La Gazzetta Italiana February 2013 - Something New Events Inc

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Carnevale!

2 

LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA 

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Volume 21, Issue 10 

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EXHIBIT 

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March Preview 

March is Easter month. The 

March edition of La Gazzetta 

Italiana will be focusing on Easter 

traditions in the local Italian parishes 

and Holy Week practices in 

Italy as well. Furthermore, March 

is the month dedicated to women; 

therefore we will be highlighting 

outstanding Italian women in 

history. 

La Gazzetta Italiana would not 

be possible if it weren’t for our loyal 

readers, which is why we would love 

to hear from you. Please submit all 

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in being a part of our upcoming 

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please contact Paul Sciria at (440) 

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be received by February 14th. For 

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INsIDE | FEBRUARY 2013 

03 The Editors Speak 

04 News from the Italian 

Consulate in Detroit 

Find out about all the upcoming Italian events 

sponsored by the Consulate 

05 News from Italy 

Berlusconi is ready for another term in Parlament 

05 Young Viola brings fresh 

vision to NIAF 

06 SPECIAL REPORT: The 

Italian Elections 

07 Book Review 

Chief Operation Officer of NIAF, John Viola, reviews 

Bill Emmott's book, "Good Italy, Bad Italy" 

08 February Events in Italy 

09 Feature 

It's CArNEVAlE! 

learn the festive traditions of Carnevale all 

throughout Italy! 

12 Feature 

2013 sPrING trEND 

rEPOrt 

Find out the hottest trends for 

spring 

13 Feature 

MINEO BrINGs sOMEtHING NEW tO BrIDAl DECOr 

Planning a wedding this season? Get the right advice 

from expert, Joe Mineo 

13 Website Review 

14 History & Culture 

15 Local News 

15 Entertainment 

MAlIKA AYANE 

A new face in Italian music 

16 People 

WE rEMEMBEr 

larry salvatore 

17 Travel 

20 Food & Wine 

24 Photo Exhibit 

28 Lingua Italiana 

30 Kids Corner 

31 Classifieds 

32 Clubs Newsletters 

visit 

LAGAZZETTAITALIANA.COM 

for more news from Italy, recipes to spice up your dinner menu, 

an Italian American club listing and much more! 

facebook.com/GazzettaItaliana @LaGazzettaItaly 

LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | FEBRUARY 2013

From the desk of 

Paul Sciria 

Paul Sciria 

Managing Editor 

Authors Federico and Stephen Moramarco 

wrote “the Italian dress code is the 

manifestation of Italian pride; the blueprint 

for all things fashionable.” Paris nothwithstanding, 

Italian designers in Milan, Rome 

and across the mainland and Sicily prevail 

in style and fashion. In their wools, linen, 

silk, exotic cloths, designs and tailoring, 

Italian identity is the ‘nines.’ Armani, 

Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Fendi and 

Ferrè are marquee designers on worldwide 

runways. 

Yet, I remember a different time in 

fashion years ago. An era of only black and 

white television when Muntz with ‘rabbit 

ears’ owned the market share with Admiral, 

Stromberg-Carlson and Zenith trailing. 

Strip shopping centers were popping up 

thanks to an Italian builder named Visconsi. 

He located his first center way out 

east on Euclid Avenue. Look and Life 

were the leading magazines and Vogue and 

Glamour magazines had society type followers 

and readers. 

In Cleveland, we rode street cars and 

we could buy penny transfers that moved 

us around town to shops like Higbees, 

May’s, Halle’s, Taylor’s, Bailey’s. Robert 

Hall, Bond Clothes, Rosenblums and Federals’ 

were also major stores. Cross-town at 

E. 105th and Euclid was almost as busy as 

downtown with more stores and theaters. 

Uptown on Carnegie Avenue a large Sears 

& Roebucks was very popular and soon the 

Roebucks tag disappeared. The Italians 

were well represented in the clothing 

departments at Higbees and Halle’s 

because of the excellent Italian tailors who 

fitted customers perfectly. 

The more affluent shopped at B. R. 

Baker, Bonwit Teller, Sterling Lindner 

Davis and Nobbys Clothes. There was no 

Ferragamo for shoes except for the Hollywood 

stars. We settled for shoe producers 

of Brockton, Massachusetts, not 

Italy. Flagg Brothers, Thom McCann and 

W. L. Douglas were budget favorites. The 

big ticket offerings were Stetson’s and Florsheim 

and ‘Triple A’ pointed shoes. 

There was free giveaway Shopping 

News with special sales. On bargain days 

house dresses sold for $1 each in Higbees’ 

basement. They were even cheaper if a 

relative worked there and got a 20% discount. 

Even without a discount there were 

giveaway green eagle stamps to paste in a 

tiny book. The filled book was like money 

to make a purchase. 

Most people wouldn’t trade in yesterday’s 

memories for today’s fashion, but 

the present day Italian creative spirit of 

designers and their fashion watermarks are 

the envy of the world. In ‘Italian Pride,’ 

Federico and Stephen Moramarco wrote, 

“Everyone can’t be an Italian, but at least 

they can dress like one.” Bravo! 

Editor's Note: Blue Rock 

In last month's issue 

regarding the residents 

of Blue Rock, we omitted 

the family of Pasquale 

and Maria D'Amico who 

lived on Frank Avenue 

for 40 years. Pictured is 

the former St. Marion's 

Church as it is today. 

From the Editors 

The show must go on 

Gabriella Mileti 

Associate Editor 

It’s rather ironic that one of the fashion 

industry’s most important cities, Milan, is 

in a country with one of the most troubled 

and struggling economies, Italy. By now 

it’s no secret that Italy is in trouble--big 

trouble. And if the upcoming Italian elections 

in February don’t help change things, 

the country is in for a complete disaster. 

Yet, the three-billion dollar fashion 

industry tells us, the show must go on. 

Despite the hardship Europe is facing, 

the curtain has not been drawn on the 

fashion industry. Rather the factories are 

still open, the sewing machines are still 

powered up every morning, designers are 

still putting the pencil to the paper, and the 

models are still walking the catwalks. The 

fashion industry is one segment that continues 

to grow in this struggling economy. 

What many would consider perhaps a frivolous 

industry--a world of imagination, of 

over-priced clothing and high society divas, 

is really a reflection of our society. Everything 

from heel height to lipstick hues has 

always been economic indicators. Fashion 

has been influenced by wars, conquests, 

laws, religion, and the arts. From the 

austere Renaissance to the roaring 20s celebrating 

the women’s liberation movement, 

to the gaudy 80s reflecting a booming 

economy, fashion has always played a key 

role in our culture and economy. 

The year 2013 is no different. The 

spring runways of Milan, Paris, London 

and New York were filled of color, patterns 

and optimism, with a hint of strong, basic 

black and white, and bold accessories and 

footwear. Yes, the show must go on indeed, 

with perhaps some caution. Nevertheless, 

fashion houses are certainly taking “baby 

steps” into the future, sending down the 

runway extremely commercial (aka sellable) 

garments, that buyers from the top retailers 

are certain customers will purchase in this 

still somewhat unstable economy. 

We can only hope that this is the 

beginning of a comeback. 

Letters to the Editor 

Dear Paul and Gabriella: 

Congratulations on the topic, Blue Rock Springs, in the January 2013 issue of the Gazzetta. 

Having lived in that era, I can attest to the validity and accuracy of the article. It brought back fond 

memories. Our family had the good fortune of renting a home next to St. Marion Church on Woodhill Road, later 

changed to Petraca Road in honor of a neighborhood hero, Frank Petraca, killed in action in World War II. I had 

my Communion and Confirmation at that Church but was baptized in Rionero where I was born. 

Note: We still have a yearly Blue Rock Reunion luncheon, planned and hosted by Mr. Mario Fioritto of the 

Fioritto Funeral Home. 

Regards, 

Guido Frate 

Willoughby Hills, Ohio 

LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | FEBRUARY 2013 3

News From the Consulate & News from Italy 

4 

Consulate of Italy in Detroit 

Calendar of Events in Ohio 

Friday, February 24, 2012 – now extended through 

Spring 2013 

Domare – The Art and History of Stone Carving in Northeast 

Ohio 

Featuring masterful work by sculptor Giancarlo Calicchia 

Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland 

From the ancient quarries of Carrara, to the most advanced bronze and glass casting 

facilities, Italian sculptor Calicchia has worked directly with the finest craftsmen in 

the world in his chosen fields of stone, wood, bronze, glass, mosaic, ceramic and oils. 

After formal education and training, he chose a path made of stone, becoming a world 

renowned architectural stone expert and sculptor in stone, bronze and wood. The 

exhibit will be accompanied by a selection of artifacts from the WRHS Italian American 

Collection highlighting the history of the Italian stone carvers and their contributions. 

Sunday, April 28, 7:30pm 

Uno Stradivari per la Gente”--“A Stradivarius for the people” 

Severance Hall, Reinberger Chamber Hall 

A special free concert by Maestro Matteo Fedeli 

Maestro Matteo Fedeli, "the man of the Stradivarius,” brings the enchanting sounds of 

the best Stradivari violins ever made to the most prestigious concert halls around the 

world. He has been a concert soloist in the most exclusive Italian venues: La Scala of 

Milan; La Fenice in Venice and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Verona, as well as in the 

most beautiful national and international Basilicas. In his concerts, he plays the rarest 

of violins: “Il Cremonese” 1715; “Vesuvius” 1727; “King of Prussia” 1703; “Sandars” 

1695; “Maurin Rubinoff ” 1731; “DaVinci” 1725; “Duke of Alba” 1719; and “Reynier, 

ex Napoleon III” 1681. He was even invited by the Holy Father, to perform at the 

“Concert in Honor of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI” in Pavia. 

He is a founder, advisor and member of the Academy String Concert Orchestra 

of Milan. His work is supported by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and 

Activities, and by the Region of Lombardy. He was awarded the “Il Campione 2008” 

prize, for this travelling project “Uno Stadivari per la Gente,” as well as for his charitable 

initiatives benefitting AISM, the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association. This will 

be his first appearance in Ohio. A link to secure tickets will soon be made available. 

PLEASE VISIT 

For more information, please contact: 

Serena Scaiola, Hon. Consul of Italy in Cleveland 

serena.scaiola@att.net • (216) 861.1585 

www.consdetroit.esteri.it 

Italy bids addio to 

Rita Levi-Montalcini 

Mary Therese Burns-DeFrancesco 

contributing writer, 

Rome, Italy 

On December 30, 2012, Rita Levi- 

Montalcini, Italian Nobel laureate for 

Medicine in 1986 and Italian Senator-for- 

Life, sadly passed away in Rome at the 

venerable age of 103. 

This pioneering woman of science was 

born to a wealthy Jewish family of Turin, 

where she studied as a neurobiologist, but 

had her university career thwarted by the 

1938 racial laws, which she went around 

by ingeniously setting up a laboratory 

in her bedroom, to continue her biology 

experiments. After the war in 1946, she 

was invited to teach a semester at Washington 

University in St. Louis, where she 

remained for 30 years, with groundbreaking 

work on isolating the nerve growth factor, 

or NGF, in 1952. In 1968, Levi-Montalcini 

was only the 10th woman appointed 

to the US National Academy of Sciences. 

She was pronounced a Full Professor and 

traveled between St. Louis and Rome, 

where she ran a research facility at the 

National Center for Research for many 

years and produced many publications. 

She received the Nobel Prize for Physiology 

or Medicine in 1986 for her work on 

NGF. 

In August 2001, the then Italian President, 

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi appointed 

her Senator-for-Life, a great honor. In 

2002 she created the European Brain 

Research Institute, also serving as its president. 

In the 1990’s she continued to 

make discoveries, discovering and underlining 

the importance of mast cells and 

one of its compounds in human disease, 

thereby opening the pathway to advances 

in chronic pain treatment. In 2006, her 

last-minute vote in the Italian Senate was 

acknowledged as having saved the day for 

the precarious Prodi government and she 

came under fire by the opposition. 

Levi-Montalcini felt deeply about 

human rights, and promoted an updated 

version of the UN’s Charter of Human 

Rights, a Charter of Human Duties, 

which was later taken up by the University 

of Trieste, with the establishment 

of the International Council of Human 

Duties in 1993. She was also a Goodwill 

Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture 

Organization in Rome and had 

been a member of the Pontifical Academy 

of Sciences since 1974. She was often 

interviewed on Italian television about her 

opinions, her career and her pioneering 

efforts as a woman who broke the glass 

ceiling in a patriarchal society, and was a 

personality much admired throughout Italy. 

In April 2009, the mayor of Rome hosted 

her 100th birthday celebrations at Rome 

City Hall. 

Rita Levi-Montalcini had the honor of 

being the oldest living Nobel Laureate and 

also the first to reach the age of 100. 

Costa cruising costing 

salvage millions 

Paul Sciria 


Thirteen months ago, the Costa Concordia 

cruise ship ran aground off the coast 

of Tuscany, Italy, causing a 160-foot gash 

in its side. Thirty-two people were killed 

and more than 4,000 passengers abandoned 

ship. The semi-submerged ship 

remains lying sideways on two underwater 

mountain peaks. Investigators suggest the 

sea captain may have been negligent in 

sailing too close to the shore and the ship 

is labeled an official crime scene. 

Twice the size of the Titanic and three 

times the size of a football field, the Costa 

Concordia is the largest passenger ship ever 

to capsize and the salvage job is the mostly 

costly ever at $400 million. Captain Nick 

Sloane of South Africa heads the salvage 

operation which is expected to take until 

next summer. 

