March 2017 online

ITALIAN TIMES THE

Published 11 times annually by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com MARCH 2017 • VOL. 38, NO. 9

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Get ready to indulge in ‘A Taste of Italy’ on Sunday, Apr. 2

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor Make sure you, your family, relatives and friends are ready to chow down at the Italian Community Center’s 22nd annual “A Taste of Italy” on Sunday, Apr. 2. As anyone who has been to it previously knows, it’s an Italian food spectacular that you definitely don’t want to miss.

As always, there will be free admission and free parking for the event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Great food, low prices Count on a magnificent variety of delicious Italian food being available throughout the building for truly low prices. Food and beverage tickets will be sold in a set of seven for just $10. Single tickets will be $1.50 each. “It’s an exceptional deal as anyone who has ever attended can attest to because of the ample size of our servings,” said Taste of Italy Chair Ann Romano.

She added that almost every entrée, sandwich, salad, soup, Italian specialty item, dessert and beverage – except one – will be available for one ticket. The lone exception will be calamari fritti (deep-fried squid). Calamari will be sold for two tickets. “Because of the high price we have to pay for the product, we really don’t have a choice,” Romano said. “Since calamari is

such a big favorite, we wanted to find a way to keep it on our menu.”

The full menu includes pasta with red sauce, meatballs, Italian sausage, arancini (rice balls), manicotti, calamari, breaded pork tenderloin, olive salad, Italian lettuce salad, sfingi (sweetened fried bread dough), sub sandwiches, pizza, sfinciuni (Sicilian style pizza), Italian wedding soup, lentil soup, chicken pastina soup and desserts such as cannoli, Italian cookies, éclairs, spumoni, gelato and pizzelle (Italian wafer cookies). To wash it down, there will be coffee, beer, wine, soda and water. A more descriptive menu will appear in the

April issue of The Italian Times, published Thursday, Mar. 23.

All hot and cold entrée items plus pizza, salads and sandwiches will be available in the Pompeii Grand Ballroom. Desserts will be sold in the Festa Ballroom. Look for beverages on sale in both rooms.

There will be plenty of seating available throughout the building and in the Courtyard, providing that the weather cooperates.

While you eat, enjoy live performances. Romano said the entertainment lineup for the Festa Ballroom includes Tradizione Vivente: The Italian Dance Group Please turn to page 4

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor In keeping with its tradition of celebrating the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the Italian Community Center is proud to announce its 25th annual St. Joseph’s Day luncheon on Friday, Mar. 17 at noon.

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

Reservations, required by Thursday, Mar. 9, can be made by filling out the form on page 4 and sending it with a check or money order to the ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Reservations also can be made by calling Valentina at the ICC office at 414223-2180 and paying with a credit card. An event flyer, which can be found at the ICC, also has a reservation form which people can fill out.

“Our luncheon – the 25th annual – will serve as a joyous preview to the actual observance of St. Joseph’s Day, which is Mar. 19 and is celebrated in many Catholic churches in Italy, the United States and other countries,” said chairperson Mary (Mineo) Winard.

Father Mike Hammer, the Milwaukee Archdiocese Director of AIDS Ministry, will be present for the invocation. He will also bless with Holy Water the St. Joseph’s altar, those attending, and the bags filled of fresh fruit and baked round bread that they will take home at

Complete details announced for ICC’s St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Luncheon

Milwaukee students display artwork at ICC during January Gallery Night & Day

the close of the luncheon.

ICC President Dean Cannestra will welcome attendees and act as master of ceremonies.

As in past years, pianist John Puchner is volunteering to play Italian songs and music appropriate for the occasion during the serving of the lunch.

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

Winard reports that the ICC menu for the observance will include pasta con sarde e finocchio (pasta with sardines and fennel), eggplant artichokes, tossed salad with grapefruit, Italian bread and coffee, tea or milk. There will be a special dessert.

“We hope to see all of you who have been so faithful in attending our past St. Joseph’s Day celebrations at this year’s luncheon,” Winard said. “We look forward to seeing you with many more firsttime guests.”

Winard added that donations, both small and large, are welcome to help with the various costs assoPlease turn to page 4

Cosa c’è dentro?

President’s message Students from the Milwaukee School of the Arts displayed their artwork at the Italian Community Center during the weekend of Jan. 20-21 as the organization participated in Gallery Night & Day. Here is Zach Edmond displaying his works. Gallery Night & Day is organized by the Historic Third Ward Association and the East Towne Association. The ICC has been a regular participant. The activity at the ICC is hosted by the Avanti Committee. The Milwaukee School of the Arts is the former West Division High School and is part of the Milwaukee Public Schools. Edmond will graduate this spring. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

What’s inside?

Kids’ Easter party scheduled for Apr. 8

page 2 page 3

UNICO accepting scholarship applications page 5 Pompeii Men’s Club to host Good Friday Fish Fry April Gallery Night and Day news

page 5 page 6

Last chance to register for Italian I and II classes page 6 Top 10 jobs that exist only in Italy

page 7

Tony Gazzana was dedicated to ICC and Festa page 8

Sara Travia named Women’s All-American page 9 Sezione Italiana

pagine 12 e 13

A message from Dean Cannestra, Italian Community Center President

By the time you read this message, the celebration of the Italian Community Center’s 38th annual Carnevale will be just a fond memory. I have great confidence that everyone who attended had a great time because of all the hardworking volunteers we had planning and orchestrating the event.

I want to thank our chairpersons Rosemary DeRubertis and Joanne Czubek and their committee for making Il Grande Carnevale 2017 extra special. Hats off to each and every one of you!

I also want to thank all of our Carnevale sponsors and all of those who purchased advertising in the program book.

It is due to all of the hard work of our volunteers, the sponsorships

and the revenue from the program book ads that the ICC is able to present this annual costume and mask ball.

Molte grazie a tutti!

St. Joseph’s Day luncheon The ICC will be hosting its 25th annual St. Joseph’s Day luncheon on Friday, Mar. 17 at noon.

I know that chairperson Mary Winard is busy putting together a wonderful program.

I want to encourage everyone – especially those named Joe, Josephine, Giuseppe or Giuseppina – to attend and honor San Giuseppe in keeping with the tradition of our ancestors.

You’ll find more information on the luncheon in this edition.

Winter bocce season drawing to a close; spring season to start the week of Mar. 20

The winter season for indoor bocce leagues at the Italian Community Center concludes with the championship playoffs on Monday, Mar. 13. The first place teams from each of the five leagues plus three teams with the best overall runnerup record will compete in the playoffs. The action will start at 7 p.m.

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

About spring leagues Competition in the spring leagues will get under way the week of Mar. 20. There will definitely be teams competing in senior citizens’ leagues on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and in mixed couples’ leagues on Monday and Wednesday nights. If sufficient interest is expressed, there will be a Thursday night mixed couples’ league in the spring. (In the past, there has not.)

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

THE ITALIAN TIMES

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

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

New players and new teams are encouraged to join.

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

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

Team registrations are available from the league coordinators: Dan Conley (Monday night), Craig Lieber (Tuesday afternoon), Tony Tarantino (Wednesday night) and Loretta O’Boyle (Thursday afternoon). The forms can also be obtained by contacting the ICC office at 414–223-2180. The forms must be submitted with full payment for all players by Tuesday, Mar. 14.

“A Taste of Italy” Mangia! Mangia! Remember when your nonna used to say that to you? Well that’s what the ICC is imploring you to do on Sunday, Apr. 2. You will be able to eat to your heart’s content at our 22nd annual “A Taste of Italy” that will run from11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. that day.

As you probably know, this event is our second biggest fundraiser of the year, superseded only by Festa Italiana. It is imperative that all of our members and our Italian societies and clubs support this event.

I can assure you that chairperson Ann Romano is planning a spectacular day of Italian food, music and family fun.

Planning for our 40th Festa We will celebrate Festa Italiana for the 40th time July 21-23, 2017 on the Summerfest grounds. Mark your calendars now. Planning is well underway. Giuseppe Vella and I are the co-chairs of Festa XL. We already have several key sponsors locked in and, my aunt and Festa sponsorship manager, Betty Puccio, assures us that more are on the way.

Announcements about our plans for the festival will be made soon.

Continue to read The Italian Times and take a tour of our website: http://festaitaliana.com.

– Dean Cannestra ICC President

April 2017 issue deadline

All advertising copy, news stories and photos for publication in the April 2017 issue of The Italian Times must be submitted to the editor no later than Thursday, Mar. 9.

All materials can be emailed to editor Tom Hemman at themman@italiancc.org, sent to The Italian Times, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For further information, call 414-223-2189.

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

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

937-43307313 • fslyd@aol.com.

Publisher . . . Italian Community Center ICC President . . . . . . . Dean Cannestra Newspaper Committee Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . Blaise DiPronio 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 Staff Photographers. . . . . . Joe Spasiano, Tim Townsend and Tom Hemman

For advertising information, please call (414) 223-2180 or send an e-mail to: themman@italiancc.org.

Copyright 2016 The Italian Community Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved

All advertisements must be in accordance with the rules and requirements as determined by editorial policy. Paid advertisements are not to be interpreted as an endorsement by the Italian Community Center or its newspaper, The Italian Times.

In addition, the Newspaper Committee reserves the right to reject ads based on editorial policy approved by the Board of Directors of the Italian Community Center.

The Italian Community Center is a member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Visit Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward Association.

PAGE 2 – MARCH 2017

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Children’s Easter party set for Saturday, Apr. 8 at ICC

by Rose Anne Fritchie Plans are in motion for a funfilled children’s Easter party at the Italian Community Center on Saturday, Apr. 8, beginning at noon.

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

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

At noon, all guests are invited to enjoy a delicious, buffet-style lunch consisting of mini hamburgers, mini corndogs, penne pasta, platters of healthy munchies like carrots, pickles, celery and fresh fruit.

There will be chocolate or white milk for the youngsters and coffee for adults. And for dessert, we hope the carnival-goers stop at the Ice Cream & Popcorn Shoppe for an ice cream sundae and a sweet treat.

