The Italian Times

ITALIAN TIMES THE

Published 11 times annually by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com DECEMBER 2018 • VOL. 40, NO. 6

Become a member of the Italian Community Center and you will receive home delivery of this publication.

Your address label will be placed here.

– CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED –

Cosa c’è dentro?

What’s inside?

President’s message

page 3

La Befana is coming to the ICC on Saturday, Jan. 5 page 6 Tradizione Vivente to lead Carnevale 2019 page 7

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WI Permit No. 5716

Joseph T. Emanuele sworn in as 23rd ICC President

Club Garibaldi wins ICC’s fall bocce championship page 7

Lots of positives to point to in membership arena page 8 La Befana to be part of German Krampusnacht on Wednesday, Dec. 5

page 8

Join the committee that works to showcase the greatness of Italian culture page 9

Homeless and poor feted by ICC volunteers page 10

My Cousin Vinny is next up on ICC Movie Night page 11

Installation dinner and dance photo recap pages 12-14

News from local Italian organizations pages 15-17

Milwaukee native Mathilda Scaduto Bryant was an acclaimed songwriter page 18

The Four Seasons take stage in ICC Courtyard page 19 Seeing and believing

page 19

Anthony T. Machi (right), the first President of the Italian Community Center (1978-1980), administered the oath of office to Joseph T. Emanuele, the 23rd President of the ICC, at the organization’s installation

dinner and dance on Nov. 10, Many more photos from the event appear on pages 12-14. Emanuele was elected to his first term as President this past October. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

ICC volunteers provide full Thanksgiving dinner for community’s poor and homeless

NFL Italian superstars

page 20

Members’ Christmas party details announced

by Susie Christiansen All members and non-member guests are invited to the Italian Community Center Christmas Party. The 2018 Members Christmas Party will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13. It will include a delicious sit down dinner and wonderful entertainment, all for the price of $20 per member and $35 per non-member.

Dinner Dinner will begin with a garden salad topped with Italian vinaigrette. The entrée will be Tuscan chicken with rosemary and garlic jus, carmelized brussels sprouts and pureed Yukon potatoes. The meal will conclude with a delicious dessert.

Here are many of the volunteers on behalf of the Italian Community Center, the Pompeii Men’s Club, the Pompeii Women’s Club and the Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America with the young people from St. Dominic Church Youth Ministry and the three ICC dinner co-chairs who organized and staffed a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 11 for the poor and homeless in our community. The dinner took place at the Open Door Cafe, a meal site at St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Milwaukee. More

photos and a thank you message from Dinner Chairman Tony Lupo appear inside this issue. Seen in the front row, l – r: Chair Tony Lupo, Vice Chair Ray Martinez, Elaine Laudon, George Collura and Vice Chair Tony Zingale. Second row: Michelle Lopez, Carol Martinez, four volunteers from St. Dominic’s Youth Ministry, Lena Zingale and Aggie Collura. Back row: Rick Bertolas, Mike Cardo, four volunteers from St. Dominic Youth Ministry, Mike Toffler, Barbara Lupo and Paul Lamarre. (Times photo by Tim Townsend)

Dancing What better way to celebrate the holidays than to dance the night away. Come jitterbug, cha cha, rock-and roll and electric slide your way into the holidays. We guarantee that you will find some music to get you and your partner out on the dance floor.

Bake sale Imagine the vast array of freshbaked cakes, cookies, cupcakes and pastries. The quality of this stunning bake sale is second to none.

You won’t want to miss this.

If you would like to donate Please turn to page 4

BUON NATALE E FELICE ANNO NUOVO

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PAGE 2 – DECEMBER 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

A message from Joseph T. Emanuele, Italian Community Center President

Dear members, It is quite an honor to become the 23rd president of the Italian Community Center. I am honored and excited to get started leading the Center and working with all of you. I look forward to engaging new ideas to promote the Italian Community Center into a new era with the assistance of you, the members.

For the past month I have been working closely with our business manager, Laurie Bisesi, in assessing several areas of the Center. To date, much of the building has been re-lit and the replacement of defective lighting will be completed soon.

Bids are being taken to power scrub the building; a new ATM has been installed inside the Center for our convenience. Plumbing and drain issues in our main kitchen have been corrected, defective windows have been ordered for replacement and the fence along Jackson Street is being replaced due to age and damage.

I have also met with the Historic 3rd Ward Association, The City of Milwaukee Planning & Zoning Division and The Architectural Review Board regarding the addition of new signage on the northwest corner of the building. It is important that the Center’s functions are properly displayed to inform the public that we are open for business and our door is open for them to visit the Center. It will also assist us in the advertising of many events that we have to offer at the Center. Concentrating on these areas will enhance our image, attract new members and become a vital part of the Historic 3rd Ward.

As you are all aware, Festa Italiana is our biggest fundraiser for the Italian Community Center. It is imperative that we all concentrate and get involved in making it successful. I have broken down Festa into several categories and committees for 2019. The leaders of these committees will keep me abreast of their progress as it develops. There are many openings that still need to be filled. Please watch for notification in the next issue of The Italian Times and review the areas in need

of your help.

To be successful, we the members are the most important. Many of you have expressed the need to revive Festa Italiana. In order to do that our volunteer base has to become our priority. Introducing our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will be a necessary component to our success. It is the younger generations who will be the future of the Center, our heritage and its longevity. We must regroup, and bring back the Festa of yesteryear. I ask for your help in getting our youth involved.

Moving forward, I will manage using an open door policy. I welcome your suggestions, opinions and even your criticism. Please feel free to contact me any time through the ICC office or via email at: president@iccmilwaukee.com. I give you my word that I will respond and address any concerns that you may have.

Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto, Membership Committee Chair, with the help of her volunteer committee, has grown our membership significantly. Her excitement and deter-

mination is proving to be contagious and leading to successful results. Mary Anne is at the helm of new and exciting events and has been innovative in her efforts to enhance the ICC membership and involvement. A good example is the movies being shown on the second Friday of every month. They are bringing new people in to have a good time and to get to know about the ICC and what we’re about.

The next Movie Night is Friday, Dec. 14, with doors open at 6 and the film shown at 7:15 p.m. The 1992 classic comedy, My Cousin Vinny will be shown. Please mark it on your calendar and come down and enjoy a fun-filled night of laughter and camaraderie.

The ICC Membership Christmas Party will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13. The reception is at 6 and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Make reservations and come celebrate the season with friends and family.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May 2019 bring upon you many blessings. Continue to pray for health, happiness and peace in

When it comes to saying “Thank you for your business” or “Thinking of you during the holiday season,” there’s no better way than with homemade Italian cookies from Sciortino’s.

Platters of assorted cookies from 20 oz. to 8 lbs.

10 oz. and 20 oz. tubs, or make up your very own assorted Box of Cookies.

We do a variety of mini desserts to make that holiday party extra special!

THE ITALIAN TIMES

631 E. Chicago St. Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916 (414) 223-2180 Published 11 times annually

Publisher . . . Italian Community Center ICC President . . . . ,Joseph T. Emanuele Newspaper Committee Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . To be announced Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Hemman Advertising Sales Manager . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Hemman Advertising Sales Representative . . . . . . Faye Ann Kessler Editorial Contributors, Reporters and Columnists . . . . . . . . . Blaise Di Pronio, Barbara Collignon and Donato Di Pronio

Holiday Stollen available as well!

Visit our website for items available for shipping or store pick up.

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

your life and in the lives of others.

Buon Natale.

– Joseph T. Emanuele President Italian Community Center

WE SHIP!

ur Check out o shopping ! cart online

In the Heart of Milwaukee’s East Side

1101 E. Brady Street, Milwaukee (414) 272-4623

www.PeterSciortinosBakery.com

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 3

Make plans to attend ICC Christmas Dinner and Dance on Dec. 13

from page 1 baked goods, please contact Rosemary DeRubertis or Joanne Czubek.

You can also call Constance Palmer at the ICC (414-223-2180) or send an email to her at cpalmer@iccmilwaukee.com.

Thank you so much to those who donate bakery to the sale. (See separate story.)

Reservation details Advance reservations are required. The cost for this fantastic evening is $20 per member and $35 per non-member. Please use the form accompanying this story to

make yours. Checks are payable to the Italian Community Center.

You may also call 414-223-2180 and make your payment with a credit card. Please note: the reservation deadline is Thursday, Dec. 6.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a half-hour cocktail reception.

The dinner and dance are replacing the regular general membership dinner and meeting. However, after dinner and before the entertainment begins, there will be a brief business meeting.

Let’s come together to celebrate our friendship and our love for the Italian culture.

Buon Natale!

ICC General Membership Christmas Party Reservation Form

Name(s) __________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _____________________________________________

Phone No. _______________ Email ____________________________ Number of ICC members attending ________ x $20.00 = $__________ Number of non-members attending ________ x $35.00 + $__________

Make check or money order payable to: Italian Community Center. Send this form and your payment to: ICC, Attn.: Membership Christmas Party. 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Reservation deadline: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018.

Calling all holiday bakers

ICC seeks donated baked goods for Dec. 13 Members’ Christmas party fundraiser

The Italian Community Center’s Members’ Christmas dinner and dance is all set for Thursday, Dec. 13. As in the past, one of the big attractions of the evening will be the fabulous bake sale featuring all the delicious holiday baked goods donated by ICC members.

Bake Sale Coordinators Joanne Czubek and Rosemary DeRubertis are asking members to “bring out

the pots and pans, nonna’s favorite recipes and your baking skills” to help make this year’s bake sale truly successful.

“Anything goes – cakes, cookies, candy, whatever your favorite holiday treats might be – we welcome your donation.” Czubek said.

If you are unable to bake, bring something from your favorite place for bakery. All items can be

dropped off at the ICC office on the day before or the morning of the party. “If you are unable to package your items, we will do that for you,” Czubek said. “We will also do the pricing.”

“If you prefer to bring your items the night of the party, please have them packaged nicely so they are ready to be priced and sold,” DeRubertis said.

Everyone who is interested in donating to this fundraising event is asked to call Czubek at 414-5290183 so the committee can get a handle on what they can expect to have available for the bake sale.

The Bake Sale Co-Chairs said, “We want to thank all of the people who helped out in the past and we hope that they will consider participating again this year. We are very appreciative of every donation for this fundraiser.”

Deadline for January 2019 issue

All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in the January 2019 issue of The Italian Times must be submitted to the editor no later than Monday, Dec. 10.

All materials can be emailed to editor Tom Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com or sent to The Italian Times, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For further information, call 414-2232189.

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 4 – DECEMBER 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

THE ITALIAN TIMES

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 5

La Befana is coming from Italy to ICC on Jan. 5 with gifts for good children, stockings full of coal for naughty ones

The Italian Community Center’s Avanti Committee is pleased to announce that La Befana, the legendary Epiphany witch of Italian folklore, is coming to the ICC for her annual visit.

A luncheon party has been scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 5 at noon.

After a child friendly lunch, La Befana will meet and greet all of the children and present gifts to those who have exhibited good behavior this past year.

Youngsters who have been naughty should be aware: La Befana might give you a stocking filled with coal. (Parents and Grandparents: A Ripley’s Believe It or Not insert is needed here. In the 17 years that the ICC has invited La Befana to come to the party, no child has ever gone home with a stocking filled with coal yet!)

“Since the mission of the ICC is to promote Italian culture, we think it’s important that our children and grandchildren learn about La Befana,” said Liz Ceraso of the Avanti Committee.

Party details Children are encouraged to wear socks the day of the party (Jan. 5) because, after they eat lunch, the children will be asked to take off their shoes and leave them behind a curtain. Avanti Committee members have told The Italian Times that La Befana has expressed an interest in leaving special treats in the children’s shoes.

The lunch will feature a buffet with food to please both the children and the adults in attendance.

For dessert, everyone will be able to make their own ice cream sundae. There will also be an opportunity for children to decorate their own Christmas cookie!

The cost to attend will be $5 per child and $15 per adult. Pre-paid reservations are required by Friday, Dec. 28. Please use the form accompanying this article to make your reservations or call the ICC office at 414-223-2180 and have your credit card ready. You can also fill out a reservation form on the event flyer found on the rack in the south entrance lobby.

Please make sure to give the names and ages of each child so that gifts appropriate for every age group are given out. Walk-ins on the day of the event will not be permitted.