In an effort to refloat the ship, a crew 

of 450 specialists is hoping to roll the ship 

over onto 500-ton platforms built by six 

different shipyards. In brand new technology 

and never done before hoses and air 

pumps are welded to the side along with 

cables strapped under the belly. The salvagers 

have only one chance to rotate the 

ship onto the platforms and float it away. 

One hundred eleven specially trained 

salvage divers from eight different countries 

are working 45 minutes at a time, 

seven days and seven nights a week to 

complete this work. Each time they return 

to the surface they enter a decompression 

chamber. 

Though the Costa Concordia has a 

50-50 chance to be refloated and if successful, 

the absolute outcome will be that 

their 1,500 cabins, 18 restaurants, casino, 

and furnishings will be part of 60,000 tons 

on a scrap pile to be used another day 

for maybe another virtual floating hotelshopping 

mall. 


News from Italy 

Paul Sciria 


Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi 

will seek a fourth term 

in office. Berlusconi, party 

leader of the PdL (center right 

Democratic Party) is reported 

to have joined forces to a 

former coalition ally. The pact 

does not rule out Berlusconi 

becoming economy minister 

if the coalition, the Northern 

League, and the PdL win 

enough seats in the upcoming 

parliament election later this 

month. Berlusconi and his 

PdL party lead in the polls, 

while Premier Mario Monti 

who replaced Berlusconi in 

November of 2011, is third in 

the polls. His support comes 

from smaller political groups. 

------------------------ 

Italy’s jobless rate at 

11 percent plus is a crucial 

political issue in the election 

campaign. Prime Minister 

Monti has been attacked 

for his handling of the debt 

and job crisis, as the nation 

struggles to come out of the 

deep recession since 2011. The 

youth employment rate for 

15-24 year-olds is over 37%, 

its highest level in more than 

20 years. Young people tend 

to be on payrolls as temporary 

or/part-time rather than fulltime. 

The industrial and construction 

fields have taken a 

steep downward trend in the 

recession. Analysts believe Italy 

needs to jump start its labor 

market. The real challenge are 

among women, the young and 

the elderly. 

----------------------- 

Data from Istat (National 

Statistic Institute) reveals 

Italian men have lost over 

740,000 jobs in the last five 

years. A recent study reveals 

that slightly more than 13 

million men are presently 

working – down from 70 

to 66%. On the other hand, 

there’s been an increase of 

more than 200,000 women 

during the same five year 

period. 

-------------------------- 

The Catholic Church in a 

recent Vatican radio broadcast 

favors legislative changes that 

give full citizenship rights to 

children born in Italy to immigrant 

parents. The Church 

reported a significant percentage 

of Italy’s residents 

are immigrants and believes 

social cohesion and democracy 

growth will come through 

legislative changes. Current 

Italian law dictates that only 

children of Italian citizens can 

automatically become citizens 

themselves, while those born 

on Italian soil to non-Italian 

parents become eligible on 

their 18th birthday. 

-------------------------- 

Death and taxes are the 

only things guaranteed in life 

and a large number of Italians 

apparently are trying to beat 

the odds by avoiding paying 

taxes. Last year there was an 

estimated 285 billion euros 

in unpaid taxes. Tax authorities 

have come up with a data 

system to assess income by 

studying personal spending. 

They believe data can suggest 

how honest a person is on his 

or her tax return. The system 

flags tax returns in which the 

declared income doesn’t match 

up with estimated spending by 

more than 20 percent. Most 

Italians welcome this new data 

search in the battle against 

tax cheats. However, others 

suggest the authorities will 

look to impoverished pensioners 

and housewives rather 

than habitual tax dodgers. 

--------------------------- 

A new find of sculptures 

in the excavation of a villa in 

Rome’s suburb of Ciampino. 

The relics date to the 1st 

century and reveal the myth 

of a woman turned to stone 

because she boasted of her fertility. 

Niobe, of ancient Greek 

mythology, lost all her 14 

children. The Roman general, 

Marcus Corvinus, a patron of 

the poet Ovid, owned the villa. 

------------------------- 

The ruins of the Largo 

di Torre Argentina square in 

Rome is truly the ‘cats’ meow.’ 

In this sunken piazza in the 

heart of the Rome where 

Julius Caesar was stabbed in 

the back, a group of politicians 

want to “close out the 

sanctuary” where hundreds of 

cats, nine-lives or not, live. A 

colony of felines live in this 

cave-like space below street 

level and are cared for by dedicated 

volunteers. The complaining 

politicians want to 

evict the purring animals but 

cat lovers are yowling against 

closing the shelter. Italy has a 

no-kill policy of stray cats and 

has controlled the population 

by having thousands spayed 

and vaccinated over the scores 

of years. 

--------------------------- 

In a day long ceremony, 

survivors and relatives of the 

32 people who died memorialized 

the first anniversary 

( January 13) of the deadly 

shipwreck of the Costa Concordia. 

A commemorative 

plaque listing the names of 

those who lost their lives off 

the Island of Giglio (Tuscany), 

Italy was affixed to a part of 

the massive rock that tore a 

230-foot gash into the hull of 

the Italian liner before it was 

lowered back onto the seabed. 

Relatives tossed flowers into 

the sea as part of the ceremony. 

On RAI broadcast, Capt. 

Francesco Schettino 

who steered the ship off 

course blamed others 

for the mishap. In an 

anniversary interview, 

Schettino expressed 

his share in the pain of 

victims and their families. 

Italian translation on 

page 28. 

A solo 29 anni, John Viola, il nuovo 

"Chief Operating Officer" di NIAF 

(Washington, D.C.), vuole portare 

la fondazione in una nuova direzione. 

Una direzione fresca, concentrata sugli 

aspetti positivi del Bel Paese ed interessarsi 

soprattutto dei giovani. Vorrebbe che 

la NIAF diventi veramente un punto di 

ritrovo per tutti gli italo americani negli 

Stati Uniti. 

Passion. Passion is the first word 

that comes to mind when speaking to 

John Viola, Chief Operating Officer of 

the National Italian American Foundation 

(NIAF) in Washington, D.C.. 

His passion for his Italian heritage 

has helped him in his position, which 

on February 6, he will be celebrating 

his one-year anniversary. With his 

enthusiasm, which he vividly demonstrates, 

even just over the phone, the 

29 year-old, Brooklyn native is taking 

NIAF in a new, fresh and more 

modern direction. A direction that will 

impact not only Italian Americans in 

Washington, D.C. but Italian Americans 

across the United States. 

Since 1975, NIAF has been the 

advocate for nearly 25 million Italian 

Americans, awarding millions of 

dollars in scholarships to high school 

and college students nationwide, and 

connecting Italian Americans in East 

Coast and West Coast Galas and other 

various social activities, initiatives, and 

conferences. However Viola has in 

mind a new approach and he believes 

2013 is the perfect year to do so, since 

it’s the “Anno della Cultura Italiana 

in America”. Viola is on a mission to 

unite all Italian Americans, especially 

the youth, and really reengage them in 

their heritage. Because let’s face it, if 

we don’t, we risk loosing our cultural 

identity. 

One essential principle that 

Viola stressed was the importance of 

dwelling on “what is right with the 

place [Italy], rather than what’s wrong.” 

Of course it’s hard to look past the 

declining economic situation, however 

Viola’s positive vision entails moving 

forward and shedding light on the 

involvement of Italian businesses in 

America, opening new opportunities 

for them, and focusing on “why not 

Italy” rather than “why Italy”, and eventually 

involving these businesses with 

our youth, who are need of “networking, 

mentoring, and jobs”. Viola even joked 

how it’s nice to work with people who 

News From Italy 

Viola brings fresh 

vision to NIAF 



share the same culture and values as 

you. 

Viola is well aware that there more 

than 9,000 Italian groups in the United 

States and his mission is to unite all 

of those groups under one tent, NIAF. 

While it’s rather impressive that the 

Italian community in the US boasts 

such a large number of clubs and organizations, 

however at the same time 

it also “fractures our community”, 

according to Viola. He wants NIAF 

to be the “rallying point of all Italian 

Americans”. With the new direction, 

NIAF will serve as a “central point” 

for Italian Americans and help support 

other groups, especially Italian American 

publications who’s mission is to 

perpetuate the Italian heritage, just like 

La Gazzetta Italiana, and Italian clubs 

at American universities. 

Viola reminisced how growing up 

in an Italian neighborhood, you were 

constantly surrounded by people just 

like you--you had a sense of safety as 

well. Today there are very few Italian 

neighborhoods left and you no longer 

have that sense of safety. Therefore 

Viola believes “NIAF has to be that 

neighborhood family, where you can 

feel that sense of safety and belonging”. 

Which is why Viola stresses the importance 

of “region specific gatherings”, 

rather than just have East Coast and 

West Coast happenings. NIAF is 

already in the works of creating region 

initiatives, thanks to their “area coordinators”, 

people who have volunteered 

to become representatives of their area. 

Viola emphasizes the importance of 

creating structures to bring everyone 

together, and giving young Italian 

Americans the opportunity, not only in 

the job world, but also the opportunity 

for them to be with other young Italian 

Americans just like themselves. 

With the new direction, NIAF will 

also be launching a new, user-friendly 

website in March, a website that will 

be “engaging and pertinent to people’s 

lives as much as possible” and a point 

of reference for the entire Italian American 

community. 

The year 2013 will be an exciting 

year for every Italian American 

nationwide. It’s our job to come 

together as a community and really 

celebrate our heritage and pass our traditions 

to the younger generations, after 

all, as Viola affirms “we are all branches 

from the same tree”. 


Special Report: The Italian Elections 

Anatomy of a meltdown 

Nicola Orichuia 

Fra Noi, Chicago, Illinois 

When Prime Minister Mario Monti 

officially announced his resignation on Dec. 

21, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano 

must have had a strong sense of déjà vu. Just 

13 months earlier, the same scene had taken 

place at his residence, the Quirinale Palace 

in downtown Rome. But on Nov. 8, 2011, it 

had been then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 

throwing in the towel. 

To understand what has happened to 

the Italian political landscape since then, it’s 

important to go back in time to that point. 

After a remarkably durable three-anda-half 

year run, Berlusconi’s government 

was the equivalent of a boxer on his knees. 

Countless blows had been delivered 

via defections since July 30, 2010, when 

Gianfranco Fini, co-founder of Partito della 

Libertà, formed his own movement. Plagued 

by scandals of every kind, the government 

survived, despite a razor-thin majority, until 

it entered the final round. 

October and November 2011 were 

both devastating and humiliating: The government 

lost its majority on a procedural 

vote on Oct. 10. Two weeks later, Berlusconi 

was forced by the European Union to sign a 

pledge to change Italy’s pension system and 

labor laws. Asked at a news conference if 

Berlusconi had reassured them, French President 

Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor 

Angela Merkel could only giggle. But 

the low point was yet to come. At the 

Changing a country’s electoral process 

is a delicate matter, which should be done 

in a spirit of inclusion. But on Feb. 24 

and 25, Italians will be called to the ballot 

box to vote using a system that was passed 

outrageously quickly by the Berlusconi 

government in late 2005 and without any 

support from opposition parties. It is now 

known as the Porcellum — the Piglet law. 

The derogatory moniker comes from — 

believe it or not — the law’s own author, 

Northern League senator and former minister, 

Roberto Calderoli. Asked during 

a television interview what he thought 

about the law he himself penned, Calderoli 

described it as a “porcata” — the act of a pig. 

Political expert Giovanni Sartori extrapolated 

the law’s nickname from the interview, 

giving it a Latin twist, and it has been 

known as Porcellum ever since. 

Even a cursory look at the new system 

reveals why. Voters are no longer allowed to 

6 

G20 summit in Cannes on 

Nov. 4, Italy was forced 

to accept monitoring from 

the International Monetary 

Fund. The country, 

in other words, had lost 

all its credibility. It was 

the knockout punch that 

effectively ended Berlusconi’s 

government, which 

collapsed four days later. 

To avoid the ghost 

of early elections at such 

a fragile time for the 

country, President Napolitano 

maneuvered to get 

respected economist and 

two-time European Commissioner 

Mario Monti 

to form a government. 

Leading a cabinet of 

technocrats, Monti was 

ushered in with a lopsided 

majority in Parliament, 

with bipartisan support 

from Berlusconi’s PdL 

and the Partito Democratico, 

Italy’s second 

major political force at the 

time. The huge majority 

enabled Monti to quickly 

push forward a series of dramatic 

reforms, such as raising the retirement 

age and reintroducing a real estate tax, 

moving Welfare Minister Elsa Fornero to 

tears as she pronounced the word “sacrifice” 

during a Dec. 4 news conference. 

Thirteen months later, the unique parliamentary 

supermajority backing Monti 

Guaranteed to fail 



indicate who they want to elect, but only the 

party they prefer. Parties win percentages of 

the seats in each chamber based on the percentage 

of votes they receive. The parties fill 

those seats from lists of candidates of their 

own devising, giving the parties the power 

to decide who will and won’t represent the 

people. As if that weren’t undemocratic 

enough, the time-honored system of territorial 

representation was thrown out the 

window, with candidates now being permitted 

to run in — and represent — any 

region, regardless of where they live. 

And the madness doesn’t end there. 

The winning party receives 55 percent of 

the seats, regardless of their actual winning 

percentage in races that can include literally 

dozens of parties. That calculus is 

applied nationwide in the 630-seat Chamber 

of Deputies, thus guaranteeing the winning 

party far more power than it actually has 

earned. In the Senate, the calculus is applied 

regionally, creating the exact opposite effect. 