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

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

ICC Childrenʼs Easter Party & Lunch Reservation Form

Names of boys attending

Saturday, April 8 • Noon to 2:00 p.m. age

Names of girls attending

age

Name(s) of adult ICC members attending: _________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Number of children attending: Number of adults attending:

x $15.00 per member

=$

_ x $20.00 per person = $

Total amount enclosed: $ Make your check payable to: Italian Community Center. Mail this form with your payment to: ICC, Attn.: Easter Party, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Deadline: Mar. 29, 2017.

rade will end at the stage where the Easter Bunny will have treats for all youngsters to take home.

The costs are set at $15 per child (ages 11 and under) and $20 per adult. To ensure that all children

receive their special treats, only advance reservations will be accepted. All pre-paid reservations must be received by Wednesday, Mar. 29. Attendance at this event is limited to ICC members, their chil-

dren, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Please use the form accompanying this article to make your reservationsor call 414-2232180 to have your charge card handy.

Join Three Holy Women Parish on Milwaukee’s East Side for a traditional Italian celebration that began hundreds of years ago in Sicily, when the people prayed to San Giuseppe to send rain during a severe drought. The rains came, starvation was averted and the people prepared a banquet in thanksgiving to St. Joseph.

The Christian Women Society continues this annual tradition on the feast day of St. Joseph, on Sun-

day, Mar. 19, by preparing La Tavolata di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s table), filling it with meatless dishes, breads and desserts, all of which will be for sale.

Attendees receive a free bread roll and small bowl of pasta with a traditional meatless sauce (with or without sardines).

A raffle is held for the chance to win one of many wonderful prizes, including restaurant certifi-

cates. Money raised through the food sale, raffle and free will offerings will be donated to charitable causes.

The St. Joseph’s Table will take place in Scalabrini Hall of St. Rita Church of the Three Holy Women Parish, located at 1601 N Cass St., following the 10:30 a.m. mass, approximately 11:30 a.m. until raffle drawing at 1:30 p.m. Winners need not be present.

All are welcome.

Three Holy Women Parish to carry on St. Joseph’s Day tradition

Calendar of Events February 25 – April 2, 2017

Saturday, Feb. 25 • Italian Community Center’s Il Grande Carnevale, 5:11 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 24 • Abruzzese Galileo Galilei Society social, 6 p.m.

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

Wednesday, Mar. 29 • Pompeii Women’s Club General meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Mar. 1 • Pompeii Women’s Club Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Mar. 9 • Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Mar. 13 • Italian Community Center winter bocce championship playoffs, 7 p.m. Details in this issue.

Tuesday, Mar. 14 • Abruzzese Galileo Galilei Society meeting and spuntino, 2 p.m.

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

Wednesday, Mar. 15 • Order Sons of Italy in America/Filippo Mazzei Lodge Board meeting, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Mar. 16 • Italian Community Center membership dinner, 5:30 p.m.

Reservations required by Monday, Mar. 13. Call 414-223-2180.

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

Friday, Mar. 17 • Italian Community Center’s 25th annual St. Joseph’s Day Luncheon, noon. Details in this issue.

Saturday, Mar. 18 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO general meeting, 10 a.m.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Saturday, Mar. 25 • Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 10 a.m.

Sunday, Apr. 2 • Italian Community Center’s 22nd annual “A Taste of Italy,” 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Details in this issue.

Daily and weekly classes and activities • Bocce leagues. The winter season continues through the week of Mar. 6 with the championship playoffs the night of Monday, Mar. 13.

The spring season will begin the week of Mar. 20 • ICC Italian classes. The 10-week spring semester will begin Tuesday, Mar. 14. Look for details in this issue.

• ICC free Children’s Italian class. The eight-week spring semester will begin Saturday, Mar. 18. Look for details in this issue.

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

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

• Hula hoop dance 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.

MARCH 2017 – PAGE 3

Treat yourself to ‘A Taste of Italy’ on Sunday, Apr. 2 at the ICC

from page 1 of Milwaukee and vocalist Jayne Taylor, each doing their own shows.

The Sicilian Serenaders will be playing in the galleria.

Giant raffle There will be a four-prize raffle held in conjunction with the event.

The prize list is: 1st – a diamond cocktail ring (14K gold band with 45 pave diamonds, 1/4k total

weight, valued at $975), courtesy of Ted Glorioso and Glorioso’s Gold Imports & Diamond Center; 2nd – $500 cash; 3rd – $300 cash; and 4th – $200 cash.

Raffle tickets will be $2 each or seven for $10. The drawing will be held at the concluion of the day’s activities.

Ann Zambito and Karen and Bill Dickinson, raffle chairs, mailed

tickets to ICC members in late February. “We hope our members will not only buy raffle tickets, but sell as many as they can to family, friends and co-workers,” said Ann Zambito.

Since the beginning, “A Taste of Italy” has successfully served as a major fundraising activity for the nonprofit Italian Community Center. It has succeeded because of outvolunteer support, standing generous donations of food and,

supplies, monetary contributions and a large public turnout.

“All of our societies and food and beverage booth chairs have received a letter asking for their support again this year and to tell us how many volunteers they will have,” Romano said. “Tony Zingale is serving as the volunteer coordinator again this year. If anyone has any questions about volunteering, please contact Tony or me. We need your support!”

Thanks for your ICC taking reservations donations to the ICC for its 25th St. Joseph’s

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

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

The following donations were received between Jan. 10 and Feb. 9, 2017.

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

In memory of Bessie Busalacchi Tim and Margaret Kezman In memory of Anthony Gazzana George and Judy Menos Jimmy and Linda Spataro

Paul and Rose Iannelli Rosalie Glorioso Sonny and Melody Gensler Helga Smith Frank and Nina Galioto Elizabeth Hermann George and Aggie Collura Anna Pitzo

In memory of James J. Fazio Jimmy and Linda Spataro In memory of Joann (Dolly) Glorioso Anthony T. Machi Anna Pitzo George and Judy Menos Jimmy and Linda Spataro Sonny and Melody Gensler George and Aggie Collura

In memory of Dr. Jean Lang Elizabeth Hermann In memory of Bruce Venne Ron and Joanne Czubek

Italian • French • Spanish • Language Lessons For Adults and Children

109 Storck Street, Slinger, Wisconsin • 735 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin olsentartufo@yahoo.it

262.707.2811

Celebration Luncheon

from page 1 ciated with the event, such as altar decorations and the program.

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

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

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

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

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

Today in Italy, St. Joseph’s Day

is also known as Father’s Day. The day, which used to be a national holiday, is traditionally celebrated with bonfires and sometimes pageants with scenes from the life of St. Joseph. Children give gifts to their fathers on San Giuseppe Day. Zeppole (or zeppoli in southern Italian dialects) are traditionally eaten on St. Joseph’s Day. Zeppole are deep-fried dough balls that are usually topped with powdered sugar and may be filled with custard, jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream or a butter and honey mixture. In Rome, Naples and the region of Sicily, these little pastries are sold on many streets and are sometimes given as gifts.

The ICC presents the St. Josephʼs Day Luncheon Friday, Mar. 17 • Reservation Form

Name(s): _________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________ City: _________________________________ State: _____________

Zip: ____________________ Phone: __________________________ No. of ICC members attending: ___ @ $20.00 per person = $

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PAGE 4 – MARCH 2017

No. of non-members attending: ___ @ $23.00 per person = $

Pre-paid reservations must be received by Thursday, Mar. 9th.

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

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

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

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

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

to continue

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

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Milwaukee UNICO organizations will award scholarships for the 81st time Application deadline is Friday, Mar. 31

Continuing a program started 81 years ago, the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National and the Ladies of UNICO, Inc. will award several scholarships this spring to high school seniors of Italian descent. The exact number of scholarships to be presented had not been determined as of press time.

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

The spirit of this scholarship is

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

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

on the documents link found on the sidebar.

Application deadline Candidates must submit their applications by Friday, March. 31 to: Scholarship Director of UNICO Milwaukee, 10625 W. North Ave. Suite 300, Wauwatosa, WI 53226.

Applicants may be contacted to attend a personal interview at the Italian Community Center during school hours on Friday, Apr. 14.

The scholarships will be presented at a banquet on the evening of Tuesday, May 16. The recipient

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

The Milwaukee UNICO scholarship program has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships over the past 85 years.

The Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National is celebrating 86 years in existence in 2017. The organization awarded its first scholarship in 1936. The Ladies of UNICO celebrated their 50th anniversary as an independent civic and service organization in 2013.

UNICO National offers scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate studies to students of Italian ancestry Application deadline is Saturday, Apr. 1

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

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

They are also recognized in the UNICO National Convention Journal, published for the 95th national convention which will take place July 26-30, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The criteria that UNICO National uses in selecting its recipients are quite similar to those used by the Milwaukee Chapter in choosing local awardees.

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

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

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

• Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships.

The UNICO Foundation, Inc. will provide grants valued at $2,500

each, paid on award, to students attending accredited prelicensure or graduate nursing programs in the United States. Preference is given to applicants demonstrating financial need. A candidate must be a United States citizen. This program is open to nursing students of all ethnicities.

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

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

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

• Guglielmo Marconi Engineering Scholarship. The UNICO Foundation will grant a scholarship valued at $1,250 paid on award to a sophomore, junior or senior stu-

Help make the Pompeii Men’s Good Friday Fish Fry a success

The Pompeii Men’s Club will hold its annual Good Friday Fish Fry Buffet at the Italian Community Center on Apr. 14. Your attendance is key to the success of the event.

The buffet serves as the organization’s biggest fundraiser, and net proceeds benefit its extensive charitable giving in the community.

This is an all-you-can-eat buffet and will be served from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The cost will be $16 for adults, $8 for children ages 4 to 10 and free for youngsters age 3 and under.

Available on the buffet will be breaded and baked cod, potato pancakes, baked potatoes, French fries, popcorn shrimp, mostaccioli

THE ITALIAN TIMES

dent enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United States majoring in engineering. An applicant must be a United States citizen of Italian heritage.