Here is La Befana, in a photo from the ICC’s party last January, telling her story of her ill-fated effort to visit and deliver gifts to the Baby Jesus and how she has

La Befana: The Yuletide Witch In Italy, a tradition is carried on about the beneficent witch named Befana. On the night of the Feast of Epiphany (the 12th and final day of the Christmas holiday observance), Befana leaves presents in children’s stockings, hung upon a hearth or a stairway railing (a tradition quite similar to the American Santa Claus story).

Legend has it that, when Christ was born, the Three Wise Men (I re magi) stopped at Befana’s hut for directions on their way to Bethlehem and, in the conversation, asked her to join them. Befana said no, she was too busy.

Later, a shepherd asked her to join him in paying respects to the Baby Jesus. Again, Befana declined.

When it became dark, Befana noticed a great star illuminating the sky just as the Wise Men had told her earlier in the day. She then realized that perhaps she should have gone with them. So, she gathered some toys that had belonged to her own baby, who had died as an infant, some charcoal to heat the stable and boarded her

since attempted to make amends by delivering gifts to good children each Epiphany Eve. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

magic broom to find the kings and the place where the Christ Child lay.

The legend states that, regretfully, Befana was unable to locate either the Three Wise Men or the

place where Jesus was born. Since then, each year at this time, Befana continues her search for the Christ Child and leaves gifts along the way for good children and sacks of charcoal for bad ones.

All of those events take place at the Italian Community Center unless otherwise indicated.

My Cousin Vinny Free admission

ICC Members’ Bocce Night Friday, Nov. 30 6:30 p.m., doors open 7 p.m., games begins Open to members and non-members. Free admission.

ICC Members’ Christmas Dinner & Dance Thursday, Dec. 13 6 p.m., reception, 6:30 p.m., dinner ICC Movie Night Friday, Dec. 14 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie

CHILDREN'S LA BEFANA PARTY & LUNCH RESERVATION FORM

NAMES OF BOYS ATTENDING ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

AGE ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

NAMES OF GIRLS ATTENDING _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

AGE ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

Names of male adult members attending: __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Names of female adult members attending: _________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cost: $5.00 per child, $15.00 per adult. Total Amount Enclosed: $ . Make your check payable to: Italian Community Center. Mail this form with your payment to: Italian Community Center, Attn.: La Befana party, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Reservation form with payment due Friday, Dec. 29. No walk-ins permitted.

PAGE 6 – DECEMBER 2018

ICC Winter Bocce Leagues Season begins the week of Jan. 7 and concludes Monday, Mar. 11 with the championship playoffs ICC Movie Night Friday, Jan. 11 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Under The Tuscan Sun Free admission ICC Movie Night Friday, Feb. 8 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Grease (Sing-A-Long) Free admission

ICC 39th annual Il Grande Carnevale Saturday, Feb. 23 6:11 p.m., reception 7:11 p.m., dinner, program, dancing and more.

ICC Movie Night Friday, Mar. 8 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission

ICC Spring Bocce Leagues Season begins the week of Mar. 18 and concludes Monday, May 20 with the championship playoffs ICC Movie Night Friday, Apr. 12 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission Please turn to page 9

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Tradizione Vivente looking forward to leading Carnevale 2019

The members of Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee, are thrilled to host the 2019 edition of Il Grande Carnevale. In exchange for their hard work in planning and hosting this epic cultural event, the ICC has generously agreed to donate 50% of the Carnevale proceeds to the dance group towards their longawaited trip to Sicily.

In June 2019, the members of Tradizione Vivente will travel to Italy, including Sicily, to study Italian folk dancing. Classes and meetings have been scheduled with several Italian groups. Members of our Milwaukee dance group will learn from them, and hopefully perform with them.

They are embarking on this study trip to immerse themselves in music, traditions, dances and language, all of which will only intensify their passion for the Italian culture and will no doubt reflect in their performances when they return to the United States.

“After more than 70 years in existence, this experience will be a dream come true for Tradizione Vivente – as dancers, we want to be as skilled as possible, and as Italians, we aspire to be as authentic as we can be. We are going to study what we are passionate about, and we are going to the very source to learn,” said Susie Christiansen, a longtime member and past president of the group.

The dance group has been and will continue to fundraise until they leave, constantly pursuing different ways to earn the money needed to participate in this cultural experience.

“Carnevale 2019 will be a beautiful evening. The retiring Carnevale Committee, led by Joanne Czubek and Rosemary DeRubertis, has done an absolutely phenomenal job in years past. We’re honored to follow in their footsteps, and we will give it everything we have,” Christiansen said.

Club Garibaldi wins its 9th ICC bocce championship

Harder Funeral Home

JAMES T. GUARDALABENE 18700 W. Capitol Drive

“Three generations of my family serving yours.”

Club Garibaldi won its ninth-ever Italian Community Center bocce championship as the team rolled past three opponents in the fall season playoffs on Nov. 12. In the championship game, Club Garibaldi from the Wednesday night league defeated Porticello from the Monday night league. Seen here are the players for Club Garibaldi. From the left: Jim Lehmann, Joe Lehmann, Gary Lisiecki, Russ Sereno and Al Zdrojewski.

The six other teams that qualified for the playoff tournament included Little Sicily, Helga & The Jennaros, It’s All Good, Como Si Chiama, Paisani and Pallino Magnets. (Photo supplied by John Alioto, Bocce Coordinator)

THE ITALIAN TIMES

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DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 7

ICC Membership Committee reports on a remarkable year

by Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto Membership Committee Chair Looking back over the last year, the Membership Committee has been very busy. As many of you know, our committee is fairly new, coming together back in February.

We set out on a mission to not only increase the membership total for the Italian Community Center but also the experience of those members.

We started out by having our first Happy Hour in June, followed by our first Movie Night in August attracting over 55 people to watch Moonstruck.

Since then we have had more Happy Hours, monthly movie nights and hosted our first Bocce Night on Nov. 30.

We hope that we have been giving members a bit of camaraderie and a sense of our Community Center. We will be continuing these programs next year, but are always

looking to our members to let us know what additional types of activities they would like to see.

We also are working on increasing our number of members by our outreach. We are signing up new members at Italian Community Center events such as Taste of Italy and Festa Italiana. This October and November was the first time we offered a “buy-one-get-one-free”

membership offer. The response has been outstanding.

We will be at The Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and also going to represent the Italian Community Center to the Milwaukee Public Museum on Saturday, Dec. 8 at its “European Village Alive!” program sharing our heritage and doing crafts with museum patrons and of course, signing

up new members.

As a committee, we want to thank all of our members for your support, your commitment and your incredible source of pride. We have reached our membership goal of 1,000 and are moving on to our new goal of 1,500.

Hope to see all of you at the Members Christmas Party and join us for a wonderful New Year!

The Italian Community Center’s Avanti Committee has announced that La Befana will be participating in Milwaukee’s Krampusnacht at the Bavarian Bierhaus on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 5-11 p.m. The pub-

lic is invited to attend the German Alpine folkloric event. The Bavarian Bierhaus is at 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale.

In Alpine lore, Dec. 5 is a night that children are visited by kindly Saint Nick and his dark companion, Krampus the Christmas demon. The good are rewarded, the bad are punished.

The 2nd annual Milwaukee Krampusnacht, produced by a group called Milwaukee Krampus, promises to be bigger and better than last year’s sold out event. It is a fun evening of local music, craft vendors, food and drink, activities and a Krampus parade.

Here is a little more detail about the events: • The American Science & Surplus Krampus Parade, 7 p.m., guests encounter a wild pack of Krampus and other folkloric characters, and angels will hand out candy and treats.

• The music lineup: The Squeezettes, Sunspot, Xposed 4 heads, and Sweet Sheiks. Dance floor will be available.

• The Krampus Market will feature 20 local vendors who will offer gift ideas for the unique people in

your life. You’ll find ornaments, Krampus cards, jewelry, candles, dolls, artwork, strange and rare items, and more.

• The Bavarian Bierhaus will have a special barrel-aged whiskey doppelbock released at this event called Bells & Chains. The menu will include German favorites, pretzels and a wide selection of beers and drinks.

• Other activities include a Krampus Kid’s Hour from 5-6 p.m. that will feature a Kinder-Krampus parade, storytelling with the Italian folklore character La Befana, an appearance by the Welsh Mari Lwyd, and a craft project. There is a white elephant gift exchange at 8 p.m. and a Krampus photo booth.

La Befana is, of course, the Italian Epiphany Eve witch of Italian folklore. Her appearance is being made possible by ICC Vice President Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie.

Milwaukee Krampus is a supporter of Toys for Tots and is asking attendees to bring a toy donation for the cause.

Tickets are priced at $1 to $5.

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/2 053297381580982/.

La Befana to take part in German Krampusnacht on Wednesday, Dec. 5; you’re invited to attend, too

Welcome new Italian Community Center members!

The following persons became members of the Italian Community Center between Oct. 10 - Nov. 12, 2018. Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Thomas and Roseanne Casper and children Ashley and Anthony of Milwaukee Joseph A. Pec of Putnam, IL Janet Habiger of Oak Creek

Camillia Spivey of Greenfield

Barbara Parrott of Menomonee Falls

Michael and Maria Maida and children Sophia and Giana of Brookfield Abby Hugg of Milwaukee

Sarah E. F. Mercado of Milwaukee,

Henry Musto and Mary Ellen Shea of Milwaukee Nick V Russo of Brookfield

Meghan M Roehm of Brookfield

Robert Michalovitz of Milwaukee Philip Russo of Whitefish Bay

Jon-Paul Batista and Kristine Da Prato of Wales

Felicia Robinson and children Liliana and Maia of Cedarburg Tasha Kilodzinski, Jr. of West Allis Henry Robles of St. Francis Jairo Galan of Milwaukee Matt Craft of Milwaukee

Alisa Chojnacki of West Allis Jim Grzybowski of Glendale

Bob Schneider of River Hills

John and Heather Conklin Holda of Milwaukee Joesph A Schick of Brookfield

Nick Ardellini of Oconomowoc

David Di Pronio of Milwaukee Bob Ryan of Racine

Gerri Chudik of Barrington, IL Gary DeGeorge of Waukesha

Lucas Marcello of Minneapolis, MN Mark Cannistra of Oconomowoc Joe Carini of New Berlin

Lorenzo Vicini of Brookfield Santo Saliture of Grafton

Daniel and Olviia Gatti-Taylor Kopitzke and children Olivia and Maebel of South Milwaukee Connie DiTello of Milwaukee Karen Vella of Milwaukee

PAGE 8 – DECEMBER 2018

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THE ITALIAN TIMES

Join the ICC Culture Committee, share in something special

by Gina Jorgensen ICC Culture Committee Chair Do you love the Italian culture?

If your answer is yes, then consider joining the Italian Community Center Culture Committee! We need you!

The Culture Committee is once again growing and we want you!

Please come to a meeting and check us out! Come with your ideas and let’s make these things happen for all to enjoy. Read below the description of some of the things we have done and why we exist.

Purpose: To promote Italian culture in the community through the celebration of the arts, education, and cultural awareness.

Goals: To present cultural events both at the Italian Community Center and in the community.

1. Holiday Folk Fair 2. Student Culture Day 3. Festa Italiana Cultural Exhibit 4. Italian Heritage Month 5. Curio Cabinet display 6. Museums, schools, and other related events/locations Examples of our participation at cultural events inside of the ICC: • Festa di Danza: We had three events in recent years celebrating dance and highlighting Italian folk dance. We have partnered with the International Institute and groups from Chiba Japan. Several other ethnic groups have come to perform. We are planning to hold this event in the future.

Genealogy Day/Night: This is where members and non-members can research their family through a variety of databases.

Florentine Opera Night: Performance by artists with this renowned opera company for members and nonmembers.

An example of our participation at cultural events outside of the ICC: • Events such as Holiday Folk Fair: Setting up Italian displays, speaking on Italian culture, making Italian foods such as pasta and pizza. We display food and other cultural related themes to our Italian culture, directly linked to the theme of Holiday Folk Fair. This year, the Folk Fair saluted diver-

Here’s a look at the Italian cultural booth displayed at the Holiday Folk Fair. Each year, the ICC sets up a

sity and foods of celebration.