Take, for example, Lombardia, a Northern 

League stronghold and Italy’s most populous 

region, accounting for 47 of the Senate’s 

315 seats. The Northern League (which 

When the Italian prime minister tendered his resignation in December, 

President Napolitano no doubt felt he was reliving a bad dream from 

just over a year ago. 

caved in on Dec. 6, 2012. In a quick turn of 

events, Berlusconi (who had all but disappeared 

from the political scene) ordered his 

PdL party to withdraw support on some of 

the government’s key economic plans. Two 

days later, sensing a loss of trust in his government 

(but not asking for a vote of confidence 

in Parliament), Monti let President 

not coincidentally 

spearheaded 

the law change) 

can win with only 

20 percent of the 

vote and still net 

55 percent of the 

Senate seats from 

that region. Multiply 

that skewed 

result over Italy’s 

20 wildly diverse 

regions and you 

create a virtual 

political war zone. 

In addition to 

kicking democracy 

to the curb, these 

so-called reforms 

effectively killed the 

nation’s nascent movement toward a twoparty 

system. That movement began with 

electoral reforms in 1993 that reined in 

the number of smaller parties and forced 

the remaining parties to work together in 

coalitions. The resulting more-or-less twoparty 

system ushered in a period of relative 

Napolitano know that he would resign. The 

formal resignation took place on Dec. 21, 

effectively kicking off the campaign season 

that will end with the February 24-25 elections. 

The political turmoil of the last two 

years has effectively caused a conflagration 

of the Italian political landscape. The only 

moderate force to remain stable has been the 

Partito Democratico, which has capitalized 

on the popularity of its recent primaries. (It 

was the only party to do so.) But Monti’s 

willingness to be prime minister again has 

seen a number of smaller centrist parties 

coalesce around him instead of seeking an 

alliance with the PD. Unwanted in this 

centrist mix is Berlusconi’s PdL, which has 

been forced to run to the right of center. 

On the extremes, the far-right and oncepowerful 

Northern League, also plagued by 

scandals, is skeptical of joining forces with 

Berlusconi, while to the left, Antonio Di 

Pietro’s Italia dei Valori has isolated itself 

into near-certain oblivion. A new political 

movement led by comedian Beppe Grillo, 

the MoVimento 5 Stelle, might attract a 

good percentage of angry and disappointed 

voters. 

Unless a clear victor arises from the elections, 

the current fragmentation brings with 

it the high risk of political instability. With 

a nod toward malaprop master Yogi Berra, 

it looks like it may be déjà vu over and over 

and over again. 

Reprinted with permission from Fra Noi. 

Copyright 2013. 

Having authored Italy’s disastrous 2005 electoral reforms, the Northern League 

stalwart has since given it a resounding no-confidence vote. 

political stability, producing 10 government 

in 20 years, versus 51 governments in the 

previous 47. With the chaos created in the 

Senate by the new system, the bad olden 

days are back with a vengeance. 

The only positive change wrought by 

the new law was the introduction of the vote 

abroad, which legally acknowledged Italian 

...con't on page 13. 


Stemming the tide 



The Italian elections are right around 

the corner, and I find myself taking part 

in them for the first time as an emigrant. 

Being abroad has had a twofold effect 

on my perception of the country’s constant 

state of political turmoil. First, I’m 

far less interested in the theatrics of the 

whole thing, in which politicians continually 

jab at each other and use the media 

to send subliminal messages only they can 

understand. And at this great distance, 

I can hear far more clearly what politicians 

have to say about the future of Italy, 

especially when it comes to policies promoting 

a fairer and more open job market 

for the younger generations. It would be 

nice to hear at least one proposal capable 

of stemming the economic tide that has 

driven so many of us so far away from what 

we cherish most: our homes. 

The silence from politicians has been 

deafening, but there’s actually a lot to be 

said. The notorious “brain drain” that Italy 

is experiencing isn’t just a superficial way of 

dismissing a recent trend. It’s actually the 

best way to describe what I call the third 

wave of emigration from Italy. All three 

waves have come at times of economic 

crisis. The first wave, between 1886 and 

1920, saw more than 12 million Italians 

flee a primitive and poverty-stricken 

nation. The second came during the 

destruction and desolation that World War 

II left behind. The third wave is a modern 

one — smaller in numbers, but made up 

mostly of young professionals who are 

eager to prove themselves, yet are unable to 

do so in the land of their birth. 

The loss of human capital has been 

devastating to Italy. In December 2010, 

the economic newspaper Sole 24 used two 

figures to put the “brain drain” into perspective. 

From AIRE, the official registry 

of Italians living abroad, came the bad 

news that 316,572 young Italians had left 

the country between 2000 and 2010. That’s 

an average of 30,000 a year, which doubles 

when you consider that at least one in 

every two expatriates does not register with 

AIRE. Adding salt to the wound, Confimprese 

Italia, a national organization representing 

small- and medium-sized businesses. 

calculated that 70 percent of today’s 

emigrants have at least a college degree. 

All of this comes with a high price tag. 

The Sole 24 Ore article estimated the cost 


to educate an Italian student from elementary 

school all the way through college 

is roughly $130,000. Multiply that by the 

number of college graduates who leave 

Italy, and the sum is staggering. Take 2008, 

for example, the year my wife and I bought 

a one-way ticket from Rome to Chicago, 

our lives packed in two suitcases. That year 

alone, 6,552 young Italians with college 

degrees left the country. That makes for 

almost $852 million in human capital that 

was washed from our shores. 

Reviewing these numbers, one has to 

wonder where Italian politicians have been 

all these years. Labor and Social Politics 

Minister Elsa Fornero used the English 

word “choosy” to describe the younger generation’s 

take on work. In so doing, she 

revealed a complete disconnect between 

today’s political class and the future of 

the country. According to a recent study 

made by the independent research group 

DataGiovani, 355,000 young Italians 

found their first employment during the 

first semester of 2012. That’s 80,000 less 

than those who registered in the same 

period five years earlier. And the quality 

of the job market is equally disconcerting. 

Many companies are relying on downand-dirty 

internal turnovers, using shortterm 

contracts and internships as an excuse 

to hire as few young Italian adults full 

time as possible. All the proposed solutions 

brought to the table so far have either been 

half-baked, undernourished or completely 

starved-out. 

It’s no small wonder that so many talented 

young Italians will be casting their 

votes from abroad this year. And if the 

government has any hope of reversing the 

brain drain and bringing them back home, 

they had better start paying heed to what 

the next generation has to say. 



John Viola 

Chief Operating Off icer, NIAF 

When I hear news of a new book 

written in English about contemporary 

Italy, I always await its publication with an 

excitement usually reserved for Christmas 

morning. These are, after all, disappointingly 

rare additions to the American 

popular dialogue. So it was with bated 

breath that I opened my long reserved copy 

of “Good Italy, Bad Italy: Why Italy Must 

Conquer Its Demons to Face the Future.” 

Written by Bill Emmott, former 

editor-in-chief of The Economist, the 

book explores Italy’s much maligned 

descent from a boom economy in the 

1990s into today’s largest “sick man of 

Europe.” Emmott, who spent many 

years at The Economist in vocal opposition 

to Italy’s former prime minister 

Silvio Berlusconi, is nevertheless a dedicated 

and objective scholar on our ancestral 

homeland. In the book, he lays out a 

theory, backed by fascinating examples and 

anecdotes on both sides, of an Italy which 

he sees as suffering from something akin to 

a national bipolar disorder. 

Emmott sees a “Good Italy” of responsible 

family firms, deep-seated communities 

and creative genius, weighed down 

by a “Bad Italy” of corruption, entrenched 

interests, disregard for the value of merit, 

and the crippling apathy of a young generation 

unable to access any real role in the 

nation’s future. The author illustrates this 

divide by examining the causes, examples 

and potential remedies for this fractured 

Italy. 

The book is even more interesting 

when read from an Italian American perspective. 

His theme, that while Italian 

institutions are unhealthy the Italian 

people are still Italy’s best commodity, is 

essentially the same idea that sits at the 

core of our entire immigrant experience. 

After all, we Italian Americans are the 

unique offspring of these exact conditions—the 

fruit of healthy Italian roots 

planted in the ever-fertile soil of American 

meritocracy. 

Italy today is a nation that seems 

alarmingly akin to the Italy our ancestors 

were forced to leave in search of a better 

life, a land where the people are disconnected 

from the state, where opportunities 

to earn and achieve are blocked by 

entrenched interests that serve the few and 

discourage the many. It is no small fact 

that modern Italy is seeing the same trends 

Special Report: The Italian Elections 

A Nation divided? 

A look at Bill Emmott's 

"Good Italy, Bad Italy" 

in emigration that created our Italian 

American community, and similar Italian 

diaspora communities around the globe. 

When Emmott lays out his designs for 

the types of institutional reforms he sees as 

imperative to Italy’s hopes of regeneration, 

he speaks of themes like a shrinking public 

sector, electoral reforms to encourage 

transparency, labor reforms to encourage 

merit over safety, women’s rights, access to 

quick and efficient justice, encouragement 

of competition, and a culture of investment 

in human capital and development. Essentially, 

he is talking about risk, a concept 

that seems anathema to modern Italy, yet is 

at the core of America’s founding. 

When one thinks back to our 

ancestors, clutching their few belongings 

and a ticket for steerage, embarking for 

a new and alien world with nothing 

but hope, it is risk that we find at the 

beginning of our Italian American story 

as well. No matter if or when they became 

U.S. citizens, it is at the moment that 

each of them made the fearless decision to 

embrace complete risk that our ancestors 

became Americans. And, in reading 

Emmott’s work, I could hardly turn a page 

without thinking that we Italian Americans 

represent the best model for future 

success in Italy. Maintaining the best parts 

of our Italian culture and traditions, while 

embracing the core tenant of the American 

dream—the courage to risk everything on 

the belief in your own abilities. 

I highly recommend “Good Italy, 

Bad Italy.” If you are a passionate student 

of Italy like I am, or just looking for a 

thoughtful assessment of our madre patria, 

Emmott provides a thorough and illustrative 

journey through the best and worst 

of il Bel Paese. Yes, at times, his appraisal 

of her ills may discourage the Italophile in 

all of us, but take heart in our own Italian 

American history. 

I invite anyone writing Italy’s early 

epitaph to look at our community as proof 

that these best qualities of the Italian character 

can achieve anything in a climate that 

rewards hard work, creativity, merit and the 

courage to risk. We are proof, after all, that 

while there are things wrong with Italy, 

they can’t not compare to what is right in 

the Italians. 

John Viola is the Chief Operating Officer at 

the National Italian American Foundation. 

Reprinted from Ambassador magazine 

(www.niaf.org). 

© National Italian American Foundation. 

All rights reserved. 


Events in Italy 

FEBRUARY: Events in Italy 

8 

• Torino 

• Revello 

• Verona 

• Modena 

• Gradoli 

Lent, the season of penance and prayer begins on 

Ash Wednesday, February 13 and ends on Holy Saturday, 

March 30, the day before Easter. Carnevale meaning 

“farewell to meat” is most spectacular in Venice where a 

variety of events are organized and anyone and everyone 

can buy a mask and participate while observing an array 

of party-goers in elegant costumes attend party after party. 

Throughout Italy, other celebrations take place in different 

ways and times especially those in Viareggio, Calabria, 

Mamoiada, Sardinia and the Roman carnival in the Aosta 

Valley. A very popular pre-Lent festival is the two day Feast 

of St. Agatha event in Catania, Sicily. The second largest 

religious procession in the world takes place during this 

celebration. 

February 1-10: The Almond Blossom Festival, Agrigento 

(Sicily) – During the weeklong Almond Blossom 

Fair/Festival traditional Sicilian sweets made with almonds 

and almond paste are served. 

February 3: Feast of San Biagio, Revello (Cuneo 

Piemonte) – The traditional blessing of the throats 

takes place in the 17th century chapel on the slopes of 

• Tarcento 

• Agrigento 

Mt. Bracco. It is traditional to eat leftover 

panettone with a glass of wine to bless the 

throat. In Taranta Peligna (Chieti, Abruzzo) 

the feast is marked by the baking of small, 

hand-shaped rolls called panicelle. 

On the Thursday before Ash Wednesday in Gradoli 

(Viterbo, Lazio), the Confraternity of Purgatory group 

makes the rounds dressed in hooded robes, bearing a 

banner and walking to the beat of a drum. They pause at 

every house to collect food in the names of the souls in 

Purgatory. The food is then served at a town dinner on 

Ash Wednesday. 

For Carnevale in Modena (Emilia Romagna) the city 

celebrates the arrival of the traditional carnival figures, “the 

Pavironica family” who arrive from the legendary Bosco di 

Sotto in an antique carriage, accompanied by valets. They 

pay their respects to the city officials at city hall, where 

the lead figure, “Sandrone” addresses the crowd from the 

balcony, commenting on town events. 

On the Friday before Ash Wednesday (Venerdì Gnocolar) 

in Verona (Veneto) the Bacanal del Gnoco is a pro- 

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cession of revelers in 15th century costume, led by figures 

representing the papà del gnoco, winds it way to Piazza del 

Duomo, where steaming gnocchi are served. 

The Carnevale in Ivrea (Torino, Piemonte) is scripted 

and tells a story involving hundreds of people who reenact 

past events. On Saturday evening the miller’s wife 

addresses the public from town hall balcony. On Sunday 

afternoon, Monday and Shrove Tuesday, figures in costume 

parade through the town; then the “Battle of the Oranges,” 

a very colorful feature of the Carnevale is staged. 