• Robert J. Tarte Scholarship for Italian Studies. The UNICO Foundation will provide a scholarship, valued at $1,000, to a student enrolled full-time, in an accredited college/university program in the United States pursuing Italian Studies. A candidate must hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities.

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

hold United States citizenship. This program is open to applicants of all ethnicities.

• Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship.

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

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

Application forms for all UNICO National scholarships are available by contacting Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National President, Rose Anne Fritchie at roseannefritchie@aol.com. The deadline for submitting applications, except as noted in each scholarship, is Saturday, Apr. 1.

with red sauce, coleslaw, tossed salad with various dressings, Italian bread, watermelon wedges, coffee, tea or milk and dessert. A full range of condiments will be available to accompany the meal.

Free parking will be available in the lot south of the building.

As usual, the event will feature a money raffle. The cash prizes are: 1st - $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd $150, 4th - $100, 5th - $75, 6th and 7th - $50 each and 8th – 10th - $25 each. Raffle tickets will be $2 each or seven for $10 and can be purchased by contacting club president Tony Baudo at 414-324-6347, chairman John A. Sanfilippo at 414-282-2667 or Tony Zingale at 414-444-4689. Tickets will also be sold at the Good Friday event.

There will also be opportunity gift baskets to bid on and a 50/50 cash raffle.

The Pompeii Men’s Club Fish Fry is one of Milwaukee’s best attended on Good Friday.

The Pompeii Men’s Club charitable outreach has benefited the Italian Community Center along with several other local organizations, among them the Sojourner Truth House, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the Ronald McDonald House, and Special Olympics of Southeastern Wisconsin.

The club also has strong ties to Three Holy Women Parish. It was founded by members of the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church, the predecessor to St. Rita of Cascia Church on Cass Street.

MARCH 2017 – PAGE 5

Works of artist Elise (Ceraso) Fritchie to be featured as ICC participates in Gallery Night & Day, Apr. 21-22

The Italian Community Center welcomes Elise (Ceraso) Fritchie as its featured artist for the spring presentation of Gallery Night & Day, a quarterly program coordinated by the Historic Third Ward Association and the East Towne Association.

Fritchie will show her works in the ICC’s Garibaldi Board Room on Friday, Apr. 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Apr. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission, as always, is free. Wine and cheese will be served during the Friday night showing.

“Elise has shown her work at the ICC in the past and we are eagerly looking forward to what new endeavors she has in store for us,” said Liz Ceraso, who coordinates the ICC’s program on behalf of the Avanti Committee.

Fritchie, who is a lifetime member of the ICC, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. She has a

variety of influences from Bernini to pop culture to tattoos. She has her own unique style and likes to paint things with personal meaning to her, sometimes relating to her past.

“Elise paints a lot of commissions and we will see some of these as well as her works influenced by angels, the military and tattoos,” Ceraso said. “She is also experimenting with some ‘lighter’ subjects.”

Ceraso added, “She looks for light and shadow which is realized on her canvas. Religious iconography appears in her work so expect to see that represented as well.”

For your own commissioned work, contact Fritchie at Elise.fritchie@gmail.com.

Not only is Fritchie an accomplished painter, she is a tattoo artist. Her style continues to develop along with the popular culture in which we exist.

The ICC will be one of around 60

venues throughout the downtown and Historic Third Ward areas par-

This spring, the Italian Community Center will offer an introductory class (Italian I) as well as an Italian II conversational class, both starting Tuesday, Mar. 7.

for those who want an introduction to the language and the culture of Italy. The introductory course will run from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.

The Italian II course will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:15 p.m.

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

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

The fee for each course is $100 for an ICC member and $110 for a nonmember. The fee does not include the course textbook.

To register, complete the form accompanying this article. Checks or money orders are payable to the Italian Community Center. Regis-

tration will be accepted up to the start of the Mar. 7 classes if the enrollment limit has not been reached. People can also stop in at the ICC office, fill out the registration form and make their payment.

Tarantino Woytal began teaching children’s Italian classes at the ICC more than 35 years ago. She has been offering classes for adults and teens for more than 30 years.

The spring semester of a free weekly series of Italian classes for children between the ages of 6 and 12 will begin Saturday, Mar.18, at the Italian Community Center. The class, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m., will continue for eight weeks, with the final session on Apr. 29.

The course is intended to provide children with an introduction to the Italian language and the culture of Italy. Besides learning some basic words and the Italian alphabet, the children also make drawings for holidays and special occasions and receive a snack during each Saturday session.

The instructor is Enrica Tarantino Woytal, who also leads the ICC’s Italian classes for teens and adults. She was honored by WisI-

talia as Wisconsin’s 2009 “Italian Teacher of the Year.” Tarantino Woytal has been leading the children’s class at the ICC since the early 1980s. Over the years, several hundred youngsters have participated in the free class.

To register for the fall semester, please complete the form accompanying this article and mail it to: Children’s Italian Course, c/o ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Since there is no enrollment fee, parents can also register their children in person any time during the semester.

For further information, contact the ICC office at 414-223-2180, or Enrica Tarantino Woytal or Pietro Tarantino at 414-481-0170, or via email at enricaw@aol.com.

ticipating in the spring Gallery Night & Day program.

Elise (Ceraso) Fritchie will displays her art works at Gallery Night and Day, Apr. 21 and 22. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

Last chance to register for spring Italian I and II courses at ICC

Both courses will be held on 10 consecutive Tuesday nights, with the final classes on May 9.

Instructor Enrica Tarantino Woytal described Italian I as being

Registration form for Italian I course & Italian II course

Name(s) _________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ____________________________________________________

Phone No. __________________Email _________________________________ I am (we are) enrolling in:

Italian I course Number of persons enrolling.

Italian II course Number of persons enrolling.

Course fee: ICC Member - $100.00; Non-Member - $110.00

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

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Have something to sell to the readers of The Italian Times?

Let them know about with an ad in our next issue. Get all of the details by calling (414) 223-2189 or by sending an email to themman@italiancc.org.

PAGE 6 – MARCH 2017

Free children’s Italian class starts Mar. 18 at ICC

Free Children's Italian Course Registration Form

(For children ages 6-12) at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee

Parent(s) Name _______________________________________

Address _____________________________________________

City ______________________ State _______ Zip ___________

Phone No.: _____________ Email_________________________ Children's Names & Ages: ______________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ Send this form to: Children's Italian Course, c/o ICC, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Top 10 jobs that only exist in Italy

day Italy. Whereas centuries ago, such Romans had to be ready for the battlefield or a clash at the Colosseum, fitness is not a requirement nowadays and smoking on the job is perfectly acceptable.

1. Swiss Guard: They may dress like colorful jesters, but Swiss Guards are actually described by the Vatican as “warriors” and “defenders of the Church’s freedom.”

They flocked to Rome to protect the Catholic Church from foreign fighters in the early 16th century and have stayed at the Vatican’s gate ever since.

2. Gondolier: It takes years of training on Venice’s famous canals to gain the prestigious title of Gondolier, for many a trade passed through generations. When not guiding tourists through the waterways, an essential part of the job appears to be posing for photographs in a stripy shirt and straw hat.

3. Cheese Whisperer: Testing the quality of Italy’s ParmigianoReggiano takes more than just

The Swiss Guard

taste buds. In order to ensure the cheese has the correct form and structure, people have been trained to tap each wheel and know just by the sound whether it is up to standard.

4. Modena Balsamic Vinegar Taster: Bottles of balsamic vinegar that gain the official Modena seal can cost hundreds of euros, making the approval process a fine art. A panel of five tasters goes through rigorous training to judge each bottle against a strict point system before a producer can be welcomed into the prestigious club.

5. Olive Oil Police: As part of the government’s efforts to combat counterfeit olive oil, a police force has been trained to sniff out lowquality foreign oil that has been branded Italian extra-virgin. With just a taste, these police officers can tell whether the olives have come from abroad or if other types of oil have been blended into the mix.

6. Roman Soldier/Model: It takes little more than a red-andgold outfit, a smile and a charming way with tourists to launch a career as a Roman Centurion in modern-

Gondolier

7. DOCG Recipe Writer: Italy’s quality-assurance label – DOCG – is stamped on wines and foods which adhere to stringent specifications. For each product an official must draw up a recipe, a list of ingredients or a particular production process, which must be followed to the letter.

8. Latin Translator: While Latin scholars work the world over, nowhere is the task more important than at the Vatican. Daily life plays out in this dead language, essential for everything from flicking through the Vatican archive catalogue to reading the pope’s tweets.

At no point in modern times has the role of Latin Translator been so important as when Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013. The news was announced in Latin and the scoop was won by the only journalist fluent in the language. Our own Donato Di Pronio is a renowned Latin translator.

9. Anti-Mafia Prosecutor: Being an organized crime prosecutor is one thing, but being an antimafia prosecutor in Italy is quite another. They may gain the admiration of the masses, but they face great risks in doing so and often live their lives with permanent police protection. Their enemies are some of the world’s most powerful criminals and many have been killed for simply doing their job.

10.

Renaissance Flag Thrower In 21st-century Florence, a troupe of flag-throwers frequently march through the city and dazzle locals and visitors alike with their skills. An ability to chuck a flag in windy weather – emblazoned with the Florentine fleur-de-lis – is essential for the job, while looking good in tights is an added bonus.

We, at the ICC, know some of these guys.

– Courtesy of: thelocal.it

Harder Funeral Home

JAMES T. GUARDALABENE 18700 W. Capitol Drive

“Three generations of my family serving yours.” www.Guardalabene.com Phone: (262) 781-8350

Proud sponsor of the Festa Italiana Mass since 2002.

Cheese Whisperer

THE ITALIAN TIMES

• AN ASSOCIATE OF THE HARDER FUNERAL HOME SINCE 2010.

• Personally providing the services you have come to expect at the Harder Funeral Home or your church or cemetery chapel.

• Funeral pre-planning and Title 19 expertise.

• Longtime member of the Italian Community Center.