Other examples of our involvement in the community: • Setting up ItalianChristmas displays at various places such as the Milwaukee Public Museum and at the Governor’s Mansion.

• We have been in schools, senior centers and even a girls’ prison to give demonstrations on making pasta and pizzelle (Italian waffle cookies), folk dancing, and speaking on Italian history and Italian Americans in the area.

• We host an annual Student Culture Day at the ICC, which invites students from across Milwaukee to experience what it was like to be an Italian immigrant coming to Ellis Island, offering the children pasta demonstrations, bocce ball lessons, language lessons, historical lessons, and a fabulous Italian pasta and meatball meal in the ballroom.

If you are interested in joining

cultural display with other ethnic groups at the Folk Fair. (Photo by Gina Jorgensen)

our committee, we meet once a month on the second Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Benvenuti! Our meeting dates starting in December are as follows: Dec. 11, 2018, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9, May 14, June 11 and possibly June 25 for Festa

participation; July 9, Aug. 13, Sept.

10, Oct. 8 and possibly Oct. 29th for participating for the Holiday Folk Fair, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.

For more information, contact Gina Jorgensen at 414-380-0808 or gina.jorgensen@yahoo.com.

Here’s a look at the cultural booth displayed at the Holiday Folk Fair.

(Photo by Gina Jorgensen)

from page 6

24th annual “A Taste of Italy” Sunday, Apr. 28 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Free admission ICC Movie Night Friday, May 10 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission

ICC Movie Night Friday, June 14 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission

ICC Movie Night Friday, July 12 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission

42nd annual Festa Italiana Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21 Summerfest Grounds ICC Movie Night Friday, Aug. 9 6 p.m., doors open, 7:15 p.m., showing of movie Movie to be announced.

Free admission

ICC Fall Bocce Leagues Season begins the week of Sept. 9 and concludes Monday, Nov. 11 with the championship playoffs

THE ITALIAN TIMES

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.

Christmas will be here soon. Give the perfect gift for the person that has everything. “Recipes My Nonna Taught Me” has easy, elegant recipes for the special price of 2 for $16 with FREE S & H. Take advantage of this holiday offer to purchase a special gift for your family and friends.

Just send $16 for 2 cookbooks to FRANCENA, 125 Boyce Road, Centerville, OH 45458 937-433-7313 • francena514@gmail.com One cookbook is $10.

Your cookbook collection is not complete without my cookbook.

Dedicated to my nonna who inspired me to cook – Mangia, Mangia!

BUON NATALE! DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 9

Homeless and poor given a Thanksgiving feast courtesy of ICC volunteers, numerous donors and Bartolotta Catering staff

About 200 homeless and poor men, women and families were able to enjoy a complete Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of the Italian Community Center and its volunteers and Bartolotta Catering. The buffet-style turkey dinner was served at the Open Door Cafe, a meal site at St. John’s Cathedral, on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Many generous donations made the dinner possible. Spearheading the fund raising campaign were Tony Lupo, Tony Zingale and Ray Martinez, the volunteer chairmen of the annual event. A complete list of donors appears at the end of this article.

The dinner was prepared by Bartolotta’s staff and delivered to the site by the ICC staff. It was served by a large group of dedicated volunteers, including many who have helped out numerous times before. Most of the volunteers were members of the ICC. The Thanksgiving dinner was started 41 years ago by a group of local Italian American men who called themselves the “Ragione Club.” The dinner was coordinated for the first couple of decades by Mario Bartolotta, Dr. Jim Balistreri and Tom Busalacchi, all of whom are deceased. The tradition was then continued, for the next 10 years or so, under the guidance of the late Bob Cefalu. Since Cefalu’s death in 2012, the dinner has gone

on through the leadership of Lupo (chairman), Zingale and Martinez (vice chairmen).

Times photos by Tim Townsend

Thanks to donors The chairmen wish to extend their “heartfelt thanks” to all who donated product, money or time and talent to the 42nd annual Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate.

“Your input – be it product, monetary or onsite volunteering – made the serving of a Thanksgiving feast to the less fortunate a wonderful success,” Lupo said.

Product donations were provided by the following: • Giuseppe Vella and family, Peter Sciortino Bakery (bread, cookies) • Mike Toffler, The Chocolate Factory (rolls, tubs of ice cream)

Monetary donations were made by the following: • John Pellmann • Jane Gertler, in memory of Dr. Coleman Gertler and Sadie P. Machi • Società Santa Rosalia • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO • Pompeii Men’s Club • Salvatore Purpora, Papa Luigi’s Pizza • Gordon and Bernice Boucher • Rose Purpero Spang • Gerry Accetta Purpero • Elizabeth Ceraso

These volunteers sliced the turkeys that were made for the dinner. From the left: Charlie Zingale, Peter Greco, Tom Greco and Bill Jennaro.

• Joseph and Carol Casamento • David Richards • John and Mary Anne Alioto • Bill and Rita Jennaro • Jacqueline Maggiore • Ray and Carol Martinez • Jack Tagliavia • Mary Saggio • Fioralba Ferreri • Patricia Coccia • Chuck and Cathy Lazzaro • Mike Palmisano • Sophia Michalovitz • George and Gina Manning • Dave and Jeannie Doern • George and Agatha Collura • Tony and Barbara Lupo • Tony and Lena Zingale

• Joe Lembo • Salvatore and Antonette Lo Coco • Anna Pitzo • Mary Winard • Brian Kangas • Quinten and Rosalie Olivia • Peter Spera • Isidore and Mary Pecoraro • Tom Spera Tony Lupo said he also wishes to thank servers Peter Greco, Tom Greco, Elena Laudon, Michelle Lopez, Mike Cardo, Mike Toffler, Paul Lamarre, Rick Bertolas and Charlie Zingale and the volunteers from St. Dominic Church Youth Ministry of Brookfield.

Guests lined up to be served the complete Thanksgiving dinner.

Santa Rosalia Society donates to ICC’s Thanksgiving dinner for the poor and homeless

A $250 donation to help buy the food and supplies needed to offer a free Thanksgiving dinner for the poor and homeless was presented by representatives of the Santa Rosalia Society to Tony Lupo (left), chairman of the Italian Community Center’s Thanksgiving Dinner Committee volunteers. Santa Rosalia Society President Goffredo Alferi (center) and society Treasurer Joseph Zambito presented the donation. The annual dinner was presented Nov. 11 at the Open Door Cafe at St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Milwaukee. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

PAGE 10 – DECEMBER 2018

Seen here are Aggie Collura (left) and Lena Zingale, who volunteered with their husbands at the dinner.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Comedy My Cousin Vinny to be shown at ICC Movie Night, Friday, Dec. 14

My Cousin Vinny, a comedy from 1992, starring Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Fred Gwynne and Academy-winning actress Marisa Tomei, will be shown on Friday, Dec. 14 as part of the Italian Community Center’s monthly Movie Night series. Admission is free.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the film will be shown at 7:15 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Cafe La Scala will also be open starting at 5 p.m.

The film’s storyline follows two young New Yorkers traveling through rural Alabama who are arrested and put on trial for a murder they did not commit and the comical attempts of a cousin and lawyer Vincent Gambini to defend them.

Gambini had just passed the bar exam after several failed attempts and had never handled a criminal case.

Much of the humor surrounds

the contrasting personalities of the brash Italian American, New Yorker Vinny and his fiancée Mona Lisa, and the more reserved Southern townspeople.

A critical and financial success, the actors Pesci, Gwynne and Tomei all received praise for their performances. Tomei won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film was also lauded by attorneys for its accurate depiction of court procedure and trial strategy.

Upcoming Movie Nights The ICC Membership Committee has announced that the 2003 romantic comedy Under The Tuscan Sun will be shown at January’s Movie Night, which is set for Friday, Jan. 11. The film stars the beautiful and talented Diane Lane.

For February, the committee is planning a Grease sing-a-long.

Attendees will be able to sing along to the songs from this popular 1978 musical, which stars John

Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

The film will be shown at the ICC on Friday, Feb. 8.

Marisa Tomei stars in the role of Mona Lisa DeVito and Joe Pesci plays Vincent Gambini, DeVito’s fiancè and untested defense lawyer in the 1992 film, My Cousin Vinny. Tomei earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.

Calendar of Events

November 30, 2018 – January 5, 2019

Friday, Nov. 30 • Italian Community Center Membership Bocce Night. 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1 • Abruzzese Galileo-Galilei Society holiday dinner party, 6 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 3 • Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6 p.m.

Please note: This meeting has been moved up by one week.

Tuesday, Dec. 4 • Joint Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO and Pompeii Women’s Club Christmas party, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 5 • Italian Community Center Membership Committee meeting, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 6 • Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Please note: This meeting has been moved up by one week.

Tuesday, Dec. 11 • Italian Community Center Culture Committee meeting, 5 p.m.

Details in this issue.

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

Thursday, Dec. 13 • Italian Community Center Membership Christmas party, 6 p.m., reception, 6:30 p.m., dinner, brief meeting and dance. Please note: This event replaces the December general meeting. Details in this issue.

Wednesday, Dec. 19 • Filippo Mazzei Greater Milwaukee Area Lodge #2763/Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America holiday party, 6 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 24 • Christmas Eve. The Italian Community Center will be closed.

Thanks for your donations to the ICC

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

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

Please note: When the ICC is informed of the death of a member, an email blast is being sent out to all members who have signed up to receive these email blasts as part of their membership.

The following donations were received between Oct. 11 and Nov. 12, 2018.

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

In memory of Rosario Spella George and Agatha Collura In memory of John August Palmisano Anthony T. Machi In memory of Jack Corrao Jimmy and Linda Spataro Carl and Judy Lemminger

In memory of Dan Conley Vincent J. Lo Duca Michael A. and Kathleen A. Johnson

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Tuesday, Dec. 25 • Buon Natale! Merry Christmas! The Italian Community Center will be closed.

Monday, Dec. 31 • New Year’s Eve. The Italian Community Center will be closed.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 • Felice Anno Nuovo! Happy New Year! The Italian Community Center will be closed.

Saturday, Jan. 5 • Italian Community Center Children’s Epiphany Eve Party with La Befana, noon. Details in this issue.

Daily and weekly classes and activities • Bocce leagues. The winter bocce season will get underway the week of Jan. 7 with leagues on Monday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday night and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The championship playoffs will take place on Monday, Mar. 11, 2019.

• ICC Italian classes. Look for an announcement on the spring semester of classes in the next issue.

• I Bei Bambini, The Children’s Italian Dance Group. This children’s folk dance group practices weekly on most Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the ICC. New dancers are welcome. For details, visit: www.tradizionevivente.com. Breaks are taken during the holidays and after Festa Italiana through Labor Day.

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

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

Still looking for some 2019 schedules from Italian societies and clubs; get them in ASAP

While most of the Italian societies and clubs that regularly use the Italian Community Center for their meetings and activities have submitted their 2019 schedules, there are a few that have not.

This is your final notice.

ICC Business Manager Laurie Bisesi uses the information to coordinate room scheduling with Bartolotta Catering. Times editor Tom Hemman needs the information to provide an accurate reporting in the calendar published in each issue of the newspaper.

All groups are asked to submit their schedules including the starting time of all events as soon as possible. The goal is to have the schedules from all societies, clubs

and organizations by Dec. 7.

Please submit schedules using any one of these methods: • Send an email to Hemman at themman@iccmilwaukee.com.

• Drop off the schedules in person at the ICC. • Mail them to Tom Hemman, ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Groups that fail to comply with this request may experience difficulty in securing the accommodations they most desire.

Please note: The Members Room can no longer be reserved for individual meetings and private parties. The room is available to members at all times that the ICC is open.

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 11

ICC Installation Dinner & Dance – November 3, 2018 With right hands raised, the newly elected officers (l – r) Treasurer Ted Catalano, Sergeant-At-Arms Joanne Sanfilippo Czubek, Secretary Susan DeSanctis Christiansen and Vice President Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie were sworn into office by Immediate Past President Dean Cannestra (at podium).

Catalano is beginning his second term as treasurer after serving three years as a director-at-large.

Czubek has been the sergeant-atarms since the 2010 election.

Christiansen is starting her third term as secretary. For Fritchie, this term marks her first as vice president. She was a director the last year and served previously served 12 consecutive years as secretary, ending with the 2015-16 term.