February 14 – Valentine's Day – Not as fanatically celebrated 

as in the U.S. but lovers do give flowers and chocolates. 

The people of the Umbrian town of Terni, who claim 

San Valentino as their patron saint, celebrate with religious 

ceremonies and a torchlight parade. 


FEATURE 

Carnevale! 

Feature 

The most famous Carnevale 

celebrations in Italy 


School of Amici, Cincinnati, Ohio 

Ivrea (Turin) 

As per tradition, here Carnivale reaches its climax 

with the spectacular “Battle of the Oranges,” which takes 

place in the streets of the city center. Known throughout 

the world, this battle is reminiscent of a great popular 

uprising that took place in the 12th century and which 

led to the destruction of the Castle citizen. The event 

is presented as a disorderly party game between the 

orange throwers on foot, a symbol of rebellious people, 

The famous "Battle of the Oranges" in Ivrea for Carnevale. 

and those on wagons, symbol of the tyrant's guards. The 

typical garment for the Carnivale of Ivrea is a Phrygian 

cap, the same used during the French Revolution, which 

is essential in protecting yourself from the launch of 

oranges. 

Venice 

Eccentric and mysterious, Venice offers an evocative 

scene, especially during the most colorful time of the 

year. Carnevale in Venice is always eventful. For the 

occasion, hundreds of artists travel in Venice to liven 

Nothing says Carnevale in Italy more than Carnevale in Venice. 

up the party. Characteristic of the Venetian Carnevale 

are the masks and costumes that people wear to walk 

the streets or ride in a gondola in the canals of the city, 

accompanied by a background of classical music that 

plays continuously in Piazza San Marco. The traditional 

masks of the city are the Pantalone and the Columbine. 

Cento (Ferrara) 

Among the oldest celebrations in Italy, the Carnivale 

of Cento has had an international reputation thanks 

to the partnership with the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro. 

The festivities include impressive parades of floats and 

giant papier-mâché works, which can reach a width 

of 6 meters and a length of 20 meters in height. The 

characteristic feature of this carnivale is the "gettito" 

or throwing of gifts: launched to the public from the 

carts in parade is candy, 

chocolates, plush dolls, balloons, 

confetti and gifts 

of all kinds, because “no 

one returns home emptyhanded 

from Cento.” At 

the end of the last day of 

parades a traditional ritual 

is held: the burning of a 

huge Tasi papier-mâché 

mask typical of Cento. 

Viareggio (Lucca) 

When it comes to Carnivale 

it is impossible not to 

mention that of Viareggio, 

one of the most beautiful 

celebrations in Italy, a carnival 

full of history and 

tradition with a strong 

satirical twist. Even the 

Carnevale celebration of 

this year will be a celebration 

in the name of peace, love and solidarity. Starting on 

February 4, the giant papier-mâché floats will parade 

down the main streets and promenade. Among the 

themes of the floats in the parade are national and international 

politics, issues related to citizens' rights and 

freedom of the press. 

Fano (Pesaro) 

The Fano Carnivale is the oldest of Italy, in fact 

the first written records about this festival date back 

to 1347. Legend has it that this Carnivale was created 

to celebrate the reconciliation 

of the two most 

important families of the 

city at the time. Then in 

1450, the first Palio was 

played with horses and 

donkeys at the end of 

which the winner would 

throw spectators sweet 

honey to celebrate. 

Putignano (Bari) 

The tradition of 

Carnevale in Putignano 

dates back to 1394, the 

year of the transfer of 

the relics of St. Stephen 

from a monastery in 

the nearby town of 

Monopoli in the local 

church of St. Maria La 

Greca. The typical mask 

of this carnival is Fari- 

...con't on page 12 


Feature 

A colorful Carnevale in Putignano 

Brunella Barbati Reale 

Minischetti 

contributing writer, Pisa, Italy 

When you think of Carnevale, 

Viareggio, may come to mind with its colorful 

floats and famous parade, or perhaps 

Venice with its elegant forms and traditions. 

But in Italy there is another important 

Carnevale that rivals the other celebrations 

in Viareggio and Venice - the Carnevale of 

Putignano, a town in the province of Bari 

(Puglia). 

The Carnevale of Putignano is one of 

the oldest Carnevale celebrations in Italy. 

Since 2006 the city has also held a summer 

edition, which if anything is more for the 

In my land of Ciociaria (the area just 

south of Rome) every holiday has always 

been characterized by popular events celebrated 

in the square with processions, bands, 

songs and traditional dances such as the 

ubiquitous "saltarello" (literally meaning 

“jumping”) 

Until the late 19th century and even 

the early 20th century, in the towns of 

Ceccano, Morolo, and also Pofi, during the 

Thursday before Lent bullfights took place, 

10 

not very different from the legendary and 

infamous running of the bulls in Pamplona, 

Spain. Every year the city was filled with 

thousands of tourists, who come from all 

over the world to experience the dangerous, 

but extremely fascinating event. Ernest 

Hemingway himself, struck by the frantic 

race to the limits of courage and madness, 

fell completely in love of the Mediterranean 

mood, and wrote his legendary novel 

“Fiesta,” rendering Pamplona very popular. 

The bullfight that would take place in 

Ciociaria was referred to as the “Buffalo 

Hunt.” It was a sort of game rather similar 

to the Spanish ones; in fact, the tradition 

tourists. The mask feature of the event is 

called Farinella and owes its name to the 

dish of Putignano, a mix of roasted barley 

and chickpeas with the addition of salt. 

It seems that the Carnevale of 

Putignano, one of the oldest in Europe, 

traces its beginnings to 1394. In that year, 

the Knights of Malta, who governed the 

territory, decided to move the relics of St. 

Stephen the Martyr, inland from Monopoli, 

a small town near the sea, in the attempt 

to take them away from the attacks of the 

Saracens. Upon the arrival of the relics, 

peasants, left the fields and proceeded 

behind the festive procession and, after the 

religious ceremony, everyone indulged in 

dancing and songs. Some peasants said 

vernacular jokes, while others recited poems 

was linked to the bullfights imported by 

Spanish troops that occupied the area for a 

very long time, influencing the cultural. In 

order to allow the event to unfold, a long 

stretch of the town's most important arterial 

road would be closed, this was the street 

where the buffalo would be released. The 

buffalo would become enraged by groups of 

young daredevils, waving red handkerchiefs 

in the air and probing the animal with long 

sharp poles, providing small wounds, just 

enough to infuriate the animal. 

The buffalo, hurt, scared, and completely 

bewildered by the cries of the crowd excited 

by the show, the buffalo would charge head 

and improvised satires. 

During the Fascist period, the “peasant” 

Carnevale celebration turned into a more 

refined Carnevale for the bourgeois citizen, 

so the parade of floats was born. The floats 

were built by the carpenters of the town, 

who put their expertise at disposal for the 

playful, fun Carnevale. Even today, carpenters 

display their very best forms of art. 

The Carnevale of Putignano boasts to 

be one of longest celebrations. It begins 

on December 26 with a candle exchange 

ceremony, where people give a candle to 

the church to ask for forgiveness of their 

sins that they will commit during Carnevale. 

The festival then continues with recitations 

of rhyming poems in the local dialect, on 

topics like politics and other popular subjects. 

In honor of the event’s original Carnevale 

tradition, the poem performance is 

sung by groups of citizens in peasant clothes 

and carrying hand tools work. But it’s not 

until January 17, the feast of St. Anthony 

the Abate, that Carnevale really takes off in 

full effect. From this date, and until the last 

parade of floats, each day is Carnevale. 

Tradition has it that the Carnevale 

events are dedicated to different categories 

of individuals. For example, every Thursday, 

aims to make a specific social class the protagonist, 

mixed with satire and fun. Social 

classes that are festival favorites are priests, 

nuns, widows, unmarried youth, married 

women and married men. 

The carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, 

with an evening parade and the celebration 

of the funeral of the Carnevale, represented 

as a pig. 

Italian translation on page 30. 

Ancient Shrove Thursday traditions in Ciociaria 

SImona AIuti 

contributing writer, Rome, Italy 

down towards the brave citizens as he would 

run throughout the main street of the town. 

Despite the danger, young boys would run 

alongside the buffalo until exhaustion. At 

the end of “game,” the animal was caught, 

slaughtered and the meat was then distributed 

to the people of the town. 

No one really knows why this sort of 

ritual took place on the Thursday before 

Lent. It was simply tradition. Today, 

although the tradition has been outlawed, 

Carnival in the area of Ciociaria is still celebrated 

with parades, music, and of course 

the traditional folk dance “saltarello.” 



The art of mask making 



Ogni anno turisti da tutto il mondo si trovano a Venezia per 

celebrare il Carnevale. Durante il Carnevale a Venezia ci sono 

delle feste in maschera. Ognuno di queste maschere che vengono 

usate hanno una proprio storia ed un perche'. Le maschere sono 

la Bauta, la Moretta, la Larva, la Colombina e il Medico della 

Peste. 

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Venice to celebrate 

Carnevale the right way. By right way, I’m talking 

about a full ensemble of traditional Venetian costume and 

masks. Masquerade balls are a hot ticket and not everyone 

gets invited. The elite, the VIP, and the lucky ones with 

friends in high places attend these chic, extravaganzas that 

epitomize Carnevale in Venice. Such a shame that my 

invitation will go unused this year. If you do indeed find 

yourself in Venice and just happen to land an invitation to 

one of these swanky soirée, you will want to dress to impress 

with an original Venetian mask. But not just any mask that 

you can buy at one of the million mask boutiques in Venice. 

Be sure to buy a Venetian original--no ‘Made in China’ here! 

Carnevale in Venice was first recorded in 1268 and 

masks had always been a part of the celebration. Actually, 

citizens were allowed to wear masks between December 26 

(St. Stephen’s Day) through Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday 

before Ash Wednesday). When Venice became part of the 

Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy in 1797, the Austrians 

brought a halt to all Carnevale celebrations for two centuries--talk 

about party poopers! Carnevale returned but then 

in the 1930s it was outlawed by the fascist government. It 

wasn’t until the 1980s that Carnevale enjoyed a revival. 

Each year, the Venetian Carnevale celebration is themed, 

this year’s theme is “Vivi i Colori” (Live in Color). Carnevale 

in Venice kicks off about two weeks prior to Ash 

Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday. During that time, 

the city is painted with colorful costumes and decorative 

masks. Authentic Venetian masks are made of papiermache 

or cartapesta. The process begins with a design. 

The design is then sent to a sculptor to create the mold. 

When the mold is ready, it used to create the actual papiermache 

mask. A white stucco coating is then placed over the 

mask. After the stucco is dry comes the fun part of decorating. 

Venetian mask makers or mascherari use a variety of 

mediums to hand decorate their masks. From acrylic paints, 

gold and silver leaf to macrame lace, beads, glitter, natural 

feathers, precious fabrics, real sheet music, tarot cards, crystals, 

semi-precious jewels, you name it, they’ve used it. Of 

course all this hard work and craft comes at a hefty price. 

Masks can run from $20 to $4,000, depending on the decoration 

and size. 

Which 

brings me 

to my next 

point--not 

all masks 

are the 

same. 

There are 

several 

general 

shapes of 

the masks 

which then 

take on 

different 

decorative 

motifs and 

colors. 

Each traditional Venetian mask has a long, meaningful 

history to them as well. 

The Bauta 

The Bauta mask covers the whole face, has a rigid chin 

line, no mouth, and square jawline, which is often pointed 

and tilted upwards, enabling the wearer to talk and eat. 

The Bauta mask was often accompanied by a red cape and 

tricorn. By the 18th century, the mask was worn with a 

black cape called a “Tabarro,” and the mask quickly became 

a regular disguise by Venetian government officials. The 

whole ensemble became even obligatory at decision-making 

events when citizens were asked to act and vote anonymously. 

Moretta 

The Moretta or “Servetta 

Muta” (mute maid 

servant) mask is a strapless 

oval mask with wide 

eyeholes, usually worn by 

noble women. The mask 

is usually finished off with 

a veil and is held in piece 

by the wearer biting down 

on a bit, hence why she 

is "mute", since she cannot 

talk while biting down. The mask isn’t so popular today, but 

was widely worn around 1760. 

Larva 

The Larva, also known as the Volto mask, is a typical 

Venetian mask, worn with a tricorn and cloak. The mask 

itself tends to be white, hence it’s name since larva means 

“mask” or “ghost” in Latin. The shape of the mask allowed 

for easy breathing, drinking and speaking. Since these 

masks were so lightweight and simple to wear, since they 

were crafted out of fine wax cloth, the Larva mask was 

a go-to mask for an evening of socializing, dancing, and 

drinking. 

Colombina 

This highly decorated 

half mask is held up to 

the face by a baton or 

tied with a ribbon. The 

Colombina (also referred 

to as Columbine or 

Columbino) is 

usually decorated 

with 

gold, silver, 

crystals and 

feathers. The 

mask was rendered 

famous 

by an actress 

who performed 

in the 

typical masked 

comedies 

known as the 

Commeddia dell’Arte. She didn’t want her whole beauty 

to be concealed so she would wear this half mask. The 

Columbina is probably the most diffused of the Venetian 

masks. 

Medico della Peste 

Also known as the Plague Doctor, the Medico della 

Peste mask is no doubt the most bizarre mask of them 

all. Characterized by its long, hallow beak, this usually 

white mask debuted on the face of Charles de Lorme, who 

adapted the mask to shield himself while treating plague 

patients in the 17th century. 

