 20001.
To request assistance, contact the Coronavirus Charity Committee at: dsantoli@ ioniallc.com. Confidentially will be strictly maintained.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 7, 2020. 101st Anniversary of dedication of Holy Rosary Church September 20, 2020. Church groups' Parish Fair October 3, 2020. The blessing of pets in honor of St. Francis. October 19, 2020. Italian American Open 2020 at Westwood Country Club, Vienna, Virginia. A Lido Civic Club fundraiser for Casa Italiana and other civic programs.
Founded in 1960 An Italian American Gazette of the Greater Washington D.C. Area
595 Third Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Editor-in-Chief: Fr. Ezio Marchetto, C.S. Executive Editor: Francesco Isgrò, Esq. Photographer: Marcella Finelli Correspondent: Generoso D'Agnese Contributors: Ciro De Falco, Nancy De Santi, Daniela Enriquez
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Lucia Portanova 202-638-0165
Mailing:
Joan Dodaro, Martha Finelli, Rosa Mayer
Voce Italiana
Protesters: a Sign of Awakening and Hope
Growing up in Italy, politics was always an integral part of awake the general public and the young people in particular. It started in 2019, people’s daily lives. Maybe because of when in 46 weeks there were 45 school the many political parties’ activities, or shootings. Students and teachers took to the continuous changing of government the streets and a large number gathered with consequent elections, it seemed that in Washington, D.C. to demand some political debate was always a favorite form of gun control. topic of discussion both at home and in On January 24, 2020, tens of public. thousands of people came together in
I remember that when I was just Washington for "March for Life," and 11 years old, I took part in my first recently all through the nation thousands demonstration. When I was 15, for my and thousands of people took to the summer job I was registered street, despite the threat with a labor union and of Covid-19, to ask for took part in my first strike. It is good to see drastic changes in police A month after arriving in that social awareness behavior and rules when the United States, I was has been awakened. conducting arrests. Young in a demonstration against deporting people who It is a promising sign and old, through a wide range of races and creeds were longtime residents, of hope toward a marched together taking but who had overstayed more just society. over streets and squares. their visas. I remember Yes, there were one young boy carrying a extremists with violent sign that said, “Please, do not deport my and destructive behavior--never to nonno.” be excused or accepted--but from my
While at the university in Toronto I personal point of view, it is good to see was in several demonstrations. Probably people involved in issues that have an because of my background I was impact, if not on their lives, in the life of really surprised by the lack of political society at large. Realizing that they have involvement of people in general and of a voice I do hope that they keep an open young people in particular. It was very mind and awareness of the many social difficult to motivate people, even within issues, from violence to homelessness, the university environment, usually a from gun control to respect for life, from privileged place of debate and social environment to racism. sensitivity. Gone were the 60s with the It is good to see that social awareness civil rights marchers; protesting U.S. has been awakened. It is a promising involvement in the Vietnam War; Cesar sign of hope toward a more just society. Chavez and the United Farm Workers Just my opinion. union; marchers at a feminist parade. --Fr. Ezio Marchetto
Then, recently, issues arose that shook
Pope Francis Tweet, June 26, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Should we consider changing the name of “America”? Maybe to “Clovisland”?
In these revisionist times, should the very name “America” be challenged? America got its name on April 25, 1507. At least that was the day when printers finished the first book that suggested that the newly discovered world should be named after the Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
He was, to say the least, a controversial choice from the beginning: he did not “dis cover” America; the narration of his voyages was embellished and often fictitious; he only was on board (not captain) of ships that explored the East coast of South America, and coming back he took part in a brief slave raid in the Bahamas, capturing 232 natives and then returned to Spain; he was a slaver leaving his five household slaves as inheritance to his wife. "Columbus Day would be a perfect occasion for the Nation to pause each year to pay homage to the cause and challenge of discovery, invention, and exploration. It would be a time to review our progress in the search for technological advances to im prove our way of life by making it better, safer, and more satisfying; to evaluate our
Among historians there are highly dif ferent opinions about Amerigo Vespucci: from those like Bartolomé De Las Casas, who called him a liar and an impostor who stole the honor due to Columbus. And those like Ralph Waldo Emerson, who called him a "thief" and "pickle dealer" from Seville, to those who support Vespucci including John Fiske and Henry Harrisse.
So, in these revisionist times and statue tumbling demonstrations, leave Columbus alone. After all, he never set foot in North America. Take a closer look at who gave us the name “America.” Maybe we should consider calling America “Clovisland,” after all, the Clovis culture is the first clear evidence of human activity in North America.
( Name withheld upon request. Readers'
Late Congressman Peter Rodino's reasons to honor Columbus
re sponses are encouraged.)
gains in the patient quest for cures to diseas es that kill and cripple; to appraise the wondrous probes into the vast and awesome void of outer space. Finally, Columbus Day would be a day to honor immigrants of all nationalities and acknowledge their contributions to the building of a strong, just, and prosperous United States of America.”