Cannestra (at podium) also adminstered the swearing in of the newly elected directors-at-large (on stage). From the left: Christopher Bartolone, Christine Catalano and Marie Andaloro Lieber. Missing is newly elected director Pietro Tarantino, who was unable to attend Incumbent directors (on dance floor) were invited to take the oath of office as well. From the left: Joseph Jannazzo, Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto and Ray Martinez.

Missing is incumbent Ralph Busalacchi. Our apologizes for the poor lighting in this photo. Directors-at-large serve a two-year term.

For each of the three newly-elected directors – Bartolone, Catalano and Lieber – this marks the first time they have served on the ICC Board. Tarantino has previously served as director in 1999-2005, 2006-2010, and 2013-2017. Each of the incumbents are entering the second year of their term.

Left: Immediate Past President Dean Cannestra presented his successor Joseph T. Emanuele with his Presidential sash.

Cannestra also presented Emanuele with a personalized engraved gavel.

President Emanuele is seen holding the gavel.

Left: The children of Joe Emanuele were on hand to witness their father installed as the 23rd President in the 40-year history of the Italian Community Center. From the left: His sons Michael, Santino and Danny, Joe and his daughter, Jessica.

Times photos by Tom Hemman

PAGE 12 – DECEMBER 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

President Joseph T. Emanuele delivered his installation address. His first President’s message appears on page 3 of this issue.

Newly installed Vice President Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie was presented with gifts from her sisters Mary Anne and Liz. Rose Anne is seen here holding those gifts which included a necklace and bracelet set which is a reproduction of the gift that U.S. President John F. Kennedy presented to his wife, Jacqueline, on the eve of his auguration; a case of Lo Duca Lambrusco and a travel mug, which says, “There’s a chance this is wine.”

Rose Anne is the daughter of the late ICC President Sam Ceraso (1983-84) and the late Bea Ceraso.

The Russo Brothers – Nick on keyboards and vocals and Dominic on lead vocals – joined by drummer Alex Bunke performed at the installation dinner. The Russo Brothers, who started performing at Festa Italiana when they were only 8 years old (Nick( and 4 years old (Dominic) are the first act announced for Festa 2019. The festival will take place Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 on the Summerfest Grounds. Many of the installation dinner attendees stayed until the end of their performance to dance and listen to their msuic.

People danced to the music played by the Russo Brothers.

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Scarvaci Florists & Gift Shoppe Here is longtime member Dave Doern (left) with Tony Machi, the first ICC President. In his comments made at the podium before he administered the oath of office to President Joe Emanuele, Machi saluted Doern for his continuous support of the ICC and Festa Italiana. Machi stated, “Before the first Festa, there were a lot of naysayers, people who said we shouldn’t do it. Even the Summerfest people told us that it took eight years for them to break even. ‘How do you expect to do it in one year?’ they asked. But we did, and it was because of the support of people like this individual in our audience tonight and others too numerous to mention who believed in Festa from the beginning and told us not to listen to those naysayers. He supported Festa and volunteered from the beginning in 1978. He still believes in Festa and the Italian Community Center.

And, you know what? He is not Sicilian or even Italian. His ancestry is German. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m talking about our good friend, Dave Doern!”

THE ITALIAN TIMES

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DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 13

More scenes from the ICC’s Installation Dinner & Dance

ICC President Joe Emanuele thanked the Russo Brothers and Installation Dinner Chairpersons for a successful evening. From the left: Dominic Russo, In-

stallation Co-Chairs Joanne Czubek and Rosemary DeRubertis, President Emanuele and Nick Russo.

Keyboardist John Puchner volunteered to play music during the cocktail reception and before the start of the installation ceremony.

Family and friends were on hand to witness Rose Anne Ceraso Fritchie’s installation as ICC Vice President. Many of them are seen with her. From the left: Sam Alioto, Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto, John Alioto, Rose Anne, Andrew Vila, Elizabeth Ceraso, Jenna AliotoAbraham and Sam Abraham. Rose Anne’s father, the late Sam Ceraso, served as ICC President during the 1983-84 term. Both Sam and his late wife, Bea, were extremely active in the ICC and Festa Itaiana.

Their commitment to both has been carried on by their daughters and their family members.

Times photos by Tom Hemman

Some 200 people attended the Italian Community Center’s Installation Dinner and Dance on

PAGE 14 – DECEMBER 2018

Saturday, Nov. 3. The event was held in the Festa Ballroom. Bartolotta Catering at the ICC

was in charge of preparing and serving the dinner.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Milwaukee UNICO holds bocce tournament to raise funds for scholarships

Each year, the Milwaukee Chapter of UNICO National, joined by the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO, gives several thousand dollars in scholarships to area Italian American students to help them obtain higher education. To raise funds for scholarships, the

Milwaukee Chapter holds a fundraising bocce tournament. One such tournament was held on Oct. 12 at the Italian Community Center.

Liz Ceraso, a longtime Milwaukee UNICO member provided The Italian Times with these photos.

Second place went to this team. L-R: John Hoda, Heather Conklin, Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto and Sam Abraham.

Here is the team that won the bocce tournament. From the left: Margaret Lange, Mike Lange, Pam Seri and Rich Seri.

Our youngest player, Ana, granddaughter of Mary Anne Ceraso-Alioto and John Alioto.

Italian Community Center President Joe Emanuele is seen here playing bocce for the first time.

Above: Mary Winard and Louise Au, members of the Pompeii Women’s Club, are watching their team play.

Left: New ICC Board Member Christine Catalano (left) and Milwaukee UNICO Vice President Sophia Michalovitz watching their team. Michalovitz is also the vice president of the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

2663 N. Holton St., Milwaukee

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

Balloons • Stuffed Animals • Personal Service Citywide, Suburban & County Delivery

Visa • MasterCard • American Express • Discover

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Ann Vollmer-Goralski

414-562-3214

If no answer, please leave message.

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 15

Pompeii Women’s Club holds scholarship awards night

The Pompeii Women’s Club held its annual scholarship awards dinner on Oct. 24. President Suzanne Wypijewski welcomed the attendees. Club Co-Chaplain, Fr. Mike Hammer, provided an opening prayer.

After a delightful dinner, Lucy Sorce, co-chair of the Awards Committee was called upon. Committee co-chair Carla San Felippo was unable to attend.

Lucy introduced the representative of St. Charles Borromeo School, who called up the first recipient, Matthew Andressen, who made a very nice and thoughtful acceptance speech. He attended with his parents and school principal.

The second awardee was Maria Faustyna Zinski, a student at St. Roman Catholic School, who asked a teacher and her parents to come to the podium for the scholarship

Seen here are the students who received Pompeii Women’s Club scholarships, family members who attended, various school educators and two representatives of the Pompeii Women’s Club. From the left: St. Charles Bor-

acceptance.

The Pompeii Women’s Club is very proud to be able to present these awards annually.

President Suzanne then called on Fr. Mike for a closing prayer.

Before the night ended, Lucy Sorce was joined by past president Pat Consolazione for a drawing of names for door prizes.

President Suzanne thanked the

romeo School parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andressen and their daughter, St. Charles Borromeo Principal Courtney Albright, St. Roman School parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zinski, St. Charles Borromeo recipient Matthew Andressen, St. Roman recip-

members who donated hats, gloves and socks which were brought to the 5th District Police Department for distribution to the needy in the area.

She also thanked Pat and Lucy for hosting the dinner meeting.

– Submitted by Mary G. Winard Public Relations Chair Pompeii Women’s Club

ient Maria Faustyna Zinski, St. Roman third grade teacher Alexis Godden, Scholarship Committee Chair Lucy Sorce and Pompeii Women’s President Suzanne Wypijewski. (Photo provided by the Pompeii Women’s Club)

OSIA hosts ‘A Night of Music’

The Filippo Mazzei Lodge of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America hosted a fundraising concert, “A Night of Music,” featuring area entertainers on Saturday, Oct. 13. In the photo on the left is seen singer and headliner Eric Diamond, who is known as “Milwaukee’s Best Neil Diamond Tribute Act.” In the photo above are members of the Filippo Mazzei Lodge.

From the left: Vince Vitale, Carl Busateri, President Nick DeQuardo, Joe Dentice, Dino Black, Cassie Busalacchi and Frank Schiro. (Photos supplied by Tim Townsend)

PAGE 16 – DECEMBER 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Friends celebrate Tony Machi’s 97th birthday

UNICO Ladies, Pompeii Women to have joint Christmas party on Dec. 5

In keeping with our new tradition, the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO and the Pompeii Women’s Club will have a joint Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Italian Community Center.

The event begins with a social hour with pizza appetizers. A wonderful dinner will be served by the Bartolotta Catering staff at 6:30 p.m., followed by entertainment by the Wisconsin Lutheran Show Choir.

The evening is open to the public. Reservations must be made for dinner. Call Sophia Michalovitz at 414-476-0461. The cost is $20 per person. Guests can choose from an entrée of chicken piccata or baked haddock. The rest of the dinner includes a baked potato, sautéed vegetables, Italian bread and butter and dessert. Dietary needs are accommodated. The reservation deadline is Friday, Nov. 30.

The organizations will be collecting toiletries, hats, gloves, scarves and socks for women, men and children. All that is collected will be donated to local organizations serving the most needy in our community. Your generosity is appreciated.

– Submitted by Sophia Michalovitz Vice President Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO

Seeing and believing

by Blaise Di Pronio Is it art or is it beauty that’s in the eye of the beholder? I would guess both but it also depends on what you’re looking at. Classical art like the Mona Lisa smile or David’s statue is easier for me to relate to and appreciate but modern abstract art is much more subjective and thus allows for the development of your own meanings, interpretations and connections.

I recently discussed with our generous and learned benefactor, the renowned Professor Emeritus Joe Mangiamele, his thoughts regarding his “New Beginnings” ‘modern’ sculpture now gracing our ICC grounds. He stated that it wasn’t up to him to tell me what he meant or intended or what he saw in the work. It was up to me, he stressed. To us – the beholders! But he did give us a critical hint, didn’t he, when he dedicated the sculpture to American Immigants. I’m am American immigrant and so what do I see? A lot, actually.

I suppose it all goes back to a long time ago, and yes, far, far away when an Italian voyager and explorer set out in a misguided search for new trade routes but inadvertedly discovered a New World, a New Promised Land. I look at the “New Beginnings” and I see the billowing sails, bloated with westerly winds, of his Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria surging forth to what was to become my adopted home.

I see the three rectangles of green, white and red blowing in the wind sailing toward Ellis Island and that flag saluted by a Great Green Lady, bringing joy, hope and tears to so many Italians and other countless desolate and forlorn Please turn to page 19

Anthony T. Machi, the first President of the Italian Community Center and the First General Chairman of Festa Italiana, celebrated his 97th birthday on Nov. 4. His friends held a birthday party for him on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 7 at their usual table at Cafe La Scala. Tony is seated on the far right side of the table in the second chair. A chocolate éclair cake

was baked by Tony Lupo’s wife, Barbara, and brought to the restaurant for all to enjoy. From the left: a friend of the group whose first name is Bob, Ray Besasie, retired Court Commissioner Anthony Machi, Joe Besasie, Joe Mangiamele, Joe Casamento (standing), Tony Lupo (standing), Tony Machi and Cosmo Carini. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

ICC Membership Dues Benefits of Italian Community Center Membership

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Four (4) Festa Italiana Tickets – Maximum of Eight (8) Per Family Voting Privelegs (21 & Older) Postal Service Delivery of The Italian Times Member Discounts on Social Events, Classes & Bocce Leagues Members Rooms Cultural, Educational & Social Activities Forever Friendships Stronger Bonds Between Your Family & Your Culture

Age 20 and under

Annual Dues

Individual

Individual

Individual

Couple/Family

$100 per year

Annual Dues

Ages 85 & Older

Annual Dues

$50 per year

Couple/Family

Annual Dues

Gratis – $0.00

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.

Ages 66 – 84

Ages 21 – 65

$75 per year

Individual

Couple/Family

$50 per year

$30 per year

$50 per year

All memberships are effective for a full year period.

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.

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 17

Acclaimed American songwriter Matilda Scaduto Bryant had roots in Milwaukee

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Editor’s note: Thanks to a request for information from Italian Community Center member Ines Spinelli, The Italian Times has stumbled upon an interesting story about a Milwaukee-born, Italian American songwriter named Matilda “Felice” Scaduto Bryant, who, along with her husband Boudleaux Bryant, composed more than 3,000 songs, many of which became huge hits primarily for country music artists, but also artists of different musical genres. The couple is regarded as one of the most successful writing teams in modern music.