The masks which are so elaborately decorated are more 

works of art than just a costume. But they are not the only 

kind of masks worn for Carnevale. Party goers may take 

a bit more of modern approach with their costumes and 

wear costumes more like the ones Americans would wear on 

Halloween, ranging from political figures, to fairytale characters. 

If you don’t have in mind to make a trip to Venice 

for Carnevale, consider hosting a proper masked party at 

your house. Authentic Venetian masks are available to order 

online at rather reasonable prices, no plane ticket necessary. 

Rulli Bros. Market West 

4331 Kirk Road 

Austintown, OH 44511 

Phone: (330) 799-3477 

Serving the Valley Since “1917” 

Feature 


Feature 

Spring 2013 Trend Report 



E' arrivato, finalmente, il momento di pensare gia' alla primavera. Le sfilate di New York, 

Milano, Londra e Parigi erano pieno di idee belle per la prossima stagione. Dal mix classico di 

bianco e nero, i colori forti--dalla testa fino i piedi, pure alle ruches femminili, perfino l'influenza 

del Giappone, insomma, c'era qualcosa per ognuno di noi durante questa stagione. 

As the fashion flock is getting ready to hit up New York, London, Milan and Paris for 

fashion month, it’s a perfect time to talk about the spring 2013 trends that will be flooding a 

store near you. From bold patterns to simple and always classic, black and white, this season 

there is something for everyone. So grab your tall, triple, skinny, soy, no foam, cappuccino, or 

whatever they’re serving at that coffee monstrosity, and enjoy my spring 2013 trend report. 

Black & White 

It seemed that no matter where you looked, the high contrasting colors of black and 

white were everywhere. Back-to-basics bold black and white showed up on the runways 

of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Michael Kors. While Louis Vuitton 

and Marc Jacobs took a more retro 60s approach with optical mod lines graphics, Alexander 

Wang was sure to give simple black and white a more modern and strong twist working with 

leathers, right angles and sheer cutouts. Other designers like Michael Kors and Oscar de la 

Renta stuck to the basic and classic, black and white stripe--vertical and horizontal. 

From L-R: Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs. 

Be Bold 

Pick a color, any color; now wear it from head to toe. Bold monochromatic hues 

like magenta, orange, yellow, green, and cobalt were seen on the catwalks of Gucci, Stella 

McCartney, Fendi, and Etro. 

From L-R: Etro, Fendi, Gucci, Stella McCartney. 

...con't from page 9 

nella, which recalls the image of a "wild card" with multicolored costume and bells on the three 

tips of the hat and shoes. Even the Pugliese city is crossed by parades of floats topped by giant 

papier-mâché characters inspired by the contemporary world, sports, and entertainment. 

Acireale (Catania) 

With its extraordinary spectacle, the Carnevale of Acireale is now known as “the most beautiful 

carnival in Sicily.” Its origins are ancient and date back to the 17th century, when dueling 

12 

Frill You 

Designers got girly this season with rouches and ruffles à gogo. From ruffled hemlines 

at Balenciaga, to rouches sleeves at Gucci and Givenchy, to even flouncy peplums at Marni, 

designers got happy with the ruffle this season. 

From L-R: Givenchy, Gucci, Marni, Balenciaga. 

Caged In 

Fashion houses on both continents embraced the trend of mesh, nets and cages intricately 

worked into the garment. The airy trend of nets was seen at Céline, Giorgio Armani, 

Dior, Versace, and Christopher Kane. While Versace took a more romantic grasp on the 

trend, Armani and Louis Vuitton kept it graphic and symmetrical. 

From L-R: Giorgio Armani, Céline, Dior, Versace. 

Japanimation 

There’s no doubt whatsoever that the Far East influences just about every industry and 

fashion is no exception. Case in point Miuccia Prada paved the way of the Japanese trend 

this season with origami embellished duchesse satin ensembles, while designers like Emilio 

Pucci, Aquilano.Rimondi, and Etro explored a contemporary take on the traditional kimono. 

From L-R: Prada, Emilio Pucci, Aquilano.Rimondi, Etro. 

squads of contenders would throw rotten eggs. In the 19th century a new tradition was introduced 

into the Carnevale of Acireale, the “cassariata,” a parade of horse-drawn carriages reserved 

for nobles, who would throw confetti to spectators. The first parade wagons with papier-mâché 

masks of gigantic dimensions date back to 1880 and in 1930 they made their first appearance in 

floats in parades adorned with flowers, majestic creations made of carnations. 



Mineo brings 

Something New to 

bridal decor 

Eska Bauman Paumier 

Media Department Director, 

Something New Florist and Events 

“Be true to yourself in all that you do, 

use every opportunity that life gives you to 

express you!” This is the advice a bride 

gets during her wedding consultation with 

Joe Mineo of Something New Florist and 

Events. This wisdom rings true coming from 

a nationally-recognized event design expert, 

like Joe. He put it to the test when he 

started his business “Something New” in 

1987. What began as a small flower shop 

in downtown Youngstown, Ohio, Something 

New has grown into a multimillion dollar, 

multifaceted business which celebrated its 

25th anniversary on December 1, 2012. 

The face of the business has changed 

over the years as a result of Joe’s hard work, 

determination and family support. In a successful 

effort to expand the florist shop, Joe 

Joe Mineo 

joined business and creative forces with his 

sister and co-owner Anna Howells in 1997. 

Together, they developed the once small floral 

shop to the incredibly success that is now 

Something New Florist and Events. Something 

New now adds gifts, home decor, bridal 

registry, and special event design to its services. 

Something New has multiple departments 

and works out of a 21,000 square foot 

custom designed building located at 4500 

Boardman Canfield Road in Canfield, Ohio. 

Anna manages the retail store and local florist 

business, while Joe has turned his focus to 

special event décor and design. 

Brides looking to have a “Something 

New wedding” come in up to ten months in 

advance to have a one-on-one consultation 

with Joe. During this meeting Joe gets to 

know the bride and learns about her vision 

for her special day. Joe gathers the information 

he needs during this appointment 

to design a prototype specific to their theme 

and style. The prototype is a fully designed 

tablescape of the centerpieces that Joe has 

imagined for them. This helps the bride to 

make any adjustments prior to the big day. 

Trends in Weddings for 2013 

We see weddings becoming increasingly 

more of an outlet for unique expression of 

the couple’s personalities and story. Personalization 

of every aspect of the wedding 

is a new trend, ranging from creative, oneof-a-kind 

invitations to the favors that are 

the guests’ last impression of the night. As 

well as monograms and logos are now being 

used as a basis for the rest of the décor. 

Similarly, the use of photography and graphic 

images on printed materials are being used in 

new and exciting ways. Graphic bold prints 

are being used entirely throughout reception 

décor, from napkins to table runners to invitations 

and even wedding attire. In addition, 

the return of Old Hollywood at the cinema 

has carried a wave of excitement to the bridal 

industry. The use of art deco trends and Old 

Hollywood glam brings to the table lace elements, 

dropped hemlines and vintage jewelry. 

Technology will also be put into good 

use in the upcoming year. With a limitless 

supply of resources at a bride’s fingertips, 

innovative technology is taking wedding 

décor to a whole new level, from personalized 

details to managing budgets. Social media 

is at its peak, allowing brides and grooms 

to send invitations electronically, stream 

their wedding live and even utilizing apps 

and online tools. Pinterest is a must when 

planning a wedding these days with inspiration 

for everything from cakes to venues 

and especially ideas for the do-it-yourself 

kind of brides. Websites such as The Knot 

are also a good way to seek new vendors that 

would fit wedding day needs. 

Website Review: 

Rent the Runway 



Every girl dreams of a “Cinderella 

moment.” You know when you have to 

go to an extravagant ball and your Fairy 

Godmother appears and whimsically 

presents you with a show-stopping gown. 

Ok, back to reality. Although you’re 

probably not attending a ball, we still have 

events to attend--whether it’s a cocktail 

party, a wedding, or a milestone birthday 

party. But let’s face it, Fairy Godmothers 

don’t exist to help us with a jaw-dropping 

dress. No problem. Look no further than 

“Rent the Runway,” a website dedicated 

solely to that Cinderella moment. The 

website offers hot off the catwalk dresses 

and accessories from 150 designers at 90% 

off the retail price to rent for a few days. 

Love that Alberta Ferretti gown from the 

Spring 2013 collection? It can be yours for 

that Black Tie event you have Friday night. 

The way it works is that you choose a 

dress--they have everything from simple 

little black dresses, to full length gold 

sequin ball gowns. Handbags, jewelry, 

make-up, and underpinnings are available 

as well. If you don’t know what size to 

get in the dress--no problem. Rent the 

Runway lets you choose a second size at 

no extra charge at all. Then Rent the 

Runway sends you your order by 8pm the 

day before your event. They even offer 

same day delivery for New Yorkers and 

next day delivery for all US customers. 

Not to mention, they will never leave you 


citizens living outside Italy’s borders. The 

Center-Right opened that door with the 

expectation those votes would lend to their 

victory in the upcoming election. But that 

door was slammed shut in the Center- 

Right’s face when Prodi’s Center-Left 

L’Unione party eked out a narrow victory 

on the strength of the vote abroad. 

Various attempts have been made to 

restore Italy’s electoral sanity in recent 

years. A group of senators led by Renato 

Turano made a push to revert back to the 

old system, with some improvements. A referendum 

had been called for in May 2008, 

but due to the sudden collapse of the Prodi 

government that spring, the vote was postponed 

to June 21, 2009. Nothing came of 

the referendum, as it was boycotted by the 

ruling parties. The Monti government con- 

R A T I N G 

Navigation: 

 

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Feature 

without a dress. If the dress is completely 

not what you were going for, no worries, 

Rent the Runway will overnight you 

another option. The whole ensemble is 

yours for four or eight days. After the 

event, just place your order back in the 

mail with the pre-addressed envelope and 

there you have it. 

The website is easy to navigate. All 

you have to do is sign up. Then, Rent 

the Runway generates hundreds of 

options that are available on the day of 

your event and in your size. Then, you’re 

just moments away from your Cinderella 

moment--no mice, pumpkin or Fairy 

Godmother required. 

sidered changing the law, but the current 

political crisis ended the impetus. 

Whichever party emerges victorious on 

Feb. 25, job number one had better be real 

and lasting electoral reform. Otherwise, the 

nation is destined to backslide into the 

pigsty of political instability that dominated 

the second half of the 20th century. 




History & Culture 

14 

HISTORY 

CULTURE 

Carnevale! 

Just in time: Discovering an 

Immigrant's Near-Miss Story 

Aliza Giammatteo 


Roots in the Boot 

The traditional word that’s used to describe my 

profession is “genealogist,” but “storyteller” might be 

a more fitting term. When most people think of 

“genealogist” they probably think about tracing a 

family tree. But finding a name in a family tree is 

only one part of the mystery that I aim to solve. It’s 

what’s behind the name--the story--that made our 

ancestors who they were. And their story, in turn, 

helped to make us who we are today. Finding a name 

is exciting, but finding a story is priceless. 

Many of us grew up hearing stories of our Italian 

ancestors. Italians are known to be great storytellers—which 

can be both good and bad from a 

genealogical standpoint. I can think of more than a 

few storytellers in my family who—how should I say 

this?—liked to add a little bit of flair to their stories. 

Maybe you have someone like that in your family too. 

So how do you know which stories are true? And 

what about the stories that we didn’t hear--the ones 

that were forgotten, too painful to recall, or for some 

other reason didn’t find a storyteller? 

Oftentimes, the untold stories are even more 

intriguing than the ones that were told. Over the 

years I’ve had the pleasure of bringing all kinds 

of interesting stories to light, ranging from the 

humorous to the heart-breaking to the inspiring. 

Some are just ‘ordinary’ immigrant tales of courage 

and sacrifice. Others, like the one below, are fit 

for a Hollywood movie— no added flair necessary. 

Whatever the case may be, piece by piece, record by 

record, it all comes together until it finds its home in 

a new storyteller to pass it on to a new generation. 

One particularly moving story that I uncovered 

for a client all began when I found her grandfather’s 

ship record. She knew that he came from Calabria. 

But she didn’t know that he came from a small, 

coastal town called Scilla on the southern tip of 

Calabria, just across the strait from Messina, Sicily. 

And she didn’t know that he arrived in America on 

December 8, 1908. Why are the town and date significant? 

Because on December 28, 1908 Eastern Sicily 

and Southern Calabria were hit by a devastating 

earthquake, magnitude 7.2, which was followed by 

a tsunami with waves up to 40 ft. tall. Coastal 

towns near the epicenter, like Scilla, were flattened. 

Fatalities were estimated at up to 123,000 people 

and some put the number significantly higher. A 

whopping 93% of the structures in Messina were 

destroyed. The event made headlines worldwide, 

much like the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the 

2011 disaster in Japan. To this day, it’s still named the 

deadliest natural disaster in European history. 

This discovery is a perfect illustration of why it’s 

important to document your family history; and why 

it’s just as important, if not more, to put those discoveries 

into historical context. If someone had found 

that ship record and not known what was going on 

at the time and place in history, this incredible nearmiss 

story wouldn’t have been uncovered. 

It takes a little more effort to find the story 

within the records, but it’s well worth it because 

stories can be powerful. Finding one like this can be 

life-changing. It can bring a newfound appreciation 

for our lives and the lives of those who came before 

us. Had her grandfather left just days later, there’s a 

good chance that she wouldn’t be here; and that there 

would be no story. Or at least, there’d be no one to 

tell it. 