• Not associated with Schmidt & Bartelt – Guardalabene & Amato MARCH 2017 – PAGE 7

Tony Gazzana was always ready to serve the ICC and Festa Italiana

by Thomas Hemman Times Editor In the 38-year history of the Italian Community Center, few members have served the organization with such distinction as Anthony J. “Tony” Gazzana.

Tony died Jan. 24, three days after his 96th birthday.

When the ICC needed someone to step up to the plate to volunteer or organize an event or an activity, Tony was always on the top of the list of volunteers to be called because you knew he would accept and get the job done right. Often, he did the work with Catherine, his wife of 75 years, alongside of him.

For Festa Italiana, Tony was in charge of a volunteer crew that festival attendees never saw, but whose hard work made the event extra special.

Not to be forgotten, Tony served four consecutive terms as a director-at-large on the ICC Board during a crucial period in the organization’s history, 1985-1993.

During those years, the ICC acquired the “Coachyards” property from Milwaukee County, conducted a major fundraising campaign and built its current home. Tony was present for all the critical votes as he had near perfect attendance and helped in various ways with the fundraising activities.

In 1992, the ICC recognized Tony and Catherine for their commitment to their heritage and their steadfast dedication to volunteer service by naming them Il Re e La Regina (The King and The Queen) of Il Grande Carnevale, the organization’s annual pre-Lenten gala.

Worth noting also is the fact that Tony and Catherine were charter members of the ICC and continued their membership every year since. This included the last few years when they were unable to participate. Tony and Catherine, however, wanted to keep up with the organization they loved by reading The Italian Times, which was mailed to them at their senior living home at Clement Manor.

Tony’s volunteer work From January 1991 through 2014, Tony served as the general coordinator of the ICC’s bocce leagues. Among his duties were making sure all the individual coordinators for the daytime seniors and evening mixed couples leagues

Tony Gazzana

had team registration forms so the player fees could be collected from everyone who participated. He also developed the championship playoff tournament schedule at the end of the season and made sure that there were prizes for the players on the team that won the tournament and the one that came in as runnerup.

Tony also served as coordinator of the Tuesday afternoon seniors league and played on the Como Fu team.

Back when the ICC was in its former headquarters on Hackett Street, Tony, his wife, Catherine, and Josephine “Babe” Griger served as co-chairpersons of senior citizens luncheons. The ICC invited its senior members and area seniors to come to the Center for a luncheon with live entertainment.

Letters were mailed to many area senior centers. Often, more than 350 people attended. Tony and Catherine were in charge of making the seating arrangements and securing the entertainment. The seniors’ luncheons continued for several years after the ICC moved to its current facilities before it was phased out.

Tony was also a member of the Columbus Day Quincentennial Committee, a statewide project undertaken by the ICC to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Italian-born Christopher Colum-

Here’s Tony (far right) with his Festa “911” Grounds Crew in a photo taken in 2008. From the left: Leroy Nelson, Frank DeNardis, William Cook, Augie

PAGE 8 – MARCH 2017

bus’s discovery of the New World.

He served on the ICC’s Italian American Military Service Monument Committee, which worked to raise funds to build the veterans’ memorial south of the building. He was a member of the Bingo Committee and volunteered for many other activities which the ICC was organized or was a participant.

This writer wishes to note that, for many years, Tony and Catherine served on The Italian Times mailing crew. This group of volunteers stuck the address labels on all of the newspapers sent to members and helped me to sort the papers according to the many U.S. Postal Service regulations.

During that time, I witnessed an example of Tony’s kind-hearted side. When doing the labeling, Tony would sometimes stop, pull out a pen and write something on an inside page of a member’s paper. Intrigued to find out what he was writing, on various occasions after the crew departed, I would open a few of the bundles that Tony had labeled. What I discovered was that he had penned his wishes for a speedy recovery to someone who was ill or having or recovering from surgery, or his condolences to someone who had lost a loved one, or a message of hope and love, or even occasionally something humorous.

That’s just how Tony was. He cared about people.

For Festa Italiana, Tony was the chairman of the grounds crew for more than 30 years. This was the group of volunteers who were responsible for the set-up, maintenance and take down of grounds displayed used by the festival. They had a wide range of duties, from setting up tables and chairs to stringing lights and decorations to painting and setting up booths, displays, banners, and more. All of their work went on before Festa opened and after it was closed.

For many years, the crew numbered 30 in size, most of them were seniors, and a good number of them, including Tony, dedicated 10 or more days to the festival to complete these important chores.

Former Festa Executive Director Paul Iannelli gave these volunteers a nickname that stuck. He dubbed them “The 911 Crew.” Since most of them were in the 70s, 80s and 90s, and all of them diligently

Amoroso (behind Cook), Domenic Carini, Dave Laske, Louis Amoroso and manager Tony Gazzana. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)

Here is a photo that appeared in The Italian Times of Tony and Catherine in 2011 after they renewed their marriage upon the celebration of the 70th anniversary.

labored through the brutally hot and humid July weather, Iannelli was afraid he’d have to call “911” when they started dropping. In all the years the crew existed, thankfully, no 911 call was ever placed.

During Festa, Tony and Catherine volunteered as food and beverage ticket sellers for many years.

Adding this volunteer assignment to the work Tony performed before and after Festa, Tony spent nearly two weeks each year helping to make the festival a success.

Tony’s lifetime Tony, who was born Jan. 21, 1921, was one of three children of Thomas and Grace (Glorioso) Gazzana. Tony had two sisters Mary Sciano and Rose Szopinski, both of whom were active members of the ICC and the Holy Crucifix Society.

Tony’s family lived on Detroit Street in Milwaukee’s old Third Ward. He graduated from Lincoln High School.

Tony proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. For 30 or so years, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He started out at the Downtown Post Office, went on to the Villard Avenue Post Office, before returning to the downtown office. He served as a customer service representative at the latter two.

Tony enjoyed all sports, both as a spectator and a participant. He was on the tennis team at Lincoln High School.

Besides the ICC, Tony was active in other Italian organizations.

He was a longtime member and past president of the Holy Crucifix Society and a member of the Solomon Juneau Club and the Pompeii Men’s Club.

Tony and Catherine raised two sons and two daughters and were always supportive and spoke proudly about their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tony is survived by Catherine, to whom he was married on Nov. 29, 1941 at St. Rita Catholic Church, shortly before he began his military service. He was the father of Tom (Nancy) Gazzana, Grace Gazzana, Anthony (Jackie) Gazzana and Angela (Darrell) Hird, the grandpa of Laura (Jamie) Pagel, David (Stefanie) Gazzana, Anthony (Kelly) Gazzana, Ara (Jason) Berkwits, D.J. (Lisa) Hird and Michael (Amanda) Hird, and great-grandfather of Ella and Sophia Bertwits, Lucia and Natalie Gazzana, Olivia Pagel, Izabella Gazzana, Katie and Tommy Hird and Luca Anthony Gazzana. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Elizabeth Hermann, Continued on page 9

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Sara Travia named to All-American Women’s Soccer Team

Sara Travia recorded a first in Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) history as she was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Women’s All-American Team.

For several years, Travia was a member of Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee.

Her grandparents, Ben and Phyllis Travia, are longtime members of the Italian Community Center.

Travia was named to the Women’s Collegiate All-American Third Team. She was given the honor at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Jan. 14. Her family and her coach Rolf Zersen attended the event with her.

Travia, an MSOE senior, is a three-time all-region player. She capped off her collegiate career in grand fashion, leading the league in scoring with 19 goals, 46 points and finishing second in the league with eight assists. She was named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Offensive Player of the Year, as well as to the AllNACC First Team for the fourth time. During her final season with MSOE, she became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 168 career points.

MSOE posted the best season in program history in 2016, winning a school-record 17 games and claiming its first-ever NACC regular season championship with a perfect 10-0 league mark. The Raiders repeated as tournament champions to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

Prior to attending MSOE, Travia was a stand-out player at Nicolet High School. She is the daughter of Geralyn Travia. Her sisters, Rachel and Tori are current members of Tradizione Vivente.

Sara Travia (third from the left) is displaying her Women’s Soccer AllAmerican certificate in this photo.

She received the athletic achievement honor at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America

Tony Gazzana demonstrated his passion for family, heritage, ICC and Festa

from page 8 many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

In asking Tony’s son, Tom, to describe his father, he reminded me of an article that his son and Tony’s grandson, David, wrote for the January 2012 issue of The Italian Times after Tony and Catherine renewed their marriage vows upon their 70th anniversary. Quoting, in part, from the article, David wrote: “My grandparents have always been a true source of inspiration.

The love and support that I have had the pleasure to witness between the two of them for 42 of those years was never more present than it was on Sunday, Dec. 4. Although the entire day is a memory, I will always cherish the singular monument that will forever warm my heart, that is, seeing the looks

in their eyes as they renewed their vows. A look that I have had the extreme privilege of seeing countless times throughout my life – from the birth of their great-grandchildren to secret glances at one another on Christmas Day, from poker night as a child as they divvied up their winnings between all of us kids to being coronated king and queen of Carnevale – that look has always been there. It’s a look that never gets old. A look that is never disingenuous. A look of respect, admiration, wonder and true love.”

Having a spring or Easter sale? Let our readers know with an ad in our next issue. For details, call 414-223-2189 or send an email to Tom Hemman at themman@italiancc.org

awards ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 14.

She is seen here (l to r) with her grandfather, Ben Travia, her aunt

Julie Travia, and her mother, Geralyn Travia. (Photo provided by Geralyn Travia)

ICC Members: Planning to attend the dinner before the General Meeting on Thursday, March 16th?

If so, you are kindly asked to make a reservation on or before Monday, March 13th. Call 414-223-2180.

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

Thank you for your cooperation!

Catering THE ITALIAN TIMES

MARCH 2017 – PAGE 9

Here’s to thinking of you

by Blaise Di Pronio There are many objects-of-art that have become instantly recognizable and, unfortunately, they cannot always be of Italian origin as the rest of the artistic world does need recognition once in a while.

One such iconic work is Rodin’s The Thinker (Fr:-Le Penseur; It.: Il Pensatore). Rodin (1840-1917) is a renowned French sculptor also famous for The Kiss and other noted works.