Here, we will present all of the information we found on Matilda Scaduto Bryant. By writing this article, we are hoping that someone who may be a relative of the Scaduto family or a family friend can provide more details on Matilda’s years in Milwaukee. Ines Spinelli called The Italian Times with the request after learning that a publishing company in Nashville, TN contacted her son about details on Matilda’s childhood and teenage years in Milwaukee for a book that it is interested in publishing on Matilda and her husband.

Persons with information on Matilda’s Milwaukee years can contact this writer at themman@iccmilwaukee.com or call 414-223-2189. * * * Matilda Scaduto was born to Salvatore and Katherine (Loverdi) Scaduto on Aug. 7, 1925 in Milwaukee. From what federal and city census records between 1920 and 1923 indicate, the Scaduto family lived in the city’s Italian-immigrant Third Ward at 148 Huron St. It appears that they lived at the same address as Salvatore’s father, who was a World War I Army veteran.

No census data could be found about the family after 1923 through 1939.

However, the 1940 U.S. Census showed that Salvatore and Katherine Scaduto and their family had moved to a new address at 1125 W. Vliet St. in Milwaukee.

An aspiring singer, Matilda sang on Milwaukee radio when she was six and received voice training as a child. She worked in musicals at a local theater and performed with the USO. She also wrote poetry and lyrics.

A story in a Nashville newspaper after her death in 2003 reported that she attended Milwaukee’s North Division High School. While she was in high school, her father served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Today, he is buried at Wood National Cemetery (near Miller Park).

Matilda met Boudleaux in 1945 at Milwaukee’s Schroeder Hotel (now the Hilton Milwaukee City Centre). He was playing the violin in a visiting jazz band and she was an elevator operator.

Boudleaux (full name: Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant) was born Feb. 13, 1920 in Shellman, GA. His father, Daniel Green Bryant, was a lawyer. His mother, Louise Farham Bryant, played guitar and mandolin. Boudleaux studied the violin from the time he was five until he was 18 with the intention of becoming a concert artist. He, in fact, played with the Atlanta Philharmonic Symphony and other orchestras. He also performed in jazz and country bands. His liking of country fiddling drew him to country music.

Three weeks after their initial

PAGE 18 – DECEMBER 2018

Boudleauz Bryant and his wife, Mathilda (Scaduto) Bryant

Mathilda Scaduto Bryant

meeting at the Schroeder Hotel, Boudleaux and Matilda eloped and married on Sept. 5, 1945. He nicknamed Matilda “Felice,” the Italian word for “happy.”

The couple moved to Tennessee to become country music songwriters. They initially struggled financially. Living in a mobile home outside of Nashville, they wrote upward of 80 songs. They solicited a number of country music artists in an attempt to sell their compositions but were either ignored or politely rejected until a singer named “Little” Jimmy Dickens recorded their “Country Boy.” The song went to No. 7 on the 1948 country charts and opened the door to a working relationship with Fred Rose at Acuff-Rose Music in Nashville.

Their first successes for AcuffRose Music were the swinging “Sugar Beet” (recorded by Moon Mullican) and the bluesy “Midnight” (recorded by Red Foley).

The Bryants wrote more songs for Dickens as well as for popular country artist Carl Smith, and at the same time released four 45 RPM singles of their own to modest success. Beginning in 1957, the Bryants came to national prominence in both country music and pop music when they wrote a string of hugely successful songs for the Everly Brothers and hits for others such as Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly.

They wrote so many singles for the Everly Brothers that they could easily fill a greatest hits album.

Among these singles were “Bye, Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” “Love Of My Life,” “Bird Dog,” Devoted To

You,” “Problems,” “Take A Message To Mary,” “Poor Jenny,” “Always It’s You” and “Like Strangers.”

The Bryants wrote “Raining In My Heart,” the last song recorded

by Buddy Holly before his untimely death at the age of 22 in the fabled chartered plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959 on the “Winter Dance Party Tour” after a concert in Clear Lake, Iowa.

From the mid 1950s until the mid 1980s, Matilda and Boudleaux Bryant’s compositions were recorded by artists from a variety of musical genres, including Tony Bennett (“Have A Good Time”), Frankie Laine (“Hey Joe”), Bob Luman (“Let’s Think About Living”), Jim Reeves (“Blue Boy”), Roy Clark (“Come Live With Me”), Floyd Cramer (“My Last Dance”), Ray Price (“She Wears My Ring”), Charley Pride (“We Could”), Sonny James (“Baltimore”), the pop band The Newbeats (“Break Away From That Boy”), Ricky Van Shelton (“Loving Proof”) and the bluegrass group, the Osbourn Brothers (“Rocky Top”).

In an article on their 1968 charttopping bluegrass single “Rocky Top,” Boudleaux said “(It) was written within 10 or 15 minutes … a little gem that just dropped in on us.”

Added Felice, “We didn’t know there actually is a place like that in the Smokies (Smoky Mountains). A mountain climber sent us a picture of it.”

In 1962, the Bryants wrote “Too Many Chicks,” a song that became a hit for Leona Douglas, the first African American woman to record as a country and western singer.

Over the course of the years, numerous artists included songs composed by the Bryants for album

selections, some were released as singles and became charted hits.

These recordings were made by artists such as Eddy Arnold, Bob Moore, Leo Sayer, Simon & Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, The Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Barbara Fairchild, Carly Simon & James Taylor and Bob Dylan.

Dylan’s Self Portrait album included Boudleaux’s “Take Me As I Am (Or Let Me Go)” and the cowritten Matilda-Boudleaux tune “Take A Message To Mary.”

The song “All I Have To Do Is Dream” became a Top 10 country and Top 40 pop hit for Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry in 1970, a country chart entry for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1975, and a country chart entry for Nancy Montgomery and a pop chart entry for Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal in 1981.

“Raining In My Heart” was a Top 40 country hit for Ray Price in 1969, and a country- and pop-chart entry for Leo Sayer in 1978.

“Rocky Top” became a Top 40 country hit for Lynn Anderson in 1970 and “We Could,” a Top 10 country hit for Charley Pride in 1974. “Hey Joe” was converted to “Hey Joe, Hey Moe” for the Top 10 country hit for Joe Stampley and Moe Bandy in 1981. Simon & Garfunkel had a Top 40 pop hit in 1982 with the Bryants’ “Wake Up Little Susie.”

During their career, the Bryants earned 59 BMI country, pop and R&B music awards. In 1972, they were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Fourteen years later, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 1991, into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

In 1979, Felice and Boudleaux released an album, A Touch of Bryant, containing several of their most popular co-written songs. It is available on Amazon.

By the late 1980s, it was estimated that they had written more than 3,000 songs and had sold over 300 million or more copies.

After living in Nashville from the late 1950s until 1978, they moved to Gatlinburg, TN and opened a motel there called Rocky Top Village Inn in 1982, the same year that their song “Rocky Top” was named the official state song of Tennessee.

Boudleaux Bryant died of cancer at the age of 67 on June 30, 1987.

Felice remained active writing songs and, in 1991, the Nashville Arts Foundation honored her with its “Living Legend Award.” She died Apr. 22, 2003 at the age of 77.

They are interred together in the Woodland Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville. They are survived by their two sons, Del and Dane.

Editor’s note: Federal census data was found online and Milwaukee City Census data came courtesy of the late Italian Community Center Historian Mario A. Carini.

And now a word from Italy

This photo is from the cover of the Bryants’ album “A Touch of Bryant.

by Blaise Di Pronio Cadaver: A dead body, especially the corpse of a human to be dissected. Derived from the Italian word cadere which means to fall down, fall over or tumble down at times precursing a dead person.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Our seasons’ greetings: Located in the ICC Courtyard

by Blaise Di Pronio I know you have all seen them.

They can’t be missed whether you are outside or inside. Yes, they are a little weather beaten, but they have been standing guard for a long time and they will so remain long after more than a few of us are gone.

Who are these sentinels of stone? Hint: They lent their name to a mega-famous Italian-American singing group cherished to this day while our quartet are mostly ignored and taken for granted. They are, of course, those four great grey ladies basking in the sun. Our very own Four Seasons positioned in their courtyard stage.

Who are these monuments and what do they represent? As the name states, they each represent a season of the year and are so iden-

tified.

There is the spring figure shown with flowers and large buds because it is the season when most flowering plants blossom with birth and renewal.

Then we have Summer holding a sheaf of wheat representing the wheat harvest, which is done in the summer. Wheat can either be planted in the winter or the spring then harvested at the beginning or very end of summer.

Autumn is the season in which most fruits become ripe especially grapes which are harvested in the fall. Some autumn statues are shown holding a goblet for the grapes made into wine. Our lady must be a tea-totaler as she has no goblet.

And there is winter shown without produce and striving to warm

herself because winter is cold and barren.

So there you have it. You have been duly edified. As you know, statues and monuments abound everywhere in Italy. Inside and out.

At the ICC, there is an obvious dearth of statuary and our ladies

might feel lonely, so pay them a visit once in awhile. Have a cappuccino or a glass of wine with them. Have your picture taken with one or draw their likeness on an artist notepad. In any instance, enjoy them and what they represent-especially Miss Autumn!

Seeing and believing when it comes to modern art Spring

Summer

from page 17

Autumn

Winter

Words in an Italian word

by Blaise Di Pronio

How many words can you make with the letters in the Italian word "SALUTE" (HEALTH)?

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________ Answers on page 23

THE ITALIAN TIMES

lives.

I see with little boy eyes of wonder three ‘humongous’ smokestacks of a ‘giant’ ocean liner bringing a family from the mountains of Abruzzo to strange streets of cement and tall buildings.

I see the Trinity hovering over that earthly looking disc at their feet providing guidance, protection and safe delivery to our new home and now, to our center.

I see, if I twist my head just right and walk around the gleaming monument, the forming of an “I” and double “C”s thus representing the full circle of a journey that began way back from places of despair and hopelessness to a gathering place honoring not only Italian Americans but also all peoples and all races as we join in celebration of our past, present and future and, in that spirit, I see three prayings hands of love, unity and gratitude.

So, good Professor, on behalf of the Italian Community Center and myself, I thank you for your gift of a glorious and shining reminder of our past and a beacon guiding us to our future.

Here is Joe Mangiamele with the abstract sculpture, “New Beginnings,” that he and his nonprofit Mangiamele Arts Foundation commissioned for the ICC property.

(Times photo by Tom Hemman)

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 19

NFL defensive linemen of Italian descent who left their mark on the game

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Last month, we wrote an article about nine outstanding National Football League quarterbacks of Italian descent. This month, let’s take a look at four Italian American defensive linemen who have left their mark on the game. All four are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During his brilliant 13-year career, Gino Marchetti was considered every opposing quarterback’s worst nightmare. A defensive end, Marchetti spent his first season (1952) with the Dallas Texans before playing the next 12 seasons with the same team as it moved from Dallas to Baltimore and was renamed the Colts.

Marchetti was a magnificent allaround defender. He was adept at stopping the running plays, but was best known for his vicious pass rushing techniques. A clean, but tenacious player, he was particularly a terror to offenses in obvious third-down passing situations. Opponents often double-teamed and even triple-teamed him to prevent him from getting to the quarterback. (Unfortunately, the NFL didn’t start keeping track of quarterback sacks by individual players until 1982. Marchetti had his share during his career.)

Gino was born on Jan. 2, 1927 in Smithers, WV, the son of Italian immigrants, Ernesto and Maria Marchetti. Ernesto didn’t want his son to play football out of concern that he might sustain a serious injury. Ironically, Gino suffered the most serious injury of his career, a broken ankle, in the Colts famous 1958 overtime championship victory over the New York Giants while his parents were watching him on television for the first time.

(That game was the one that made the NFL a TV sensation.)

Marchetti’s injury happened on his key tackle of a Giants running back one yard shy of the first down mark. Being the team captain, Marchetti insisted on watching the rest of the historic overtime thriller from the sidelines with his teammates rather than seek immediate medical attention. The injury did keep him from appearing in the Pro Bowl that year.