When I find stories like this in my searches I’m 

often asked “How did I not hear of this?” That’s 

not something I can answer. But it would be understandable 

if her grandfather did not want to pass 

down this story of how he narrowly missed the worst 

natural disaster that Europe had seen. We may view 

him as having been fortunate now, more than 100 

years later, but having lost relatives to the event, I can 

imagine that he may not have felt quite so lucky at 

the time. 

But one thing’s for sure, his descendants do feel 

lucky now. And they have one heck of a story to tell. 

That’s when I know my job is done. 

Author’s note: Names were not included for family 

privacy and some very minor details have been simplified 

or edited slightly in the interest of clarity or concise 

writing, but not in a way that affected the storyline. 

Aliza Giammatteo is the owner and lead researcher 

at Roots in the Boot, an Italian genealogy firm headquartered 

in Las Vegas, NV. She’s a syndicated columnist 

and feature writer for Italian American publications 

across the US. To learn more about your own 

roots in the Italian “boot”, visit: www.rootsintheboot. 

com, email: info@rootsintheboot.com, or call: 

(646) 255-9565. 

Messina, Sicily after 

the earthquake and 

tsunami in 1908. The 

author discovered 

that her client’s ancestor 

arrived in the 

US just days before 

the disaster struck 

his hometown in Calabria, 

just across the 

strait from Messina. 


New York City tenor to 

perform in Youngstown 

Amanti della musica classica napoletana--preparatevi. Sta per arrivare il tenore Jimmy 

Alleva direttamente da New York City. Alleva fara' uno show la domenica di 3 marzo alla 

Georgetown. Con lui ci sara' il comico Marcantonio. Alleva e' cresciuto nel Queens di New York 

ed ascoltava sempre la musica italiana dai grandi come Roselli, Sergio Franchi e Mario Lanza. 

Infatti, il suo stile e' proprio cosi'. Per biglietti, chiamare 330-757-2779. 

Italian American, Jimmy Alleva will be headlining in Youngstown in March. 

Photo courtesy of www.jimmyalleva.com. 

Ciao Promotions 18th 

Annual Italian Dinner & Show 

on Sunday, March 3, 2013 headlines 

New York City tenor Jimmy 

Alleva and comedian Marcoantonio 

from Brooklyn. The show 

sold out in their 2009 appearance. 

A gifted tenor with a style 

similar to music icons Andrea 

Bocelli, Jimmy Roselli, and Mario 

Lanza, Alleva is a crowd favorite 

in the Midwest and Northeast. 

His latest album titled “Songs 

from the Old Neighborhood” 

feature Italian favorites with 

upbeat musical renditions. 

Alleva was raised in Queens, 

New York and took great pleasure 

in listening to Italian music 

legends Roselli, Sergio Franchi, 

and Lanza. For as long as he 

can remember, every Saturday his 

family would visit their nonno’s 

butcher shop where he and his 

brothers were encouraged to learn 

Neapolitan songs. They were paid five dollars for every Italian song they learned. 

Ciao Promotions Honorees for the Alleva show are Neil Buzzacco and Joe Meranto. 

The show is a fundraiser for St. Anthony’s Church in Brier Hill and will be held at the 

Georgetown, 5945 South Ave., Youngstown, Ohio. Tickets are $45 each and include 

dinner. For more information and for tickets, call 330-757-2779. 

Italian invasion at 

Severance Hall 



Gli italiani sono conosciuti nel mondo per 

tante cose. Dal cibo alla moda, al design, pure 

la musica. Noi a Cleveland siamo fortunati di 

aver un' orchestra conosciuta in tutto il mondo. 

A febbraio due italiani si aggiungerano alla 

orchestra per due performance. Il conduttore 

Gianandrea Noseda di Torino e Massimo La 

Rosa di Palermo porteranno il loro talento 

a Cleveland quando suoneranno Prokofiev's 

Sixth Symphony. 

Paul Sciria 


Italian conductor, Gianandrea Noseda 

of Torino and Italian trombonist, Massimo 

La Rosa of Palermo, will headline with the 

Cleveland Orchestra in February. Noseda 

and La Rosa will be performing Prokofiev’s 

Sixth Symphony. The symphony was 

written as a requiem to the tragedies of 

World War II, exploring the themes of loss, 

conflict and reflection. The concert also 

includes a tone poem by Rachmaninoff and 

a Trombone Concerto by Nina Rota, who 

is best known for her composition of the 

score of the first two Godfather films. The 

performances will take place on Saturday, 

February 9 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 

10 at 3:00pm. For more information, 

call 216-231-1111 or log onto www.clevelandorchestra.com. 

Entertainment 

Malika Ayane, a new 

face of Italian music 

Tony Marotta 

Radio Italia, 91.1FM 

Malika Ayane e' una nuova faccia della 

musica italiana. Nata nel 1984 a Milano 

da una mamma italiana e papa' marocchino, 

Ayane ha mostrato una passione per la musica 

sin da bambina. A soli 11 anni studiava il 

violino in una scuola di prestigio a Milano. 

Faceva pure parte del "Coro di Voci Bianche", 

un coro della Scala di Milano solo per ragazzi 

giovani. Quando per caso ha incontrato 

Caterina Caselli la sua carriera si e' lanciata. 

Italy, like many other countries in 

Western Europe, has been undergoing a 

radical transformation in the makeup of 

its population as foreign immigrants and 

displaced refugees have found throughout 

the Italian peninsula. This trend has had a 

profound effect on many aspects of Italian 

society, including religion, food, sports, 

family and last but not least, music. A 

shining example of this is Italian singer/ 

songwriter Malika Ayane, who was born 

in Milan, on January 31, 1984. She is 

the daughter of an Italian mother and 

Moroccan father. 

Ayane began her musical odyssey at 

age eleven as she was enrolled at the “Conservatorio 

Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan and 

studied violin theory and technique until 

2001. During this time she was also a 

member of the “Coro di Voci Bianche”, a 

children’s ensemble at the world-renowned 

La Scala Theater. She was often times 

selected as the lead or solo vocalist and 

soon became a favorite of the several different 

orchestra directors. Her repertoire 

featured contemporary compositions by 

20th century English composers Benjamin 

Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Her 

instinctive curiosities lead her to experiment 

with other musical genres including 

rhythm and blues, jazz, soul and gospel. 

In 2007, Ayane met legendary singer 

and producer Caterina Caselli who immediately 

recognized her unique singing 

style and signed her to a recording contract. 

Her debut recording “Malika Ayane” 

(2008) featured the writing contributions 

of Giuliano Sangiorgi (founder of 

Negramaro), Pacifico and legendary Italian 

jazz pianist Paolo Conte; who described 

her vocal qualities as “original and 

refreshing.” The album achieved platinum 

status selling over 60,000 copies and paved 

the way for her debut appearance at the 

2009 Sanremo Music Festival where she 

presented the smash hit “Come foglie”; 

which finished in third place in the 

“Giovani” (Newcomers) category. This 

song would find its way on the re-packaged 

version of her first album which yielded 

four hit singles. Later that year, she was 

also invited to participate in both the 

“Domani – Artisti Uniti per l’Abruzzo” and 

“Amiche per l’Abruzzo” productions that 

sought to raise awareness and funds for the 

victims of the April 2009 earthquake in the 

Italian province of L’Aquila. 

Ayane displayed her songwriting skills 

by authoring the songs “Dopo per me” 

for emerging Italian vocalist, and future 

Sanremo champion, Valerio Scanu; as 

he participated in the “Amici” television 

talent show and “Ancora non sai” for 

Welsh classical-crossover soprano Katherine 

Jenkins. Her good fortune continued 

with the release of her second 

album “Grovigli” (2010) which received 

both popular and critical acclaim. Her first 

single “Ricomincio da qui”, was presented 

at the 2010 Sanremo Festival, finished in 

fifth place and was deservedly awarded the 

prestigious “Premio della Critica” (Critic’s 

Choice Award). Her cover version of 

Nicola Di Bari’s “La prima cosa bella” was 

used as the title track in the soundtrack 

of this film which was directed by Paolo 

Virzì. The album sold over 100,000 units, 

was certified multi-platinum and featured 

the vocal talents of Cesare Cremonini and 

Paolo Conte. 

Ayane’s third and most recent 

recording, “Ricreazione” (2012) was the 

first to feature her as the exclusive producer 

and has so far yielded two hit singles 

“Tre cose” and “Il tempo non inganna.” 

Musical collaborations include the writing 

talents of Paolo Conte, Pacifico, Tricarico 

and Sergio Endrigo. She chose to include 

full orchestral accompaniments with her 

songs in order to achieve a new tonality. 

The compositions are very conceptual in 

nature and feature very little over-dubbing 

so as to appear somewhat imperfect in 

sound and style. In the five months since 

its release, the album has been well received 

by both the critics and her legion fans. She 

is also scheduled to participate at the 2013 

Sanremo Music Festival. 


People 

16 

PEOPLE 

Carnevale! 

Remembering: The flats & 

sharps of Larry Salvatore 

Paul Sciria 


On the national scene, Eddie Duchin, 

Carmen Cavellaro, Roger Williams and 

Liberace were headline musical entertainers 

on the piano. Among the ‘superstars’ 

on the Cleveland area scene and master of 

the 88s was Larry (Lorenzo) Salvatore. 

For over 40 years Salvatore ‘tickled the 

ivories.’ Raised in the Lakeview neighborhood 

and a Collinwood High School 

graduate, Salvatore first mastered the accordion 

and then the black and white 

keys. Perfected on the keyboard, Salvatore 

toured Europe, Asia and Greenland with 

the USO with his jazz clique troupe entertaining 

Americans in uniform. 

Following his worldwide tours, Salvatore 

on the local scene joined the very 

popular Gigolos. He portrayed the serious 

part of the skits of the renowned musical 

comedy group. He played the straight role 

supporting the ‘clowning’ antics of Pat 

Buccilli, Teddy Losito, Tony Lopardo and 

Vince Tancredi. “He made us all better 

musicians with huge chord spreads which 

allowed us to improvise renditions of classic 

music,” said Lopardo. Fans came to 

acknowledge the Gigolos as frontrunners 

of the Scintas, a present day successful musical 

comedy team. 

When not performing on area stages, Salvatore partnered 

with Dennis Caretti as realtors in Lyndhurst on 

Mayfield near Richmond Roads. When Caretti passed 

away, Salvatore continued the partners’ namesake that in 

From L-R: Tony Lopardo, Vince Tancredi, Leader, Pat Buccilli, lower right, Larry Salvatore, upper 

right, Ted Losito. 

recent times includes Salvatore’s two sons, Nicholas and 

Lawrence as estimators. 

Salvatore and his wife Angela (Sospirato) were married 

for 40 years and lived in Mayfield Heights. His 

family roots extended to the Calabria region in Italy. 

Larry Salvatore died on January 1, 2013. 

Marra markets his living 

recipe 

Paul Sciria 


John Marra di Mayfield Village crede che lo stress ha creato 

il suo problema di salute. Dopo un check up ha scoperto di avere 

cancro al vescica. Pero' lui si e' rifiutato fare gli interventi e la 

chemeoterapia, per cui ha deciso di prendere in mano la situazione 

e di fare una cura cento per cento naturale. 

John Marra of Mayfield Village believes stress in everyday 

living and work, including his living and eating 

habits created his health issue-high-grade aggressive bladder 

cancer. 

Following a second cystic TURBT procedure a year 

ago in December at the Cleveland Clinic, Marra woke up 

and was told that his new cancerous tumors were larger 

than previously discovered four months earlier. Oncologists 

recommended removal of the bladder, prostate, 

lymph nodes, four feet of small intestines for the rebuilding 

of a neo-bladder. Marra passed on surgery and began 

an extensive self research study in which he decided to 

change his diet radically to an all organic, high alkaline, 

all green vegetables only diet, compounded with a regimen 

of juicing. 

However, Marra believes that food alone can’t give 

cancer and neither can stress alone but together are a catalyst 

to cancer and if both are reversed, can heal cancer. 

Therefore he planned and faithfully followed an alkalizing 

formula of vegetables and water only, taking a teaspoon of 

baking soda everyday and stress elimination by truly living 

his Catholic faith. Today Marra claims to be 100 percent 

cancer free. “It is essential to get rid of all feelings of anger, 

and unforgiveness; let it go,” said Marra. “You have to 

learn to truly live the gospel to be stress free,” added Marra. 

Retired from underground sewer construction and rehab, 

Marra switched to wine distributor and in late October 

opened Marra Market a 2,000 square foot full-service 

grocery store on Som Center Road, south of Wilson Mills 

in Mayfield Village. In an effort to help and educate customers, 

Marra has stocked regular groceries alongside a 

substantial inventory of organic and Italian organic food. 

He reasserts if you’re not stressed out, food can’t harm you. 

Marra claims his new business career is for sharing his 

story and helping others by stocking his shelves with helpful 

health remedies including his made to order “Juice of 

Life.” “Don’t eat when you’re under stress and indulge in 

lots of green vegetables such as celery, broccoli, zucchini, 

kale, and of course vegetable juices.” 

At Marra’s Market, which is open Sunday through 

Saturday, family members share in as the sales team. 

Guided by Marra’s health ‘recipe’ are his wife Nancy and 

four children, John Steven, Victoria, Peter, and Marina. 

The Marra’s trace their family roots to Montecalvo Irpino 

in the Campania region of Italy. 


TRAVEL 

Carnevale! 