The first castings (there are about 28 full size castings worldwide) of The Thinker appeared in 1904 but the figure itself was begun in 1880. It was originally named The Poet and it was placed in the doorway of Rodin’s very large The Gates of Hell sculpture located at the Musee Rodin in France. The

Hell sculpture was, of course, based on our Dante’s The Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia) and its Inferno (Hell) section.

Many think the figure of the thinking man was originally intended to depict Dante pondering his epic poem. Others disagree as Dante was always clothed in his poem’s journeys and it instead represents intellect and poetry, in general, or maybe even the Biblical Adam pondering over his sins.

When asked what the statue’s frozen emotion of being lost deep in thought meant, Rodin explained: “What makes my Thinker think is that he thinks not only with his brain, with his knitted brow, his distended nostrils and compressed lips, but with every muscle of his arms, back, and legs, with his

The Thinker by Rodin

clenched fist and gripping toes.”

What is undisputed is that when The Thinker was disassociated from The Gates of Hell and cast off separately on its own, it lost its association with Dante and his Divine Comedy and, thus, became known

all over the world as a symbol of philosophy and knowledge. So when you next see a pair of Thinker bookends (its most ubiquitous use), think of Dante and his now little known connection to this French masterpiece.

Word Search: A Night at the Opera

by Blaise Di Pronio

Word Search resolved: See page 15

Milwaukees Italians who served in the U.S. Military during World War II – Part 21

Researched and written by the late Mario A. Carini, Italian Community Center Historian The information presented here was researched and copyrighted as a historical record of the men and women of Italian descent who lived in the City of Milwaukee and served in the United States Military during World War II. The information recorded and documented by this researcher from records kept at the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau. These works were copyrighted in 2004 and an original copy has been placed in the repository at the United States Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The research was secured from City of Milwaukee Directories 1941, 1942 and 1944-45. No directory was published in 1943. The years 1944 and 1945 were combined into one directory.

Name Verga, Domenic Verga, Felix Vergolina, Rudy Vicari, Joe C. Vierra, John Vinci, Joe Jr. Virgili, Americo Vitale, Fred Vitale, Simon Vitalo, Fero Vitrano, Anthony Vitrano, Vince

PAGE 10 – MARCH 2017

Branch Army Army Army Army Army Army Army Army Army Army Army Army

Address 4504 N. Newhall 4504 N. Newhall 1124 E. Lyon 915 N. Jackson 831 N. 9th St. 2734 N. 3rd St. 3734 W. Whitnall 1748 N. Arlington 824 S. 6th St. 2725 S. 5th Place 1812 W. Pulaski 3058 N. Newhall

Name Vitucci, Mike J. Vitucci, Myron J. Volpano, Joe Vrana, Anthony Zaffiro, John M. Zaffiro, Joe F. Zaffiro, Liberio Zeni, Milton Ziino, Joe P. Ziino, Sal Zappia, Domenic Zappia, Domenic Zappone, Joe Zello, Anthony Zello, Mike Zello, Ben Zanchetti, Americo Zanola, Blaise Zanotti, John Zanotti, Leo Zingale, Sam Zingara, Carmello Zingara, Louis Zizzo, Frank Zizzollz, Joe L. Zulli, Armand

Branch Navy Army Army Army Army Army Army Navy Army Army Navy Army Navy Army Army Navy Army Army Army Army Marines Army Navy Army Army Army

Address 1828 E. North Av. 1828 E. North Av. 3226 W. Wisconsin, Apt. 1 2450 N. Hubbard 3222 W. St. Paul 340 N. 32nd St. 2616 W. Clybourn 5035 N. 61st St. 335 N. Jackson 335 N. Jackson 2135 N. Buffum 319 E. Knapp 1727 W. Wells 2207 N. Oakland 2207 N. Oakland 2428 N. 28th St. 2430 S. St. Clair 759 E. Lincoln 2523 S. Greeley 2523 S. Greeley 1501 N. Jackson 724 E. Pearson 724 E. Pearson 2178 N. 47th St. 2178 N. 47th St. 2640 N. Booth

Source: Wright’s Milwaukee City Directory, 1941, Wright Directory Co., Milwaukee.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Bagheria, Sicily – Part 2

The town became autonomous (with the annexed community of Apra Maritime) on Sept. 21, 1826, thanks to a royal decree signed by Francis I. The inhabitants were 5,349. Its municipal coat of arms, similar to the Branciforti family’s, is topped with a turreted crown and has on the right the figure of a rampant lion and to the left a vine twig with some grape bunches.

At the end of the 18th century, Bagheria was to participate in major land reform that would change the face of the productive land area and lead to the emergence of small factories of citrus fruit and bottling of wine, including the famous Mortillaro. Various cultural circles would promote an intellectual renewal, followed by intense journalistic activities that led to the birth of the newspaper Soluntine Dawn, run by Gioacchino Guttuso Fasulo, father of the painter Renato. This was followed

by The Echo, a polemic and anticlerical newspaper founded by Salvatore Scordato and The Ship and The New Era. In 1911, the House of Culture was founded under the guidance of Peppino Verdone. The growth of the younger population led to the founding of amateur dramatic soci-

eties organized and directed by the same Verdone, whose activities were to continue in the municipal theater of Palazzo Butera. During the 1930s, the parish cinema was organized by Monsignor Domenico Buttitta along with a film club for young people and families. The Bagherese craftsmen were to become very active, especially in the construction of the Sicilian cart.

The workshop of Emilio Murdolo, the teacher of the artist Guttuso, was to become very famous. The tradition continues at the Villa Cattolica, which today houses the Museum Guttuso.

Villa Trabia, Villa Cattolica (it houses the municipal museum Renato Guttuso where many of the artist’s works are preserved as well as paintings and sculptures by local artists like Pellitteri), Villa Cuto, Villa San Cataldo, Villa Villarosa, Villa St. Isidore, Villa Ramacca, Villa Serradifalco and Villa Larderia.

Religion Even though St. Joseph, the pa-

tron saint of the city, is commemorated canonically on Mar. 19, he is celebrated with a solemn ceremony on the first Sunday of August and with religious festivities accompanied by public events that unfold throughout the week leading up to the Sunday and they culminate with traditional fireworks on Monday evening.

– From the City of Bagheria FB Page

by Blaise Di Pronio In the annals of romance, I imagine there is nothing more disheartening than unrequited love, that one-sided love that is not reciprocated or known about by the beloved.

How many have heard or read Everyman’s Cry: “ She was my Beatrice?” So who was this Beatrice who gave rise to such a rueful lament?

She was born Beatrice di Folco Portinari in 1266 Florence, Italy, and she was destined to become Dante Alighieri’s principal inspiration and muse, Dante of The Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia)

fame. She was to become his guide in Paradiso (Paradise) and its Beatific Vision as her beloved name implies.

Dante tells us he met his “Beatrice” only twice in his life. They were two occasions separated by nine years. He first met her when she was eight and he was nine, and he was instantly taken by her. The infatuation continued for nine years until he met her again in a street in Florence, where she only turned and greeted him. That was it! The most famous glance ever!

She married another man in 1287 and died three years later in 1290 at the age of 24. Nevertheless,

A distant love story

Etymology The name Bagheria, according to some sources, originates from the Phoenician term Bayharia or “area that descends toward the sea.” But according to other sources, however, it derives from the Arabic Baab El Gerib or “The Door to the Wind.”

The Villas Among the most famous is Villa Palagonia of the Princess Gravina of Palagonia of 1715, known as the “Villa of Monsters” for the stone monsters that adorn the park. Remembered also, are Villa Butera, the first (1658), Villa Valguarnera,

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THE ITALIAN TIMES

Dante remained devoted to Beatrice for the rest of his life After their first meeting, Dante was so smitten by her that he subsequently frequented the streets of Florence in hopes of catching a glimpse of her which finally occurred, as mentioned, nine years later. After her death, Dante began composing poems dedicated to her memory and later collected in his La Vita Nuova (The New Life).

Dante’s love fell in line and was modeled on the Middle Ages concept of so-called Courtly Love, which meant a highly respectful admiration of another, albeit secret and unrequited. Since the relationship here was without contact, Dante’s literary Beatrice was largely a figment of his imagination and mind and she was referred to by him as “La gloriosa donna della mia mente” (The glorious lady of my mind).

The real Beatrice Portinari probably never had any idea of the depth of Dante’s passion for her.

Yet, she was to become one of literature’s most famous figures. Theirs was one of the greatest, unreturned love stories but ultimately, it was not in vain and totally fruitless, as it brought forth some of the greatest and most magnificent poetry ever and it gave birth to and became the basis for the standardized Italian language we know today.

For this, we are forever grateful.

Words in an Italian word

by Blaise Di Pronio How many words can you make with the letters in bambino (boy)?

Answers on page 11

And now, a word from Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio Cameo: A small character part or short appearance in a film or TV show.

It comes from the Italian cammeo or a miniature/small carving on a round gemstone.

MARCH 2017 – PAGE 11

La Pagina Italiana

Bagheria, Sicilia – Parte 2

Il paese divenne comune autonomo (con l’annessa frazione marinara) il 21 dell’Aspra settembre del 1826, grazie ad un decreto reale firmato da Francesco I. Gli abitanti erano 5349.

Lo Stemma municipale, simile a quello della famiglia Branciforti, è sormontato da corona turrita, e presenta a destra la figura di un leone rampante ed a sinistra un ramoscello di vite con grappoli d’uva.

Sul finire del secolo Bagheria sarà protagonista di una importante riforma agraria che cambierà il volto produttivo della zona e porterà alla nascita di piccoli stabilimenti di agrumi e per l’imbottigliamento del vino, tra cui il famoso Mortillaro. Vari cenacoli di cultura promuoveranno un rinnovamento intellettuale, seguito da un’intensa attività giornalistica che porterà alla nascita del giornale “L’Alba Soluntina” diretto da Gioacchino Guttuso Fasulo, padre del pittore Renato. Seguiranno “L’Eco”, giornale polemico e anticlericale di Salvatore Scordato, “La Nave”, e “L’Era Nuova”.