Over the course of his career, Marchetti played on two NFL championship teams (1958 and 1959), was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times, was a First Team All Pro nine times (1956-1964) and a Second Team All Pro once (1955). He was elected to the NFL 50th and 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. In 1999, he was ranked #15 on The Sporting News’ list of 100 Greatest Football Players, the second highest ranked defensive end behind Deacon Jones. In 2010, the NFL Network ranked him #39 among the league’s greatest players. Marchetti, Reggie White, Deacon Jones and Bruce Smith were the first defensive linemen on the list.

Marchetti was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. He is also in the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

It should be noted that Marchetti was a World War II U.S. Army veteran who served as a machine gunner and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Marchetti will turn 92 on Jan. 2.

Andy Robustelli was once quoted as saying this about football, “There is only one way to play this game and that is as hard and

PAGE 20 – DECEMBER 2018

Gino Marchetti’s rookie card from the Bowman’s 1952 football cards series. Marchetti wore No. 89 with the Colts. That number was retired by the Colts.

Andy Robustelli, from the 1959 Topps’ football cards series.

as tough as you can.” A 19th round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1951 draft, Robustelli, out of the small and long defunct Arnold College, was a long shot to make the team.

History would record that Robustelli would become one of the finest defensive ends in pro football history, playing five seasons with the Rams and then nine years with the New York Giants. He was a regular for the Rams’ 1951 championship team, and the one game he missed that season was the only one he missed in 14 NFL seasons.

After five outstanding seasons with the Rams, Robustelli was dealt to the Giants for a first-round draft pick. He performed even better in New York, and is credited with molding together the 1956 Giants team that won the NFL championship. He was also part of the Giants’ teams that won the Eastern Conference titles in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. However, the Giants suffered losses in the NFL championship games (in 1958 and 1959 to the Baltimore Colts, in 1961 and 1962 to the Green Bay Packers and in 1963 to the Chicago Bears).

A natural leader, Robustelli was a big factor in the Giants on-field success. His last three seasons with the team were as a player-coach.

He was not big for a modern-day defensive end, just 6 ft. tall and weighing 230 lbs., but was clearly one of the top pass rushers the game has seen.

Robustelli was named All-Pro seven times and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. In 1962, he received the Bert Bell Award as the

Leo Nomellini (Photo courtesy of the SF Gate)

George Musso (Photo courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame)

NFL’s outstanding player, an honor that up until then was generally reserved for an offensive player.

Over his career, he recovered 22 fumbles (the NFL record when he retired) and intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns.

Robustelli enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 and served on the USS William C. Cole in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was born Dec. 6, 1925 in Stamford, CT, to an Italian American father Lucien and Catherine Robustelli. He could have played baseball instead of football. He was offered a tryout with the New York Giants baseball club.

Robustelli was part of the 1971 class of inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 1980. He died May 31, 2011 at the age of 85.

Like Marchetti and Robustelli, here is another tough and tenacious player, Leo Joseph Nomellini.

With the San Francisco 49ers for his entire career, Nomellini, a defensive tackle, was once quoted as saying, “I really like to play football. It’s tough and it’s hard and no pro football owners can pay a player enough for the punishment they take. You just have to like it – and I do.”

Nomellini was born in Lucca (Tuscany), Italy on June 19, 1924.

His family immigrated to the United States when he was an infant. First, the family lived in northern Minnesota then moved to Chicago. Leo had to pass up playing high school football to work to help

support his family. It was during his stint in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 where Nomellini first started playing football.

After the war, he received a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota where he became a twotime All-American and the 49ers first-ever NFL draft choice in 1950.

From the start of the 1950 season through his final season in 1963, Nomellini never missed a game, playing in 174 straight regular-season games and 10 Pro Bowl games.

At 6 ft. 3 in. and 260 lbs., Nomellini who earned the nickname “The Lion,” had everything needed to be an all-time pro great – size, speed, agility, aggressiveness, dedication to the game, superb conditioning and the willingness to go the full 60 minutes of any game.

He was one of the few players ever to win All-NFL recognition both on offense and defense. Leo was named all-league at offensive tackle in 1951 and 1952, then received All-NFL honors for his defensive line play in 1953, 1954, 1957 and 1959. His 49ers teammate fullback Joe Perry had this to say about Nomellini, “He was as strong as three bulls. He’d slap you on the back and knock you 20 feet.”

Nomellini was named to the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade and his uniform number – 73 – was retired by the 49ers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969 and the National Italian American Hall of Fame 10 years later.

During the offseason, Nomellini often wrestled professionally as Leo “The Lion” Nomellini, debuting in Minnesota in 1950. Over his wrestling career, he was a 10-time tag team champion. On May 15, 1958 in Milwaukee, he teamed with Verne Gagne to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

Nomellini died on Oct. 17, 2000 after suffering a stroke. He was 76.

The last player featured here is one that is easily forgotten (unless you’re a longtime Bears fan) because of the era in which he played.

The player is George Musso, who played middle guard on defense and guard or tackle on offense for the Chicago Bears from 1933 to 1944.

Musso stood 6 ft. 2 in. and weighed 262 lbs., which made him one of the largest men playing pro football during the 1930s and 1940s.

Born Apr. 8, 1910 in Collinsville, IL, Musso was the son of a coal miner. His large size made him as big star in football, basketball, baseball and track at little Milikin College in Decatur, IL. During his college football days, he got to play opposite both future U.S. President – Ronald Reagan, who played guard at Eureka College and Gerald Ford of Michigan, a tackle, in the 1935 College AllStar game.

Coming out of a small school, Musso left doubts with Bears’ owner/coach George Halas about whether he would be able to compete with the big college players in the NFL. Halas initially offered Musso $90 a game, about half the rate for regular players at that time.

Musso’s tenacious play each of his 12 seasons with Chicago was among the reasons why the Bears were tabbed the “Monsters of the Midway.” Teammates and opponents alike respected him as a dependable 60-minute performer.

Opposing teams often altered their Please turn to page 24

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Opera insights

by Barbara Collignon How lucky can a city get? We have a symphony, a ballet, several venues for theatrical performances and the Florentine Opera and the Opera Center series featuring the Baumgartner Studio Artists. The Opera Center, located at 926 E. Burleigh, is a cozy, intimate space where music lovers regularly can hear the wonderful voices of the Studio Artists – soprano Nicole Heinen, mezzo-soprano Briana Moynihan, tenor Nicholas Huff and baritone, Nathaniel Hill.

We must not fail to mention their talented accompanist, Ruben Piirainen. In the January issue, you will be introduced to Nathaniel Hill.

In September, the Studio Artists treated their audiences to a “Season Sampler.” In November, we heard several arias that have been featured in movies over the years.

What was especially fun about this program was the fact that instead of a traditional program, the audience read clues to the arias and had to test their knowledge of opera and cinema to come up with the answers.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15, the Studio Artists will present “Home for the Holidays.”

In the last issue, this column featured an interview with Nicholas Huff. Now, we are proud to introduce Nicole Heinen and Briana Moynihan, the two beautiful and talented ladies who never fail to sing with all the skill and emotion that their arias require.

Have you ever wondered what inspires someone to choose one profession over another? Maybe you’ve wondered what experiences helped shape the desire and decision to take one path over another. Is it nature or nurture? It seems to be a combination of both and perhaps a parent in the background recognizing talent and offering support.

Then, it’s a question of hard work studying and learning the ropes. I asked Moynihan and Heinen how they arrived at their decision to become professional singers. Here’s what the ladies replied.

Barbara Collignon: What roles will you be singing in the upcoming Florentine opera presentations?

Briana Moynihan: For Florentine Opera’s 85th Anniversary Season, I will be singing Lady Meresvale in Prince of Players, covering Ottavia in The Coronation of Poppea, singing Cherubino Pig in our children’s opera tour of Three Little Pigs, and performing in the 85th Anniversary Concert this spring. The Baumgartner Studio

Artists are also performing in Con Amore, a concert of love songs with the Jamie Breiwick Quartet.

Nicole Heinen: I will be singing Miss Frayne in Prince of Players and Valletto in L’incoronazione di Poppea. I will also be singing in the 85th Anniversary Concert along with performances for The Center Series.

BC: How did you decide you wanted to become a professional opera singer?

Moynihan: My dad was a professional singer, and everyone in our large Irish family also sang as part of every family gathering. So, from an early age, I knew what bel canto singing sounded like. However, I was shy as a child, so I didn’t take to singing in public right away. In middle school I started getting interested in theater, so my mom put me in voice lessons so I could be cast in musicals. In my junior year of high school, I started taking lessons with an opera singer and she thought I should consider pursuing a career in opera. It took me awhile to warm up to the idea, but after taking lessons from her and participating in the Minnesota Opera’s youth programs, I soon caught the opera bug and have been in love with the art forever since.

Heinen: It was purely by accident that I discovered opera. I started taking voice lessons in 4th grade and absolutely loved it! It was at the age of 13 that my voice teacher told me I should start singing classical music. However, a Joan Sutherland recording of Lucia di Lammermoor sealed the deal for me. The beauty and warmth of her voice combined with the emotions really captivated me.

BC: Do you come from a musical family?

Moynihan: Absolutely. As I mentioned, my dad was a singer, but my mom is not a singer. The nice thing about my family is that I could have chosen any career and they would have supported me 100%. But I think both of my parents were very happy that I decided to pursue this career, both supporters of the arts and supporters of their daughter.

Heinen: I do not come from a musical family at all. My family consisted of wonderful artists and writers but never musicians. I grew up listening to Bon Jovi, Van Morrison, and Hootie and the Blowfish.

However, when my family found out about my love for classical music they supported me.

BC: What sparked your interest in opera?

Moynihan: I’ve always been in-

Twenty-one singers performed on Nov. 3 at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Wisconsin District Auditions, competing for cash prizes, the chance to perform on the Metropolitan Opera stage and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.

Four singers were selected by the judges to participate in the Regional Auditions in St. Paul, MN, on Feb. 24. They are Nicole Heinen, Nicholas Ward, Angela De Venuto and Emily Triebold. Each winner also receives $1,750. At least one singer from each region will then be chosen to compete at the next phase of auditions in New York.

The National Council Auditions Semi-Finals and Grand Finale Con-

cert take place at the Metropolitan Opera House in March 2019.

terested in how highly collaborative opera is, both from an artistic standpoint and a business standpoint. When you’re an opera singer you get to meet and work with a variety of people from different walks of life: stage directors, conductors, composers, designers, artistic administrators, etc. It takes a lot of people to put an opera together, but I enjoy that because it creates an environment where everyone’s exchanging new ideas and learning from each other, and that contributes to your own growth as an artist.

Heinen: It was a recording of Joan Sutherland as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor that captivated me and turned me on to opera!

BC: Do you have a favorite opera or two? Do you have a favorite mezzo-soprano, a favorite singer in another register?

Moynihan: It’s so hard to pick a favorite opera, there are so many good ones! However, the first professional production of an opera I saw still stands to be one of my favorites. I saw the premiere of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night at the Minnesota Opera when I was 18.

The opera is about the Christmas Eve truce during World War I. The production and music were so visually compelling that you thought you were actually watching a war going on stage. A far as singers go, my favorite mezzo-sopranos are Anne Sofie von Otter, Frederica von Stade, Jamie Barton, and Daniela Mack. Non-mezzo singers that are my favorite include Maria Callas, Nathan Gunn, and Alek Shrader.

Heinen: My favorite operas are La Fille du Régiment by Donizetti and Ariadne auf Naxos by Strauss.

So many wonderful singers to choose from. Favorite singers would definitely include Diana Damrau, Rosa Ponselle, Fritz Wunderlich and José Carreras.

BC: What are your favorite arias to sing?

Moynihan: “Everything is Paid for” from Robert Aldridge’s Sister Carrie, “Una voce poco fa” from

Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and “A dio, Roma” from L’incoronazione di Poppea.

Heinen: My absolute favorite arias to sing at the moment would be “Eccomi in lieta vesta......Oh! quante volte” from Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and “Martern aller Arten” from Mozart’s Die Entfürung aus dem Serail.

BC: How are you benefiting from the residency program?

Moynihan: The Baumgartner Studio Artist Program has given me the opportunity to learn about the industry both through performance, practice and observation. We have two parts to our contract: preparing and performing in our own concerts and productions, and then also performing small roles and covers in Florentine’s Main Stage Series. Both experiences are valuable to the growth of a young singer because they provide you with the opportunity to perform a lot. Performance is where you really learn about yourself and the art form. I think what’s especially important about this particular program is the variety of repertoire we perform. Versatility is crucial when you’re a young opera singer.