Valentine's Day in Verona 

Margie Longano Miklas 


margieinitaly.wordpress.com 

Non c'e' una citta' piu' adatta 

per l'amore che la citta' di Verona. 

Luogo della storia d'amore piu' conosciuta, 

la mitica storia di Romeo e 

Giulietta di William Shakespeare, 

Verona e' il posto migliore per passare 

il giorno degli amanti, il giorno di 

San Valentino. 

When it comes to Valentine's 

Day, the city of Verona 

celebrates for four days and 

in grand style. Known as the 

city of love because of its connection 

to Shakespeare's 

romantic characters Romeo 

and Juliet (Giulietta), Verona 

celebrates Valentine’s Day with 

a weekend of events designated 

“Verona in Love.” This year's 

celebration takes place on February 

14, 15, 16, and 17. 

Local travel agencies 

advertise specials, cleverly 

called proposals, such as the 

“Panorama of Love” which 

includes a one-night hotel stay 

for two, including breakfast and 

a bottle of sparkling wine, two 

admission tickets to Lamberti 

Tower, a wine tasting for two, or 

hot chocolate and pastry for two. 

Another special is the “Weekend 

Love” package which features 

a one-night hotel stay for two, 

including breakfast and a bottle 

of sparkling wine, two meals at 

Maybe you never heard of it. Perhaps you are 

one of the lucky ones to have seen it. Protected by 

mountains like a mother cradling a new born, sits 

the largest natural lake in Abruzzo, Italy. Mountains 

and moss covered rock lend a beautiful backdrop 

of many hues of earth tones and spectacular green 

colored grasses and moss. Centered in the middle 

is a majestic heart-shaped lake that one would have 

to see to describe the absolute beautiful aquamarine 

color of the sparkling clear water. However, there is 

a choice of restaurants, and the 

Verona City card for two days. 

Most of the local hotels offer 

Valentine's Day menus to attract 

couples to Verona for the weekend. 

For those with deeper pockets, the 

Palazzo Victoria Hotel offers an 

exclusive deal for 270 euros per 

person. Yes, that is 540 euros per 

couple, and with the exchange 

rate today that equals $712 for the 

night, but who is counting when 

you are in love? The sweet deal 

includes an upgraded deluxe room 

for two with a special welcome 

Valentine's cocktail complete 

with rose petals and chocolates in 

the room. The hotel provides the 

couple with a carriage ride around 

Verona, a three course romantic 

lunch at the Borsari 36 Restaurant, 

a three course dinner at the Ponte 

Pietra restaurant in the heart of 

Verona, and tickets to Lamberti 

Tower. 

For the Valentine’s Day celebration 

in Verona, Piazza dei 

Signori becomes the center of 

Travel 

activity and the street is painted 

with a huge red heart. All around 

the city center hundreds of illuminated 

red heart-shaped lanterns 

are lit. Free romantic-themed 

concerts take place in Piazza dei 

Signori and a contest is held for 

the most beautiful letter written to 

Juliet. The streets are littered with 

millions of love notes, as lovers 

write them and place them anywhere 

they can find a spot. 

Another famous event during 

this celebration is “The Giulietta 

& Romeo Half Marathon.” Last 

year over 4,300 runners participated 

on this race which winds 

its way throughout the city and 

across Verona's five bridges. At the 

end, the participants run though 

the 1st century B.C. Arena, exiting 

at Piazza Bra. 

Verona in Love even has its 

own official Facebook page. The 

message around Valentine's Day is 

"If you love someone take them to 

Verona." 

A heart-shaped lake and a 

legendary fairytale 

Mary Trinetti Gerhart 


Cleveland, Ohio 

a story, a legend, or perhaps the truth that made the 

shape of this lake. 

Hundreds of years ago, so the story is told, a 

“white witch” (a good witch, one we would call a 

Wiccan today), had several encounters with a 

sorcerer. One day, the witch and sorcerer began to 

wield powers against each other. With a waggle of 

a crooked finger and a snarl of a confident win, the 

sorcerer cast a spell on the witch and sent her into 

the air, plummeting into the earth into an explosion 

of dust and stone. 

In her demise, the heart shaped lake was created. 

Her power was not as strong; however, her legacy 

will live on for infinity in the beautiful Lake Scanno 

that glitters like diamonds when the moon light 

...con't on page 19 


Travel 

Romantica Italia 

Peter D'Attoma 

contributing writer, DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours 

Senz'altro l'Italia e' il paese migliore per gli amanti. Le citta' 

piu' romantiche sono Venezia, Firenze, Capri, Ravello, Lago di 

Como, Taormina, Verona, Spello, e Cinqueterre. Tutte le citta' 

offrono arte, shopping, cultura, alberghi comodi, ristoranti top 

ed ovviamente delle vedute mozzafiato. Non e' una sorpresa che 

queste citta' sono le preferite dagli innamorati. 

When it comes to romanticism there is no other destination 

in the world that quite compares with Italy! It is a 

Mecca for lovers and synonymous to romance. Romance is 

filled in every nook and corner of the Italian peninsula. Its 

very location, with the Alps, Dolomites, lakes and the sea 

surrounding it makes it the top spot in Europe and one of 

the most desirable destinations in the world for romance. 

Take a romantic gondola ride in enchanting Venice, Italy. 

Its picturesque seaside villages, beautiful countryside and 

historical cities are filled with romantic settings, and restaurants. 

From the sensuous sound of water lapping against the 

walls of Venice’s ancient palaces, to the captivating fragrance 

of Sicily’s citrus blossoms, to the charming seaside villages 

of Cinqueterre, Italy is indeed a very special place for lovers. 

Here are the top favorite spots: 

VENICE: There is no question that when you mention 

love and romance, Venice is on the top of the list among 

lovers and honeymooners and the number one choice in 

the world. This floating jewel of Italy is perhaps a perfect 

incarnation of romance. Stroll along its winding canals; lose 

yourself in its narrow streets or enjoy a lovely sunset gondola 

ride for two as you sip champagne and glide through the 

Grand Canal. It has a distinct captivating charm and a 

romantic, timeless tale to tell. Besides the spectacular Piazza 

San Marco and its cathedral, there are many small picturesque 

squares and churches. Venice has many romantic 

restaurants and cafes where you can linger. There is nothing 

quite like sitting in San Marco Square on a lovely evening 

enjoying a cappuccino or espresso at one of its outdoor cafés 

and listening to classical music. 

Not to be missed: For the most beautiful panoramic view 

of Venice be sure to stop to have a drink or a candlelight 

dinner on the rooftop of the Hotel Danieli, one of Venice’s 

most luxurious hotel and truly one of the finest hotels in 

the world. I can assure you that this will be one of the main 

highlights of your visit to Venice! 

FLORENCE: The most popular and most sought after 

destination in the world, Florence is a beautiful Renaissance 

city in the heart of Tuscany. This romantic and charming 

18 

city has it all: great museums, magnificent cathedrals, elegant 

buildings, exquisite shopping -- especially for leather and 

Enjoy a breathtaking view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. 

Capri is the go-to destination for romance in the south of Italy. 

gold – great 

restaurants and 

romantic walks 

along the Arno 

River. 

Not to be 

missed: Take 

your significant 

other up to 

the Piazzale 

Michelangelo 

for a photo of 

the most beautiful 

panoramic 

view over- A view from Villa Rufolo in Ravello, Italy. 

looking the 

entire city of Florence. Stay at my favorite romantic hotel in 

Florence, the luxurious Grand Hotel Villa Cora - a five star 

deluxe mansion dating back to the 19th century. 

CAPRI: The island of Capri is a must-see destination 

for romantics. It has always been one of the most cherished 

places for romantic people visiting Italy. This tiny island 

has spectacular scenery and is surrounded by crystal waters 

that are easily reached from Sorrento or Naples. Once you 

reach Capri, be sure to go up to the main square the Piazza 

Umberto, also known as la piazetta. Sit and watch the 

world go by. The best way to enjoy a romantic twilight is by 

watching the sunset over the Mediterranean, either from a 

hired yacht or while walking along its cliffs. 

After your visit of Capri, take the bus up to the top of 

the island to visit Anacapri. This tiny village is famous for 

its master artisans of handicrafts and very contemporary 

fashion boutiques. The best place to unwind and recharge is 

at the garden of Villa San Michele. Anacapri 

is still the laid-back, rural village that 

it’s always been. The other great attraction 

here is the Seggiovia del Monte Solaro, 

a chairlift that whisks you to the top of 

Monte Solaro in 12 minutes. The views 

from the top are breathtaking -- on a 

clear day you will be able to see the entire 

Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and the 

islands of Ischia and Procida. 

Not to be missed: Be sure to take the 

boat tour to the Grotta Azzura (Blue 

Grotto). This is Capri’s most visited sight 

and a must for lovers. It is a spectacular sea 

cave filled with refracted turquoise light. 

Tickets to the Blue Grotto can be purchased 

at the Grand Marina when you 

arrive. 

RAVELLO: High above the coast east 

of the village of Amalfi and overlooking 

the Mediterranean Sea stands 

Ravello, offering the most 

beautiful views of the Amalfi 

coast. This charming village 

is known for its ravishing 

gardens and stupendous 

views -- the best in the 

world according to one of its 

former residents, Gore Vidal. 

The village hosts the Ravello 

Music Festival between June 

and mid-September, where 

the town transforms into 

a stage. Other events here 

range from orchestral concerts 

and chamber music to 

ballet performances, film 

screenings and various exhibitions 

are held in atmospheric 

outdoor venues, most notably 

the famous overhanging terrace 

in the Villa Rufolo gardens. 

Performances by top Italian 

and international musicians are 

world–class and the village’s 

two venues, Villa Rufolo and 

the Convento di Santa Rosa in 

Conca dei Marini, are unforgettable. 

Ravello also served as the 

inspiration for Richard Wagner’s 

Parsifal musical. Another 

reason to go here is the fact 

that Pompeii, Ercolano and the 

Greek temples of Paestum are 

just a short drive away. 

Not to be missed: Don’t 

miss the Villa Rufolo, which is 

famous for its spectacular gardens and superb views of the 

Amalfi coast. The villa was built in the 13th century for the 

wealthy Rufolo dynasty and was home to several popes, as 

well as King Robert of Anjou. 

Also make sure to visit the Villa Cimbrone, now a luxurious 

hotel. Its gardens, also deemed the most beautiful in 

the world by Gore Vidal, can be best admired from the Belvedere 

of Infinity, an awe inspiring terrace lined with classical 

busts and overlooking the magnificent Amalfi Coast. 

Villa Cimbrone was used by Greta Garbo and her lover, 

Leopold Stokowski, as a secret hideaway. This is a great 

place to have lunch or dinner al fresco. 

LAKE COMO: Lake Como, the most beautiful of all 

the Italian Lakes, is ringed with spectacular villas and resort 

villages and has long been a top romantic travel destination. 


It’s made up of pretty villages, ports villas in exotic gardens, 

which succeed one another along this Pre-Alpine lake. Take 

a day trip to visit the beautiful villages of Bellagio, known 

as the pearl of the lake and the most romantic village. Bel- 

The enchanting Lake Como. 

lagio occupies a magnificent site on a promontory dividing 

Lake Lecco from the southern arm of Lake Como. It has 

a worldwide reputation for friendliness and excellent restaurants. 

Visit the splendid lakeside gardens of the Villa 

Serbelloni. The village of Cernobbio is famous for the Villa 

D’Este, the opulent 16th century residence that has been 

transformed into one of the most luxurious hotels in the 

world. 

Not to be missed: A candlelight dinner on the terrace of 

the Villa D’este. Who knows you may be lucky enough to 

see George Clooney! 

TAORMINA, SICILY: Taormina draws visitors from 

all over the world, attracted by its fantastic location. It 

tumbles down steep cliffs to a clutch of tiny beaches and 

enchanting islets and headlands, while to the southwest 

rises the graceful Mount Etna, a fitting backdrop for the 

town’s lush subtropical vegetation, palm trees and cascading 

bougainvillea. It’s an ideal spot for lovers and a chance to 

unwind and experience its charm and beauty. Walk down the 

main street of Corso Umberto where you will find some of 

the finest designer shops, great restaurants with breathtaking 

views of the Ionion Sea, particularly along the Piazza 9 

Aprile, which forms a terrace with splendid panoramic views 

of the gulf. 


dances over it. Some have even said to have seen a shadow of the white witch dancing 

across the lake as if she’s proudly displaying her masterpiece. 

Beauty is in a card, words, and gestures, and as we take one day to celebrate love, 

we should look around us-beauty is in nature, such as Lake Scanno, and the story 

behind it. Perhaps, Lake Scanno is God’s Valentine’s Day gift to Abruzzo, Italy and 

to all that visit the magical place. True story or not, it is a beautiful, romantic, and 

wondrous place. Happy Valentines Day! 

Not to be missed: The Greek outdoor theatre that dates 

back to the 3rd century BC and was remodeled by the 

Romans who used it as an area for their theatrical performances. 

During the summer months some of the world’s 

greatest artists perform here. 

From the upper tiers there is a 

fantastic view of the coastline and 

Mount Etna. 

VERONA: Verona stands on 

the banks of the Adige against a 

hilly backdrop. It is the 

second most important 

art center in the Veneto 

region after Venice. 

This city is best known 

for the house and 

balcony said to belong to Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and 

Juliet. Romantics from the world over come to Verona to 

visit Juliet’s house. The Roman amphitheatre here is among 

the largest in the Roman world and can accommodate 

25,000 spectators. 