Nel 1911 viene fondata la “Casa della Cultura”, sotto la guida di Peppino Verdone. Alla formazione della gioventù contribuirà la filodrammatica organizzata e diretta dallo stesso Verdone, che porterà avanti la sua attività nel teatro comunale di Palazzo Butera.

Attorno agli anni Trenta nasce il cinema parrocchiale organizzato da Monsignor Domenico Buttitta con cineforum per giovani e famiglie.

Molto attivo sarà l’artigianato bagherese e soprattutto la costruzione del carretto siciliano.

Molto famosa la bottega di Emilio Murdolo, maestro del noto Guttuso, la cui tradizione continua con le “Putìe” messe su a Villa Cattolica, oggi sede del Museo Guttuso.

fenicio Bayharia cioè “zona che discende verso il mare”.

Secondo altre fonti, invece, deriverebbe dall’arabo Baab El Gerib, “La Porta del Vento”.

Le Ville Tra le più celebri è Villa Palagonia dei Principi Gravina di Palagonia, del 1715, detta “villa dei mostri” per i mostri in pietra che decorano il parco.

Etimologia Il nome Bagheria, secondo alcune fonti, ha origine dal termine

Ricordiamo Villa Butera, la prima (1658), Villa Valguarnera, Villa Trabia, Villa Cattolica (che ospita il museo comunale Renato Guttuso dove sono conservate molte opere dell’autore nonché tele e sculture di altri artisti locali come Pellitteri), Villa Cutò, Villa San Cataldo, Villa Villarosa, Villa Sant’Isidoro, Villa Ramacca, Villa Serradifalco, Villa Larderia.

di Donato Di Pronio Pizzaioli, state all’erta! E’ in arrivo un vostro concorrente!

Tra non molto (forse entro il 2018) “nascerà” RODYMan (ROboticDYnamic MANipulation), un robot ideato (e in fase di costruzione) dal noto prof. Bruno Napoletano. È dotato di capacità di manipolazioni, cioè sarà in grado di impastare e di stendere la pasta, di condirla e di metterla a cuocere.

Ma quando “è nata” la Pizza?

Duemila, tremila o più anni fa?

Senza dubbio unitamente all’introduzione del pane tra gli alimenti dell’uomo. Già Egizi, Greci, Romani preparavano focacce schiacciate.

Cantava Omero, vissuto intorno al nono secolo avanti Cristo, autore dell’Eneide e dell’Odissea: La divina Cerere (per i Greci, Demetra), dea dei campi, disse ad una sua sacerdotessa, di prepararle un ciceone (dal greco kikeon, kikeonos, “mescolare”), una bevanda ottenuta mescendo farina con acqua e fragrante puleggio (mentuccia). Questo secondo una leggenda, ma in realtà si tratta di una mistura che, per rompere il digiuno rituale, veniva bevuta dagli iniziati ai

misteri eleusini, cioè da quelli che erano ammessi alla conoscenza e alla pratica di determinati culti religiosi. (Eleusi: uno dei più celebri luoghi sacri dell’antica Grecia). La bevanda piacque e divenne di uso e preparazione comuni.

Con il passare del tempo subì delle variazioni. Ci fu qualcuno che aumentò la quantità della farina sino ad ottenere un impasto sodo. Non sapendo, però, cosa farne, lo buttò sul fuoco. Passati alcuni minuti, un odore “nuovo” si diffuse per la cucina: l’impasto si era abbrustolito! Incuriosito, lo assaggiò, trovandolo gustoso, anzi, gustosissimo.

Fu ripetuta la manipolazione dando all’impasto la forma di una placenta (dal latino placenta “focaccia” e questo dal greco plakous, plakountos “che ha la forma schiacciata), poggiandola, questa volta, sul focolare davanti alla fiamma.

Era “nata” la pizza! La pizza che poi venderanno i placentari di Napoli e di Pompei. Fantasia?

Forse. Se non proprio così, la supposizione appare tanto vicina alla realtà.

Passeranno secoli, tanti, e con la scoperta dell’America, ci fu

PAGE 12 – MARZO 2017

La Pizza

Religione Benché San Giuseppe, il santo patrono della città, sia commemorato canonicamente il 19 marzo, questo viene celebrato con un solenni cerimonie nella prima domenica di agosto: i festeggiamenti religiosi accompagnati da

spettacoli pubblici si snodano per tutta la settimana che precede la domenica per culminare con i tradizionali fuochi d’artificio la sera del lunedì.

1. Guarda chi sono e non guardar chi fui.

Look at who I am and not who I was.

(Meaning) Never speak ill of the dead.

3. Dei morti parla bene.

(Literally) Speak well of the dead.

5. (Dialect-Calabria) Non c’e luttu senza rrisu e non c’e matrimoniu senza piantu.

(Literally) There is no mourning without smiling, there is no marriage without tears.

(Meaning) In all situations, whether one is dealing with love or death, there is space for happiness and unhappiness.

– From Comune di Bagheria FB Page

Proverbi Italiani

2. La bellezza è come un fiore: nasce, fiorisce e muore.

Beauty is like a flower — it’s born, it blooms and then it dies.

anche la scoperta del tumatl degli Aztechi, il pomodoro.

Fu un giuoco per i pizzaioli in generale e per quelli napoletani in modo particolare, rendere sempre più capricciosa ed appetitosa la loro pizza. Ormai la pizza è diffusa in tutto l’universo e dovunque è tanto buona, tant’è che LA PIZZA. È STATA PROPOSTA PER IL RICONOSCIMENTO DI PATRIMONIO DELL’UMANITA’ Ma io rimpiango le pizze, semplici come quelle degli antichi, che preparava zia Maria quando cuoceva il pane nel piccolo forno a legna costruito a lato della sua casetta. Dopo aver infornato il pane, poggiava direttamente sui mattoni una placenta della stessa pasta, spianata a mano, e poi infornava anche una teglia nella quale aveva “stesa” un’altra placenta condita con olio ed origano dei colli di Roccamorice, con aglio di Sulmona e tumalt del suo orticello. Quando estraeva le due pizze, un concentrato di fragranza si diffondeva nell’aria: anche un anoressico giunto sino al disgusto per qualsiasi cibo avrebbe allungato … le mani!

Gusto fine, piacevole, squisito, acuto, … cercate un po’ voi altri aggettivi!

4. (Dialect-Calabria) Pe pagari e moriri ‘nc ‘eni sempi tempu.

(Literally) To pay and to die, there is always time.

(Equivalent) Two things are certain in life- death and taxes.

6. (Dialect-Campania) Si ‘a morte tenese crianza, abbiasse a chi sta ‘nnanze.

(Literally) If Death had a sense of decency, he would take the first ones, first.

(Meaning) If Death had a sense of decency, he would take the old people first, and leave the young ones alone.

7. (Dialect-Campania) A o ricco ille more a mugliera, a o pezzente le more o cicuccio.

(Literally) A rich man loses his wife, a poor man loses his donkey.

(Meaning) The rich feel pain when they lose a loved one but the poor not only feel pain when they lose a loved one but they also feel pain when their farm animals die as they can’t make ends meet without them. * * * Grazie a: italyrevisited.org

Celebri Festa Italiana in Milwaukee, Luglio 21-23, 2017

THE ITALIAN TIMES

L’angolo delle curiosità

di Donato Di Pronio ALFA ROMEO Acronimo di ANONIMA LOMBARDA FABBRICA AUTOMOBILI. Azienda automobilistica fondata a Milano nel 1910.

Nel 1918, l’Alfa passò a un valente e brillante imprenditore napoletano, l’ingegnere Nicola il quale alla ROMEO, denominazione Alfa aggiunse il proprio cognome. Nel marchio di fabbrica dell’Alfa Romeo compare una croce rossa in campo bianco, simbolo medievale del Comune di Milano e un serpente, il biscione, simbolo araldico (le cui origini si perdono nel corso dei secoli) fatto suo da un certo Uberto, discendente storica Famiglia dei della VISCONTI distintasi nei secoli nella signoria di Milano. Tra i successi che hanno dato fama internazionale a questa gloriosa azienda italiana ricordiamo la vincita nel 1925, 1950 e 1951 dei campionati mondiali di automobilismo.

FERRARI Fu la madre della Medaglia d’Oro Francesco Baracca a suggerire ad Enzo Ferrari (18981988) di mettere sulle sue macchine lo stemma araldico della Scuola di Cavalleria di Pordenone (Piemonte) frequentata dal predetto suo figlio prima di passare all’Aviazione militare. Questo valorosissimo soldato, nato nel 1888, morì combattendo durante la Grande Guerra Mondiale 1915/18 dopo aver abbattuto 34 apparecchi austriaci.

FIAT di FABBRICA Acronimo ITALIANA AUTOMOBILI TORINO. Azienda fondata l’11 luglio 1899 a Torino da Giovanni AGNELLI, 1866-1945). E’ storia dei nostri giorni: dopo 115 anni la FIAT diventa FCA (acronimo di FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES).

Fiat (Fiat: dal verbo latino Fio, fis, factus sum, fieri = essere fatto, ecc.). Nessun rapporto tra il FIAT Automobili e il FIAT biblico.

(Genesi I, 1-3) In principio Dio creò il cielo e la terra. Ma la terra era deserta e vuota, v’erano tenebre sulla superficie dell’abisso e lo Spirito di Dio aleggiava sulla superficie delle acque. E Dio disse: < FIAT LUX, sia fatta la luce!> e vi fu la luce.

E fatt’na risata!

“Mia adorata Maria, ti amo più di quanto le parole possano dire... per te scalerei le vette più alte del mondo, attraverserei i deserti più desolati e le Ande più fredde del polo nord...ti amo.

PS: vengo a trovarti domenica, se non piove”.

Una donna al ristorante.

Il cameriere quando vede che il bicchiere della signora è vuoto le fa: “Altro vino?” e lei: “No, no, sa’ dopo un po’ mi fa male alle gambe” e lui: “Come mai signora, gliele gonfia?” e lei: “No, me le allarga!”.