You’re not going to sing Puccini and Verdi right out of the gate. Being able to sing musical theatre and operetta can help you find work while your voice is still developing.

Heinen: I absolutely have been enjoying my time thus far as a Baumgartner Studio Artist. There is a lot of work involved but I love having so many different projects to work on and wonderful colleagues and mentors to collaborate with and learn from. It is an absolute privilege to be chosen for this prestigious program, out of hundreds of singers, because it is a program that provides young singers with the tools they need to succeed starting out in this career. You do a plethora of performances that include staged operas, ballets, concerts, galas, outreach, etc. We have such an amazing team of directors,

Word Search:

Please turn to page 24

Buon Natale!

by Blaise Di Pronio

Winners of Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions – Wisconsin District – chosen

Additional award winners were: Stephen Hobe, $250 People’s Choice Award; Nicholas Huff, $1,000 Bel Canto Chorus Award including a performance with the Bel Canto Chorus; Nathaniel Hill, $600 Encouragement Award; Anna Mosoriak, $600 Encouragement Award; and Katherine Koester, $600 Encouragement Award.

The 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions – Wisconsin District were hosted by Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera Company and took place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center in Brookfield.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

To find Word Search solved, turn to page 23

DECEMBER 2018 – PAGE 21

La Pagina Italiana L’angolo delle curiosità

L’orologio nel tempo

di Donato Di Pronio Sin dalla più remota antichità gli artifici inventati dall’uomo per dividere il tempo in parti uguali sono molteplici e vari, perfezionati lentamente nel corso dei millenni.

E tanti ancora al presente se ne inventano uno (… anche mio nonno nelle giornate solatie determinava l’ora misurando “ad occhio” l’altezza del sole nel cielo con un metodo simile a quello “a canne”. In alcune città italiane, come unità di misura, prima del sistema metrico decimale, era usata quella a “canna”: “la canna” valeva dai due ai tre metri. (Misura ancora usata a Malta. Vale Palmi 8, metri 2,10).

Gli Orientali e poi i Greci per dividere il tempo usarono dei misuratori basati sul movimento apparente del sole nella volta celeste, l’orologio solare (dal greco “orologhion”: strumento che “dice, che annuncia l’ora”), cioè la meridiana o quadrante solare, in cui l’ora viene indicata dall’ombra che uno stilo (gnomone) esposto al sole proietta su di un piano sul quale sono opportunamente segnate, con le relative leggende, apposite linee meridiane riferentisi alle ore e alle epoche dell’anno durante le quali l’ombra solare dello gnomone cade su di esse.

In un secondo momento, si cominciò a ripartire in parti uguali la durata del giorno valutando il tempo trascorso dallo scorrimento di acqua o sabbia da un recipiente ad un altro: la clessidra (dai greci CLEPTO, rubare, e IDROS, acqua).

La divisione del giorno in 24 ore viene attribuita ai sacerdoti pagani babilonesi del 3000 a.C. Gli Egizi furono i primi a usarla intorno al 1300 a.C. Finalmente nel Medioevo, quando ormai la capacità della lavorazione dei metalli si era sviluppata notevolmente, nasce l’idea dell’orologio meccanico (in principio un marchingegno grande ed ingombrante).

Si attribuisce l’invenzione di un primo orologio meccanico ad un archiatra di Verona, Pacificus (776844), ingegno eclettico, il quale,

forse più che inventarlo, perfezionò un orologio meccanico per la notte, un cui esemplare papa Paolo I (pontificò dal 757 al 767) nel 757 aveva inviato a Re Pipino (714-768, detto il Breve perché piccolo di statura). Sotto di lui per effetto delle sue donazioni, si costituì il primo nucleo del Patrimonio di San Pietro. Harum-al-Rachid (766-809, califfo dei più insigni, di notevole fama ed equità illustrate specialmente nel libro “Mille e una Notte”) regalò all’imperatore Carlo Magno (742-814) un “meccanismo, mosso dall’acqua, indicante le ore

che erano annunciate da un numero uguale di piccole biglie di bronzo, cadenti in un bicchiere”.

Dal XIV secolo si comincia a collocare sulle facciate delle chiese e di grandi palazzi orologi meccanici fissi di notevoli dimensioni. Nel 1350 fu posto nella cattedrale di Strasburgo un grande orologio che comprendeva, tra l’altro, un astrolabio (strumento antico che serviva a misurare l’altezza degli astri), una statua della Madonna davanti alla quale, a mezzogiorno, ruotavano i Re Magi ed, alla fine, un gallo cantava. A Bologna, a metà

Quattrocento, nella facciata del Palazzo comunale fu posto un orologio con un imponente settore astrologico, in cui, a carte ore, un angelo suonava la tromba e Santi e Magi piroettavano intorno alla Madonna e al Bambino.

E l’orologio che portiamo al polso quando fece la sua apparizione?

Nelle cronache del 1904 si parla di un orologio da polso “da uomo” costruito da Louis Cartier, famoso orologiaio francese, dato in regalo ad un amico; ma già in quelle del 1868 veniva descritto un orologio da polso, però, “femminile.”

Santo Stefano di Camastra dista 161 km. da Agrigento, 134 km. da Caltanissetta, 154 km. da Catania, 94 km. da Enna, 150 km. da Messina, alla cui provincia appartiene. La cittadina di Santo Stefano di Camastra sorge a 70 mt. s.l.m, come un ideale terrazzo sul Tirreno, incastonata tra i Monti Nebrodi e la dorata costa tirrenica. Il comune conta 4.760 abitanti ed ha una superficie di 2.188 ettari. Noto in Sicilia per la sua produzione artigianale di ceramiche artistiche, Santo Stefano di Camastra produce inoltre uva da mosto, olive, grano, agrumi, ortaggi, legname e sughero. Originariamente il nome del paese era “Santo Stefano di Ristretta,“ così come viene menzionato in documenti normanno-svevi . Distrutto da una frana nel 1682 il paese fu ricostruito nel 1693 in una zona più costiera rispetto a quella precedente. Nel 1812 prese il nome di “Santo Stefano di Calastra,“ in onore del duca Giuseppe Lanza di Camastra, fondatore e benefattore della città.

La nuova Santo Stefano, che dal 1812 si chiamò S. Stefano di

Camastra in onore del Duca, si ingrandì successivamente verso sud, nella zona che sale su per i colli, u chianu (il piano), e, in anni più recenti, verso il nord e il mare.

Il perimetro di contenimento, dove secondo l’uso fortificatorio si alloggiavano le stalle e i depositi di vettovaglie, divenne cortina di edifici, inglobando nel versante nord la residenza del signore, prospiciente su un’ampia zona da sistemare a giardino e in posizione dominante su case piccole e basse.

Gli stefanesi, popolazione di pastori e contadini, si trasformarono in popolazione di pescatori ed artigiani. Allo sfruttamento dell’argilla si legano ben presto le sorti dei “nuovi” stefanesi. Tracce di forni e testimonianze d’archivio lasciano supporre peraltro l’esistenza di un’attività ceramista sin dall’epoca araba. Il centro del paese si è spostato più volte, laddove il “pane di creta” veniva mpastatu (impastato), scanatu (lavorato), nfurnatu (infornato) e cucinatu (cotto): non il centro del potere politico, rimasto sempre all’interno del palazzo nel quadrilatero romboidale, ma

quello del lavoro produttivo, putìi (botteghe) e stazzuna (laboratori), ubicati ora a mare vicino ai punti d’imbarco, ora in prossimità della montagna d’argilla, ora in direzione sud-est, ma sempre fuori dal centro storico, e per ultimo lungo la strada nazionale quando il miglioramento della rete viaria permise di affidare ai carretti e non più e varchi ruossi (alle barche il trasporto delle grosse) mercanzie.

I figuli (vasai) hanno caratterizzato la cultura e l’economia di S. Stefano fino al punto da far adottare a qualche paese limitrofo un unico termine dispregiativo per indicare il complesso dei suoi abitanti: cantarara, produttori di pitali, una chiara deformazione del più nobile quartarara o lanciddara, dal nome dei vasi alla cui produzione esclusiva molti si dedicavano.

L’arte è il suo sigillo nelle piazze e nelle botteghe, nei palazzi e sui muri. Sembra irreale nella sua bellezza Santo Stefano: un museo a cielo aperto.

– dal sito comunale: comune.santostefanodica mastra.me.it

Santo Stefano di Camastra

Bersaglieri sul Piave

di Donato Di Pronio Nel primo Centenario della fine della Grande Guerra 1915-18, conflitto lungo e logorante che immolò migliaia e migliaia di giovani vite, si è tenuto un raduno nazionale dei Bersaglieri. Le fanfare dei Bersaglieri di tutte le Nazioni che parteciparono all’immane e sanguinosissimo conflitto hanno sfilato sul ponte da loro gettato qualche ora prima sul Piave, fiume sacro alla Patria, tra le rive di San Donà e Musile di Piave in un’atmosfera di amicizia e di fratellanza.

Riportiamo qui di seguito l’inno dei BERSAGLIERI. È il più antico e conosciuto. Fu composto nel 1862 da Pietro Luigi Hertel, e arrangiato nel 1886 nel testo attuale dal Maestro Cuconato, su parole del poeta Gastaldi.

Riportiamo pure l’inno 24 MAGGIO, noto anche come la LEGGENDA DEL PIAVE. Fu scritta nel 1918 da Ermete Giovanni Gaeta.

Eccone i testi:

Inno dei Bersaglieri Quando passano per via / gli animosi Bersaglieri, sento affetto e simpatia / pei gagliardi militari.

Vanno rapidi e leggeri / quando sfilano in drappello, quando il vento sul cappello / fa le piume svolazzar.

L’Italia in mezzo secolo / copertasi di gloria, fu adotta alla vittoria / dal prode Bersaglier.

PAGE 22 – DICEMBRE 2018

Lo stuolo di La Marmora / sui campi di Crimea La foce Eridanea / ritolse allo stranier.

Splende il sol d’Italia / del bersagliere la carabina: dalle giogaie alla marina / è chiuso il varco all’invasor.

Dove gemono i dolori / primo accorre il bersagliere Che dà al misero i tesori / di bontade e di fortezza.

Marcia a capo delle schiere / ordinate per l’assalto, non discende dallo spalto / finché il fuoco cesserà.

Caduto in riva all’Adige, / risorto a Solferino, pugnando a San Martino / l’ingiuria vendicò.

L’Italia, come fulmine, / percorse vincitore, spiegando il Tricolore, / univa il Tebro al Po. La leggenda del Piave Il Piave mormorava calmo e placido al passaggio / dei primi fanti, il ventiquattro maggio: l’esercito marciava per raggiunger la frontiera, / per far contro il nemico una barriera.

Muti marciaron quella notte i fanti: / tacere bisognava e andare avanti.

S’udiva, intanto, dalle amate sponde, / sommesso e lieve, il tripudiar dell’onde.

Era un presagio dolce e lusinghiero. / Il Piave mormorò: “Non passa lo straniero!”

Ma in una notte triste si parlò di tradimento, / e il Piave udiva l’ira e lo sgomento.

Ahi, quanta gente ha vista venir giù, lasciare il tetto / per l’onta consumata a Caporetto.

Profughi ovunque dai lontani monti, / venivano a gremir tutti i ponti.

S’udiva, allor, dalle violate sponde / sommesso e triste il mormorio dell’onde.

Come un singhiozzo, in quell’autunno nero, / il Piave mormorò: “Ritorna lo straniero!”

E ritornò il nemico per l’orgoglio e per la fame, / volea sfogare tutte le sue brame.

Vedeva il piano aprico di lassù, / voleva ancora sfamarsi e tripudiare come allora.

“No! – disse il Piave – No! – dissero i Fanti. / Mai più il nemico faccia un passo avanti”.

Si vide il Piave rigonfiar le sponde, / e come i Fanti combattevan le onde.

Rosso del sangue del nemico altero, / il Piave comandò: “Indietro, và, straniero!”

Indietreggiò il nemico fino a Trieste, fino a Trento. / E la Vittoria sciolse le ali al vento!

Fu sacro il patto antico: tra le schiere furon visti / risorgere Oberdan, Sauro e Battisti.

Infranse, alfin, l’italico valore / le forche e l’armi dell’Impiccatore.

Sicure l’Alpi … Libere le sponde … / E tacque il Piave, si placaron le onde.

Sul patrio suolo, vinti i torvi Imperi, / la Pace non trovò né oppressi, né stranieri!

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Alleluia

Notte santa del Natale, notte d’oro, tutta incanto; degli angeli c’è il canto, su Betlemme è la cometa.

Alleluia! In alto il cuore per la pace e per l’amore, nella notte del Natale è nato il Redentore! * * *

Auguri ai parenti In questo giorno santo Gesù chiedo soltanto di donare ai familiari, agli amici ed ai miei cari, tanta gioia e tanta pace, altro dir non son capace.

O mio caro buon Gesù su noi tutti veglia tu! * * *

Le renne di Babbo Natale

Non solo fanno la slitta volare e in ciel galoppano senza cadere Ogni renna ha il suo compito speciale per saper dove i doni portare “Cometa” chiede a ciascuna stella Dov´è questa casa o dov´è quella.

“Fulmine” guarda di qui e di là Per sapere se la neve verrà.

“Donnola” segue del vento la scia Schivando le nubi che sbarran la via.

“Freccia” controlla il tempo scrupoloso Ogni secondo che fugge è prezioso.

“Ballerina” tiene il passo cadenzato Per far che ogni ritardo sia recuperato.

“Saltarello” deve scalpitare Per dare il segnale di ripartire.

“Donato” è poi la renna postino Porta le lettere d´ogni bambino.

“Cupido”, quello dal cuore d´oro Sorveglia ogni dono come un tesoro.

Quando vedete le renne volare Babbo Natale sta per arrivare!

Detti popolari: Popular sayings

Dialect-Molise: A pecuere che dice beh per u mecceche.

Literally: A lamb who says, bah, loses what she is eating.

Meaning: If you talk, you can’t eat.

Equivalent: Don’t talk and eat at the same time (or you might choke). * * * Dialect-Molise: L’asn port’a pagl’e, l’asn’s l’magn’.

Literally: The donkey brings the hay and the donkey eats it.

Equivalent: He who brings home the bacon gets to eat it.

* * * Dialect-Molise: Chi mangia solo crepa solo.

He who eats alone dies alone. * * * Dialect-Molise: Vino, tabacco e donne riducono l’uomo in cenere.

Wine, women and tobacco reduces one to ashes. * * * Dialect-Piedmont: Versare l’olio o il sale porta disgrazia.

Literally: Pour in the oil or the salt and bring misfortune.

Meaning: A good dish can be ruined by many different means —

too much salt or too much oil. * * * Dialect-Puglia: Se vuoi vivere a lungo, devil mangiare, bere e dormire.

If you want to live long, you have to eat, drink and sleep. * * * Dialect-Puglia: I maccheroni sono come il matrimonio, devono essere consumati quando sono molto caldi.

Macaroni is like marriage, one has to consume it when it is very warm.

Meno male!

Literally: Less bad.

Equivalent: “Thank God!” It’s used for expressing relief or gratitude. * * * Beccare qualcuno.

Literally: To peck/jab someone.

Equivalent: “To hit on someone.” * * * Mollare qualcuno.

Literally: To release or give up some one.

Equivalent: “To dump someone” or to call off a romantic relationship. * * * Essere un po’ di fuori.

Literally: To be a little outside.

Equivalent: Used to describe someone who’s strange or wacky. * * * Bene o male.

Literally: Good or bad.

Equivalent: One way or another.

All in all, after all.

* * * Predicare bene e razzolare male.

Literally: Preach well but scounge about badly.

Equivqlent: Practice what you preach. * * * Prendere a male parole Literally: Take at bad words.

Equivalent: Curse, insult or verbally abuse.

Ho vinto la lotteria di capodanno (1989) This 1989 movie directed by Neri Parenti is one of the most successful Italian films. The main character is played by the great Paolo Villaggio, one of the most famous actors of the country. The movie talks about a man who wants to kill himself because he’s unhappy, but when he starts to drink a cocktail of drugs, he finds out he has a winning lottery ticket. When he comes home after recovering in a hospital, he can’t find the ticket.

So he tries to commit suicide again, but a lot of hilarious adventures happen. * * * Benvenuti in casa Gori (1990) Benvenuti in casa Gori is a comedy-drama movie directed by Alessandro Benvenuti. The film is set in a house in Tuscany during Christmastime and has an ironic frame. The film is divided into five

episodes.

Parenti Serpenti (1992) Parenti Serpenti is an Italian black comedy film written and directed by one of the greatest directors of the country, Mario Monicelli.

The plot is very simple: an old married couple invites their children and grandchildren to their home in Sulmona, a village in Abruzzo, to celebrate the Christmas holiday together. The crucial moment of the movie is when the grandmother asks her sons to decide among them who will take her and her husband to live with them, now that they are getting old, but no one wants this responsibility. * * * Please turn to page 24

Italian everyday expressions and idioms

Five classic Christmas movies from Italy to watch this festive season

Words in an Italian word

* * * Vacanze di Natale (1983) Vacanze di Natale is one of the most famous Italian Christmas comedies of all time, directed by Carlo Vanzina and featuring Christian De Sica, the son of the famous Vittorio De Sica. Two very different families collide in Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the most charming winter destinations of Italy. The first family is rich and elegant; the other is trashy and rough. The stories of the members of the families are linked throughout the movie and give rise to funny misunderstandings and adventures. * * *

Word Search: Buon Natale!

SOLVED From page 21

from page 19

The answer: 118 words in “SALUTE” 1. salute 2. least 3. leats 4. lutea 5. lutes 6. salet 7. salue 8. sault 9. saute 10. setal 11. slate 12. stale 13. steal 14. stela 15. taels 16. tales 17. talus 18. teals 19. tesla 20. tules 21. ales 22. alts 23. alus 24. ates 25. east 26. eats 27. eaus 28. elts 29. etas 30. lase 31. last 32. late 33. lats 34. latu 35. leas 36. leat 37. lest 38. lets 39. lues 40. lust 41. lute 42. sale 43. salt 44. sate 45. saul 46. saut 47. seal 48. seat 49. seta 50. slae 51. slat 52. slue 53. suet 54. tael 55. taes 56. tale 57. taus 58. teal 59. teas 60. tela 61. tels 62. tule 63. ules 64. utas 65. utes 66. ale 67. als 68. alt 69. alu 70. ate 71. ats 72. aue 73. eas 74. eat 75. eau 76. els 77. elt 78. est 79. eta 80. las 81. lat 82. lea 83. les 84. let 85. leu 86. sae 87. sal 88. sat 89. sau 90. sea 91. sel 92. set 93. sue 94. tae 95. tas 96. tau 97. tea 98. tel 99. tes 100. ule 101. use 102. uta 103. ute 104. uts 105. ae 106. al 107. as 108. at 109. ea 110. el 111. es 112. et 113. la 114. st 115. ta 116. te 117. us 118. ut

THE ITALIAN TIMES

DICEMBRE 2018 – PAGE 23

Holiday shopping in Italy: Eight best gift ideas for Christmas season

1. Chocolate: Venchi and Amedei are venerable chocolatemakers producing some of the most mouth-watering, refined chocolate one can find. Both companies make special holiday editions and can be found in Italian shops everywhere and online. Baci chocolates by Perugina are known throughout Italy as quality chocolate in an affordable form. These are similar to our Hershey’s Kisses (and baci means kisses in Italian) in that they are foil-wrapped and can easily be given as little gifts or stocking stuffers. They can be found in U.S. stores also and online.

2. Cookies with Nutella: Many people don’t realize it, but Nutella is considered a special treat in Italy. Think about how much Americans love peanut butter and you’ll start to understand what all the talk is about. Nutella, found in most Italian groceries, is a creamy roasted hazelnut spread made with chocolate, and is delicious on

Five Italian Christmas movies to see

from page 23 Botte di Natale (1994) Also known as Troublemakers, Botte di Natale is a spaghetti western comedy film. It is the last movie featuring the famous hilarious Italian duo, Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. Located in a western location, under the snow, the movie is about two brothers, Travis, the fastest gun in the West, and Moses, a big, tough bounty hunter, who are not in good terms. One day, Travis receives a letter from his mother who asks him to find his brother Moses and come back home for a family reunion for Christmas.

The two brothers attempt to patch up their differences in accordance with their mother’s desire to have a united, lovely family.

– Courtesy of theculturetrip.com

crepes, toast, and in pastries.

3. Italian wines: Who doesn’t love Italian wines? Famous around the world for amazing wines, Italy ensures you can’t go wrong giving a special bottle of Barolo, bubbly Prosecco or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

4. Gift baskets: You can find a wide variety of Italian gift baskets that include cured meats, cheeses, herbs, and uniquely flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars, as well as classic holiday sweets like Torrone and Amaretti. If you especially like flavorful olive oils, the Calabrian region is known for their olive groves and holiday gift baskets are just the thing for a little sampling of the region’s abundance.

Many Italian boutiques and agriturismi, as well as online shops, offer these gift baskets for sale during the holiday season.

5. A handmade Nativity scene: Nativities, called presepe in Italian, appear throughout Italy and especially in Rome and Naples during the holidays in the piazzas, churches and in private homes.

There are plenty of craftspeople throughout the country selling handmade nativities, which you could give as a wonderful gift for someone to use year after year.

Naples is the center of production for some of the best in Italy.

6. Italian leather goods: This is one of those givens that can always happily make the top of gift lists for those special people in your

life. Italian leather is known throughout the world for its fine quality and you can choose from exquisite handbags or shoes for that person who deserves a luxury gift. .

7. Design items: For people who love their homes and appreciate great design, Murano handblown glass objects or Alessi home design items are wonderful quintessentially Italian gifts.

8. Christmas cakes and wine jellies: You can easily purchase or

make one of the light holiday cakes, like panettone, pandoro, or panforte, traditionally eaten at this time of year. Italians bring these pretty cakes as gifts wrapped in colorful papers and ribbons to one another’s houses. They are easy to make at home by mixing wine and pectin with flavors like amarena (sour cherry) or melon; the result is tasty jellies with the consistency of a soft gumdrop.

– Courtesy of made-in-italy.com

By Liliana Robinson Sure summer is warm, but I think winter is cool! In my opinion, winter is the best season because you can stay indoors and be cozy.

You can go sledding and, of course, there’s Christmas!

You can drink steaming hot chocolate by the blazing fire. Another example is on snow days. You can stay in your cozy bed all day with an amusing book. Additionally, you can play a delightful game with your loving family or your amazing friends.

When I go sledding, the best part is when the wind whips through my hair. In fact, the only bad part is when you heave and hoe the heavy sled up the humongous hill! Additionally, every year, my dad and I race down the steep and solid hill in our backyard. Maybe you have a sledding tradition, too.

On Christmas Day, you get presents! I mean, who doesn’t like Santa? Another example is getting up super duper early and yelling at your parents at 1:00 in the morning to get up because technically it’s the next day! My favorite part is the feast when you get to eat delectable foods with your loving and caring family.

To sum it all up, I think winter is the best season because you can stay indoors and be cozy, you can go sledding and you can celebrate Christmas. To everybody out there: “Merry Christmas!” * * * Editor’s note: The writer is a nine year student at the St. Francis Borgia School in Cedarburg, WI. She is the daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of ICC members Felicia Robinson and Maria Milbeck.

Whimsical winter

Opera insights

from page 21 conductors, coaches, stage managers, and costume and wig designers that we have the opportunity to work with and learn from! This program has already helped me tremendously in my craft and I am excited to see what another seven months will do.

NFL defensive stars of Italian descent from page 20

game plan to get around Musso. He was the team captain for nine years and became the first player to earn All-NFL honors at two positions, tackle in 1935 and guard in 1937. He was a key player for the Bears in four NFL championship seasons – 1933, 1940, 1941 and 1943.

Musso was selected as a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. He died Sept. 5, 2000 at the age of 90. * * * Editor’s note: The writer of this story is the former sports editor of the Burroughs Way, the official publication of Milwaukee’s John Burroughs Junior High School in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

PAGE 24 – DECEMBER 2018

THE ITALIAN TIMES