Una signora sta viaggiando piuttosto forte in centro abitato quando perde il controllo dell’auto e va sbattere contro una cabina telefonica. Intervengono i vigili e alle domande a che velocità andava e a quanto ha sbattuto, la signora non è in grado di rispondere.

Allora un vigile le riformula la domanda: “Signora a che velocità andava la cabina telefonica quando le ha attraversato la strada?”.

Una signora sta passeggiando per strada, quando incontra un

passante animalista....quest’ultimo gli fa: “Signò ma...lei non sa quanti animali hanno dovuto uccidere per fare quella pelliccia?” ..e lei con tono molto arrogante gli fa: “e lei non sa quanti animali mi so dovuta fare per comprarmela?”.

Ad una causa di separazione il giudice chiede alla donna perchè mai ha fatto all’amore con un accattone e la donna candidamente: “il poveruomo si è presentato chiedendomi se potevo dargli qualcosa che mio marito non usava più....”

Adamo andò dal Signore: “Signore, perchè hai fatto Eva così bella?” e il Signore: “perchè tu potessi amarla,figliolo” Adamo: “e allora perché l’hai fatta così stupida?”

Signore: “perchè lei potesse amare te!”

Una donna corre dietro al camion della spazzatura gridando: “sono in ritardo per l’immondizia” e il guidatore risponde: “no, non si preoccupi, salti pure dentro”...

THE ITALIAN TIMES

Una storia d’amore a distanza

di Blaise Di Pronio Immagino che negli annali delle storie d’amore non esista niente di più demoralizzante dell’amore non corrisposto- quell’amore a senso unico che non viene ricambiato dall’altra parte o di cui l’altro non è a conoscenza.

Quanti di voi hanno sentito nominare o letto il grido di Everyman «Lei era la mia Beatrice»? Chi era questa Beatrice che ha fatto scatenare questo pianto doloroso?

L’origine di questo riferimento è una donna di nome Beatrice di Folco Portinari, nata a Firenze (Italia) nel 1266. Il suo destino fu quello di rappresentare la musa, dunque la principale fonte di ispirazione per Dante Alighieri, quel Dante ampiamente conosciuto per la sua opera “Divina Commedia”. Beatrice sarebbe infatti diventata guida di Dante nel “Paradiso” e visione beatifica dello stesso, come suggerisce il suo nome adorato.

Dante racconta di aver incontrato la sua Beatrice solo due volte nella vita. Le due occasioni di incontro si presentarono a distanza di nove anni l’una dall’altra. La prima volta fu quando lei aveva otto anni e lui nove: allora ne rimase immediatamente affascinato.

L’infatuazione si protrasse per nove anni fino al in cui la incontrò giorno nuovamente in una strada di Firenze: in quell’occasione la donna si limitò a girarsi e salutarlo. Ecco tutto: la loro storia riassunta in un solo sguardo, il più famoso.

Beatrice sposò un altro uomo nel 1287 e morì tre anni dopo, nel 1290, all’età di 24 anni. Tuttavia, Dante restò devoto a lei per il resto della sua vita.

A seguito del loro primo incontro, Dante rimase così colpito da lei che si mise a frequentare le strade di Firenze nella speranza di rivederla, fatto che accadde, come detto, nove anni dopo. Dante iniziò a comporre poesie in memoria di Beatrice subito dopo la scomparsa della donna, successivamente riunite nella raccolta “Vita Nuova”.

L’amore di Dante seguiva il concetto di “amor cortese” di origine medievale, la cui pratica prevedeva l’ammirazione altamente rispettosa di una donna, sebbene celata e non corrisposta. Essendo la relazione di Dante priva di contatto fisico, la

Words in an Italian word

from page 13 77 words in bambino: 1. bambino 2. amnio 3. amino 4. bimbo 5. bambi 6. nabob 7. boba 8. iamb 9. bani 10. obia 11. amin 12. moai 13. mina 14. nimb 15. mani 16. main 17. moan 18. mano 19. boma 20. bomb 21. mino 22. naoi 23. ambo 24. bona 25. bima 26. noma 27. boab 28. mona 29. abo 30. moi 31. man 32. ion 33. mon 34. nib 35. boa 36. ami 37. bob 38. bin 39. bio 40. oba 41. nab 42. mib 43. boi 44. ani 45. bam 46. aim 47. ban 48. ain 49. nim 50. mna 51. nob 52. bon 53. abb 54. obi 55. moa 56. nam 57. mob 58. nom 59. bib 60. na 61. mi 62. ab 63. mo 64. ob 65. in 66. io 67. ba 68. ai 69. no 70. oi 71. am 72. an 73. om 74. bi 75. on 76. bo 77. ma.

Dante Alighieri

sua Beatrice letteraria rappresentò principalmente il prodotto della sua immaginazione, tanto che egli stesso la definì «La gloriosa donna della mia mente».

Probabilmente la vera Beatrice Portinari non venne mai a conoscenza della passione profonda che Dante provava nei suoi confronti. Eppure era destinata a diventare una delle figure letterarie più famose, nonché parte di una delle più grandi storie di amore non corriposto. In fin dei conti non fu tutto inutile: da qui nacquero alcune delle poesie più grandiose e straordinarie che costituirono il modello base da cui nacque e si sviluppò la lingua italiana standard a noi oggi conosciuta. Per questo motivo saremo eternamente grati a Dante.

– Tradotto dall’Inglese da Laura Duronio

Benvenuti!

Welcome, new ICC members

The following persons became members of the Italian Community Center between January 10 and February 9, 2017. Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Christine Catalano of Mequon Jennifer Henning of Grafton Michael & Michelle Crivello of Milwaukee

John Wesley Warren & April Toy of Shorewood Avery Butler (Junior Membership) Waukesha Shirley M. Howard of Wauwatosa

And now, a word from Italy

by Blaise Di Pronio Pedestrian: A person traveling on foot, i.e., walking.

It comes from the Italian piede or foot and stare or to be. Thus, to be on foot. It’s also the root for pedestal or the foot, base or support of a ‘body’ such as a column or statue.

MARZO 2017 – PAGE 13

Now here’s a non-taxing idea

by Blaise Di Pronio It is said that death and taxes are the only certainties in life. I’m not too sure though. Cryonics (freeze yourself and hope for a cure) isn’t guaranteed, and it is very expensive. (I’m trying to see if Palermo’s Frozen Pizza will store me with their Thin Hawaiian Style as it might be a little warmer in

that freezer section – I mean, Hawaii and all, right?). But taxes?

However, can you keep Uncle Sam (Zio Samuele) at bay? Even the Good Lord told us to give Caesar what was Caesar’s. And Caesar and his successors loved taxing people – Wisconsin-style. But there once was a Roman who had the guile and wherewithal to outsmart

Who knew?

Chi lo sapeva?

1. What is cited in nearly half of all Italian divorce proceedings?

Infidelity.

2. With 61 million inhabitants, Italy is the 5th most populous country in Europe.

3. Italy has the eighth-largest economy in the world.

4. Excavations throughout Italy revealed a Neanderthal presence dating back to some 200,000 years ago, while modern Humans arrived about 40,000 years ago.

5. Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world.

6. More than a third of single Italian men between the ages of 30 and 35 live with their parents.

7. Italian Traffic Police has two

Lamborghini Gallardos in service.

8. 500,000 Italians visit an exorcist every year.

9. Galileo’s middle finger is on display at a museum in Florence, Italy.

10. At age 10, Mussolini was expelled from a religious boarding school in Italy for stabbing a classmate in the hand.

11. In Venice, Italy, all gondolas are required by law to be painted in black.

12. Poveglia is an island in Italy that is so dangerously “haunted” that public access is not permitted.

– Compiled by Blaise Di Pronio

Zio Samuele, Italian style.

During early Roman times, cemeteries were exempt from property taxes (probably because those “living” there had no money) and if one had an estate which held a burial plot, it could not be taxed or confiscated by the state. So the renowned Roman poet Virgil (born in 70 BC and most famous for writing Rome’s national epic, The Aeneid, a literary masterpiece to this day) came up with a very ingenious way to avoid paying taxes on his villa. He turned it into a cemetery by constructing a burial plot with a tomb in it. But for whom? Well, actually for his pet housefly! (This reminds me of Woody Allen’s pet ant called Spot).

Stories were circulated of the lavish funeral Virgil staged in the grounds of his home on Rome’s Esquiline Hill. The funeral attracted many “mourners”. It was complete

with pallbearers, eulogies, singing of dirges and serving of food and beverages, all for the dear departed insect. A tomb was erected and the tiny, lifeless carcass was placed within it to the wails and cries of the professional mourners hired for the occasion. It was said that some of the eulogies were really very moving, and Virgil himself recited some of his verses. My goodness!

Did the scheme really take place and did it work?

Well, it was reported by the historian Suetonius Tranquillus in his Life of Augustus, so maybe it really was the (burial) hole of all loopholes. So, this year, I’m going to bury next to my condo the first mosquito I swat and we’ll see if I can get my association fees waived since the dead pest will contain some of my blood after all and it will be a burial plot.

Grazie Virgil!

In many parts of Italy, zeppole (or zeppoli in southern Italian dialects) are traditionally eaten on La Festa di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Day), Mar. 19.

Zeppole are deep-fried dough balls that are usually topped with

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

Zeppole – a St. Joseph’s Day pastry treat

The custom of preparing zeppole for St. Joseph’s Day was popularized in the early 19th century by a Neapolitan baker named Pasquale Pintauro.

Zeppole have been served as the dessert at the Italian Community Center’s St. Joseph’s Day luncheon since 2010.

Festa della Donna celebrated in Italy on Mar. 8

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

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

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

March festival in Rovescala, Italy celebrates wine

PAGE 14 – MARCH 2017

In Rovescala, Italy, a town near Pavia in the Lombardy region, a “Wine in the Springtime” festival is held each weekend in March. Festivities include parades, music, vendors, food and, of course, wine tasting.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

All Things Italian

The Corner of Curiosities: Italian Automobiles

by Donato Di Pronio ALFA ROMEO Acronym for: Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. Automotive company founded in Milan in 1910.

In 1918, Alfa came under the direction of a talented and brilliant Neapolitan entrepreneur, the engineer Nicola Romeo, who added his own surname to the Alfa name. In the logo of the Alfa Romeo factory, there appears a red cross on a white field, the medieval symbol of the City of Milan and the biscione, a crowned viper swallowing a Moor, a heraldic emblem of the House of Visconti, rulers of the city in the 14th century.

Among the successes that have given international fame to this glorious Italian company were the 1925, 1950 and 1951 World Motoring Championships.

FERRARI Count Francesco Baracca was Italy’s top fighter ace of World War I. He was credited with 34 aerial

victories. The emblem he wore on the side of his plane was that of a black horse prancing on its two rear feet. It was the mother of this Gold Medal recipient who suggested to Enzo Ferrari to put on his cars this horse from the coat of arms of the Cavalry School of Pordenone (Piedmont) frequented by her son before moving to Military Aviation.

FIAT Acronym for Factory Italian Automobiles Turin. Automotive company founded by Giovanni Agnelli in Turin in 1899. After 115 years, FIAT has now become FCA (acronym CHRYSLER FIAT AUTOMOBILES).

Opera insights

by Barbara Collignon Il Barbiere di SIviglia, composed by Rossini with libretto by Cesare Sterbini, is the featured opera of the Florentine Opera Company to be presented May 5 and 7 of this season. The complete title of this opera buffa is Il Barbiere di Siviglia ossia l’inutile precauzione (The Barber of Seville or The Futile Precaution).

It combines events of two of three plays by French dramatist Pierre-Augustin Caron Beaumarchais (1732-1799). Beaumarchais’s career as a dramatist was only secondary to his many other activities.

Honest and with a sensitive soul, he is a representative of his time, a period of fermentation in France that preceded the French Revolution of 1789. Beaumarchais himself dealt in arms, ammunition and other war supplies to the American colonies and aided in the American

colonists’ struggle during our Revolutionary War.

Onorio Razzolini was the first Italian American ever to hold public office. He was the United States Armourer and Keeper of Stores in Maryland between 1732 and 1747, a duty which essentially put him in charge of defense for the Colony of Maryland.

In 1837, John Phinizy, the son of an Italian immigrant named Ferdi-

nando Finizzi, became the first Italian American mayor of a U.S. city.

He served from 1837 to 1840 as the mayor of Augusta, Ga. Anthony Louis Ghio, who was one of the founding fathers of Texarkana, Tex., was elected Texarkana’s mayor in 1880. He later opened the city’s first opera house.

Figaro, the ubiquitous Barber of Seville, embodies all the impertinence, insolence and self-conceit of his creator, Beaumarchais. Figaro is very much like his creator: full of wit, joy and entrepreneurship with a strong sense of anti-hypocrisy and social justice.

The opera in two acts features Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo, her guardian. He hopes to marry her and acquire her considerable dowry when she comes of age. He allows her very little freedom. Count Almaviva wishes to marry Rosina but wants to be sure she loves him, only for himself, and not for his money.

He disguises himself as the poor student Lindoro.

In the next issue, I will explore Figaro and the other characters in the opera.

Italian Americans political first dating back to the 1700s

Fiat Fiat: from the Latin verbs fio, fis, factus sum, fieri = to be done, etc.).

There is no relationship between the FIAT cars and the biblical fiat.

Genesis I, 1-3: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth but the land was deserted and empty. There were shadows on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters and God said: “Fiat Lux or “let there be light! And there was light.

Thus, a fiat is a decree or mandate.

Word Search: A Night at the Opera – Resolved from page 10

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

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

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

Lentil soup hits the spot during Lenten season

Many people still follow the longtime Catholic Church rule of abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during the Lenten season. Francena Hall, who has written a cookbook, Recipes My Nonna Taught Me, says her nonna always made lentil soup on Fridays during Lent.

Hall added, “Lentils are good luck to eat on New Year’s Day because they look like coins and the more you eat, the more money you will have, She offered this lentil soup recipe from her cooking book: Ingredients: • ½ lb. washed lentils • 1 medium chopped onion

• 1 clove minced garlic • 1 15 oz. can tomatoes with juice • Salt and pepper to taste • Bay leaf • Fresh endive, escarole or spinach • ¼ lb. angel hair pasta, broken into small pieces (can use orzo or ancini pepe).

Directions: Combine everything except pasta in a large pan. Add a quart of water and cook until lentils are tender (about an hour). Add pasta and cook about two minutes (angel hair pasta cooks fast). Just before serving add one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.

THE ITALIAN TIMES

MARCH 2017 – PAGE 15

Report from Milwaukee Italian Immersion School at Victory K8

Mr. Alex Kaftan’s class has been studying polar bears and brown bears. After being introduced to both types of bears, the four year olds are already comparing and contrasting the animals.

La classe di Mr. Alex Kaftan sta studiando gli orsi polari. I bambini di 4 anni hanno analizzato I diversi tipi di orsi e ora sono pronti a e trovare cosi’ confrontarli differenze e similitudini.

After visiting Maestra Sabrina Lupoli’s class, La Befana left some stockings. Students compared La Befana to witches from Halloween.

The students made their own stockings to bring home. K5 students enthusiastically studied penguins.

They especially enjoyed imitating how penguins walk while carrying their egg between their feet. Students are creating a giant wall display to showcase everything they learned.

I bambini del K5 della maestra Sabrina Lupoli, il 6 gennaio hanno ricevuto la calza dalla Befana e l’adorabile vecchietta è venuta a trovarli.Hanno quindi fatto un confronto tra la Befana e la strega di Halloween. Infine i bambini hanno realizzato la loro calza da portare a casa. I piccoli alunni hanno partecipato con tanto entusiasmo a tutte le attività e gli esperimenti proposti sui pinguini.

Si sono divertiti tanto quando hanno provato a camminare con l’uovo sui piedi. Adesso stanno ancora lavorando alla realizzazione di un grande poster da mettere nel corridoio.

Students in first grade started the year anticipating the arrival of La Befana. In Italy, La Befana traditionally brings candy or coal to children. All the children at Victory received some candy when she visited. In math, the first graders are learning to measure the length of objects, adding and subtracting with equations less than 20. Students are motivated to use the Italian they are learning. First graders visited the Boerner Botanical Gardens as part of a Milwaukee Public Schools’ sponsored “learning journey.” Students were able to apply what they are learning about animal survival in winter and how nature changes throughout the seasons. They enjoyed the experience and had a great time.

I bambini delle classi prime hanno iniziato il nuovo anno preparandosi all’arrivo della Befana che ha portato dolci e carbone ai bambini come nella tradizione italiana. In matematica stanno imparando a misurare le lunghezze di oggetti diversi e fanno pratica con le addizioni e sottrazioni entro il 20. Hanno sempre voglia di imparare cose nuove e di parlare e leggere italiano. Stanno studiando il comportamento degli animali in inverno, come sopravvivono e come costruiscono le loro case. I bambini hanno partecipato alla gita

PAGE 16 – MARCH 2017

sponsorizzata da MPS presso il Boerner Botanical Gardens e si sono divertiti molto!

Maestra Robertson’s students are studying health, nutrition, and the importance of exercise. They are learning to describe the parts of the body and themselves. They are learning the Italian version of the song; “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” Students will also be visiting Discovery World, in order to learn about the Great Lakes and its natural habitat and conservation goals.

Gli studenti della maestra Robertson stanno studiando la salute, l’alimentazione e l’importanza di fare attivita’ fisica per una vita sana. Imparano le varie parti del corpo anche con la canzone “Testa, spalle, ginocchia e piedi…” che ai bambini piace molto e cosi’ scoprono se stessi e come funziona il loro corpo,. A breve visiteranno Discovery World per imparare qualcosa in piu’,sull’ecosistema e la conservazione dei Grandi Laghi.

Maestra Cathy Laurenzi’s third grade class has been working on Martin Luther King projects to honor the diversity that makes up the United States. Students have created “I Have A Dream” hanging clouds expressing sentiments that range from no bullying to acceptance of all races and religions. Students learned to dig deep in the text about MLK’s fight for civil rights and equality among races and gen-

ders and compare the struggles of the 60’s to the struggles of today.

Students were able to discern that unequal treatment of people still occurs.

Maestra Cathy Laurenzi e i suoi studenti del 3 grado sono stati impegnati in un progetto su MLK per comprendere come idee diverse abbiano creato gli Stati Uniti. In classe hanno creato una nuvola che potesse esprimere il rispetto e la consapevolezza verso religioni, sentimenti e idee diverse. L’hanno intitolata “I Have A Dream”. Gli studenti hanno letto testi su MLK, sulle sue battaglie per I diritti civili e hanno paragonato le difficolta’ incontrate durante gli anni ’60 a quelle dei giorni nostri. Ora gli studenti comprendono cosa vuol dire non essere trattati ugualmente. Prossimamente analizzeranno i problemi dei rifugiati.

Maestra Rita Szopinski’s fourth and fifth grade class had the opportunity to visit Oakridge Farms in Dousman (western Waukesha County). Due to unseasonably warm January weather, the class

was able to visit the farm’s nursery, where they saw a baby lamb (three weeks old) and a brand-new baby cow (just five hours old). They were able to practice their Italian vocabulary as they identified different farm animals and discussed the differences between the sounds those animals make in the English language versus the same sound in the Italian language.

La classe 4 e 5 grado di Maestra Rita Szopinski ha avuto la possibilita’ di visitare una fattoria, Oakridge Farms in Dousman. E’ stato molto emozionante perche’ a causa delle temperature piuttosto elevate per il mese di gennaio, gli alunni sono potuti entrare nella stalla degli animali appena nati e hanno visto un agnellino di sole tre settimane di vita e un vitello di soli 5 giorni. Hanno avuto cosi’ la possibilita’ di imparare parole nuove riguardanti la vita della fattoria e degli animali . E’ stato molto divertente per gli studenti scoprire che i suoni degli animali in italiano sono diversi da quelli che vengono usati nella lingua inglese.

THE ITALIAN TIMES