Not to be missed: For a romantic there is nothing quite 

like attending an outdoor opera in this 2,000 year-old openair 

Roman arena. Take a romantic walk with memorable 

views along the river. Verona is often referred to as the 

Florence of the North for its magnificent art. 

SPELLO: If you are looking to fall in love or re-kindle 

your romance, Spello is the town to visit and spend the 

day in. Known as the “Jewel of Umbria,” this picturesque 

little town will captivate you and you will immediately fall 

in love with its charm and warm hospitality. Spello, often 

overlooked by many tourists, is situated between Assisi 

and Perugia. Just when you think you have seen it all along 

comes Spello. The beauty of this town is the proliferation of 

arched stone walkways and thousands of hanging flowerpots 

make this a very special and romantic place to visit, especially 

from May to the end of September when the entire 

town is covered with flowers. 

Not to be missed: Visitors to Spello should be sure to 

experience the festival of L’Infiorata del Corpus Domini, 

which is usually held in June. This is the most beautiful and 

best smelling festival in Spello. It takes place on Corpus 

Domini, the Sunday 60 days after Easter. Streets are lined 

with flower carpets decorated in colorful artistic motifs. 

Go the Saturday 

before when 

these floral 

fantasies are 

being laid out 

and participate 

in the festive 

atmosphere. 

CINQUE- 

TERRE: There 

aren’t enough 

words to 

describe the 

extraordinary 

beauty and 

magical captivating 

charm of 

Cinque Terre, 

five spectacular 

seaside villages 

lying northwest 

of the Gulf of 

La Spezia. Best 

reached by train or boat, Cinque Terre known as the Five 

Lands and is made up of smaller, more intimate towns on 

the Golfo dei Poeti. The coastline is magnificent with cascading 

vineyards and small fishing villages where its people 

remain strongly attached to old customs and tradition. 

Not to be missed: A one kilometer walk with that special 

person in your life along the coastal path of the Via del 

Amore, linking the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola. 

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy and cherish it with those you 

love most. 

A view of Mount Etna from the Greek Amphitheatre in Taormina, Sicily. 

Peter D’Attoma is president of DaVinci Custom Travel & 

Tours. He has over 30 years of planning and designing independent, 

premium custom and escorted tours exclusively of 

Italy for individuals, groups and incentives. For more information 

visit: www.davincicustomtravel.com 

The heart-shaped Lake Scanno in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy. 

Travel 


Food & Wine 

20 

FOOD 

WINE 

Celebrating Carnevale and 

Valentine's Day in the 

cucina. 

Chiacchiere for Carnevale 

These little "rags" (cenci, chiacchere, bugie, frappole, galani, etc) are 

mostly made at Carnevale time. 

Ingredients: 

2 1/2 cups all purpose (plain) flour 

2 eggs 

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

6 tablespoons sugar 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

oil for deep frying 

2 tablespoons powdered sugar for dusting 

Instructions: 

Heap the flour in a mound on a board and make a well in the center. Add eggs, 3 tablespoons oil, sugar and 

baking powder to the well. Mix with your hands, then knead until dough is smooth, soft and elastic. 

Roll dough out into a very thin sheet. Using a fluted pastry wheel, cut it into 1 1/4 x 2 1/2-in strips. Deep fry 

strips in hot oil a few at a time. Drain on paper towels. Arrange on a plate and sift the powdered sugar over 

them before serving. 

Serves 6-8 

Winter produce is 'central' 

to South America 

Paul Sciria 


The Sanson Company anchored in a ‘state of the 

art’ 60,000 square foot building on Croton Avenue in 

Cleveland’s mid-town Northern Ohio Food Terminal 

is 99 years-old and edging toward the 100 mark in 

the wholesale produce business. During this time of 

the year, the ultra-modern refrigerated complex keeps 

scores of employees manning phones, counters, and 

dock areas coordinating deliveries and sales of fruits 

and vegetables arriving mostly from the summerharvest 

period of Central and South America. 

Dave Morella (Muriella), long-time Sanson buyer, 

whose heritage tracks to Caccamo, Sicily, supervises the 

imports and deliveries of the arriving produce. Produce 

from Chile and several southern hemisphere points take 

about two weeks to navigate through the locks of the 

Panama Canal and up along the eastern Atlantic Coast 

to entry ports at Philadelphia and New York. To these 

ports, the Sanson Company dispatches and returns 

refrigerated trucks daily to the Croton Avenue terminal. 

From the warm climate of Chile arrive seedless 

grapes such as, red flame, green thompson and black, 

along with shipments of nectarines, plums, lemons, 

kiwi and cherries. Produce not transported by vessels 

arrive regularly by plane from Miami, Florida. 

Central America is also a major supplier to the 

American marketplace. Guatemala, Costa Rica, 

and Honduras are major producers of pineapples, 

cantaloupes and honeydews. 

Where does much of the credit with original seeding 

and planting begin? The ‘roots’ originated in the 

late 19th century during a time when more Italians 

migrated to South America than North America. 

Between 1880-1920, the stream of Italian immigration 

to Argentina was brought along their farming expertise. 

Texting helps boost pizza 

business 

Paul Sciria 


Owner Walter Miraglia, and his Bada Bing Pizza in 

Chesterland, was recently voted favorite pizza parlor in 

Geauga County. Miraglia used texting as a major tool in 

promoting his business and new Rewards Program. “Texting 

has generated massive business. Though everyone may 

not read emails, everybody does read text messages,” said 

Miraglia “and its generated massive business.” He plans to 

further alert his customer base including his 500 Rewards 

Program enrollees about his upcoming Valentine’s Day 

special—yes, you guessed it, a heart-shaped pizza. 


Beet ravioli stuffed 

with ricotta, goat 

cheese and mint 

Ingredients: 

3/4 cup fresh ricotta cheese (about 6 ounces), drained 30 minutes 

3/4 cup fresh goat cheese (about 5 ounces), room temperature 

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives 

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint, plus small sprigs for garnish 

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 

1/2 recipe fresh beet pasta dough 

Semolina flour or fine cornmeal, for dusting 

2 tablespoons coarse salt 

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling 

6 tablespoons unsalted butter 

Instructions: 

Make the f illing: Stir together cheeses and herbs; season with salt and pepper. 

Make the ravioli: Dust a baking sheet with semolina or cornmeal. Work with each sheet 

of dough just after it's been rolled. Cut sheet in half crosswise, and trim each half to a 

3-inch-wide strip. Space tablespoons of filling 3 1/2 inches apart along center of 1 strip. 

Top with remaining strip, and gently press around filling to seal, working from center out. 

Using a fluted pastry cutter, cut into 3-inch squares. Transfer ravioli to sheet, and cover 

with a kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining pasta dough and filling. (To store, lightly 

dust ravioli with semolina, and refrigerate between layers of parchment in an airtight 

container for up to 4 hours. Alternatively, freeze ravioli in a single layer on a baking sheet, 

about 15 minutes, and then pack as described above; freeze for up to 1 month. Do not 

thaw before cooking.) 

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt and half of the ravioli. Cook, stirring 

occasionally to separate, until edges are just tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted 

spoon, transfer to a colander to drain. Drizzle with oil, and toss gently to coat. Transfer to 

a bowl, and loosely cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining ravioli. 

Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is dark 

golden brown and has a nutty aroma, about 4 minutes. 

Divide ravioli among plates (if first batch has cooled, return them to hot water for 15 

seconds, then drain). Spoon brown butter over ravioli. Serve immediately garnished with 

mint. 

Serves 4 as a main course or 8 as an appetizer 

RECIPE COURTESY OF | MARTHA STEWART 

www.marthastewart.com 

“one-two... 

...I can bend over and tie my shoe.” 

montefiorecare.org 

216-360-9080 

One David N. Myers Parkway 

Beachwood, OH 44122 

After surgery, injury or illness, 

the smallest tasks can sometimes 

seem insurmountable. 

But at Montefiore and The Weils, 

you have an entire team of people 

on your side – doctors, nurses and 

rehab therapy professionals – who 

will help you get back to living 

your life. You’ll get stronger, 

better, ready to go home. 

The latest advances in physical, occupational and speech 

therapies mean the best treatment options, customized just for you. 

Choose either facility and you’ll enjoy personalized care, a 

private room with bathroom, wireless Internet, cozy sitting and 

dining areas. 

Admissions are accepted seven days a week.* 

Montefiore in Beachwood and 

The Weils in Chagrin Falls. 

Two great rehab choices, 

one great reputation. 

If you or a loved one needs 

post-hospital care, call now for 

a personal tour. 

theweils.org 

440-996-0511 

16695 Chillicothe Road 

Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 

*Based on bed availability, medical necessity and admissions practices. 

Food & Wine 


22 

“Our value is in 

the quality of 

our work.” 

216.831.7171 www.cp-advisors.com 

John Troyer 

Partner 

Recipes My Nonna Taught Me 

Filled with meatless recipes for Lent and St. Joseph’s Day 

More than 10,000 copies sold 

A great addition to your cookbook collection 

Special sale price $12.50 

FRANCENA • 125 Boyce Road, Centerville, OH 45458 

937-433-7313 • fslyd@aol.com 

I love spreading word of my Italian Heritage of which 

I'm so proud. 


“three-four... 

...I can stand up and walk to the door.” 

montefiorecare.org 

216-360-9080 

One David N. Myers Parkway 

Beachwood, OH 44122 

After surgery, injury or illness, 

the things you used to do easily 

can sometimes seem next to 

impossible. 

But at Montefiore and The Weils, 

you have an entire team of people 

on your side – doctors, nurses and 

rehab therapy professionals – who 

will help you get back to living 

your life. You’ll get stronger, 

better, ready to go home. 

The latest advances in physical, occupational and speech 

therapies mean the best treatment options, customized just 

for you. 

Choose either facility and you’ll enjoy personalized care, a 

private room with bathroom, wireless Internet, cozy sitting 

and dining areas. 

Admissions are accepted seven days a week.* 

Montefiore in Beachwood and 

The Weils in Chagrin Falls. 

Two great rehab choices, 

one great reputation. 

If you or a loved one needs 

post-hospital care, call now 

for a personal tour. 

theweils.org 

440-996-0511 

16695 Chillicothe Road 

Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 

*Based on bed availability, medical necessity and admissions practices. 

Food & Wine 


Photo Exhibit 

24 


Vita di Paese 

by Marcello Mellino 

A FESTIVE TIME FOR ALL 

Photo Exhibit 

Carnevale--a magical word for Italian children, promising fun, special treats and the yearly chance to 

become somebody else…at least for a day! We used to anxiously wait for the time when “feste in maschera” 

(costume parties) would be organized by our parents and friends, when new and old costumes would be again 

worn around town, at school, in the piazza filled with excitement and with the captivating aromas coming 

from the “pasticcieria” shops. The costumes were usually derived from long established Italian traditions 

going back to century old popular theatrical figures such as Pulcinella, Arlecchino, Gianduia, Pantalone and so 

many others. The “Commedia dell’Arte,” essentially popular theater, often improvised in piazzas and streets 

throughout Italian regions. They usually reflected the character, and the virtues, but mostly the defects of the 

local population. In a country so rich with culture and art, this vernacular expression of events and conflicts then 

became an art by itself, which subsequently spread to other parts of Europe and the rest of the world. 

However my memories go back to a period in time when television was barely available, when the computer 

and the internet were not even a concept… today Italian children are exposed to totally different kind of 

“heroes” and the old costumes have been forgotten, replaced by Superman and Co., various monsters, and other 

often scary costumes! 

During recent trips to Italy I also noticed that adults are now often part of the festivities, wearing masks 

and costumes along with their children, probably an influence of the famous Carnevale of Venice, when the 

town traditionally becomes a continuous open theater for several days, with the participation of everyone 

around! 


26 

Turano seeks 

Italian senate seat 

Chicago-area business executive and community leader 

Renato Turano is campaigning to again represent the Italian 

citizens of North and Central America in the Italian Senate. 

He previously served as senator from 2006 to 2008. 

During their brief tenure, Turano and the other five senators elected 

abroad formed a committee with a dozen other senators from Italy 

to identify the needs of Italian citizens living around the world. 

“We laid the groundwork for sweeping changes during our 20 short 

months in office, and those plans have been gathering dust ever 

since,” he explains. “I’m running again to finish the job we started 

back in 2006.” 

Turano was born in Calabria in 1942 and moved with his family 

to America when he was 15. In 1962, the Turano family bought 

a small bakery in Chicago that Renato and his brothers, Umberto 

and Giancarlo, transformed into one of the largest manufacturers 

of artisan breads in North 

America: the Turano 

Baking Co. 

Turano has been actively 

involved in the Chicago-area 

Italian-American community 

for decades, presiding 

over half a dozen major 

organizations, and being 

honored for his leadership 

and generosity on countless 

occasions. 

Turano has held leadership 

positions on the national 

and international levels 

as well, serving on the 

Assocamerestero, an 

association of 76 Italian 

chambers of commerce around the world, and as consultore/adviser 

to the Region of Calabria, representing the interests of Calabresi in 

North America at annual work conferences in Italy. 

Among his many accomplishments, he 1) co-founded Casa Italia, 

a community center for Italian Americans in the Chicago area; 2) 

helped the Italian American Chamber of Commerce-Midwest win 

official recognition from the Italian government; 3) leveraged funds 

from the Italian government to support economic exchanges between 

Italy and the Midwest, resulting in increased import/export activity; 

4) brought Calabresi organizations from across North America 

together for the first time to work for the common good; and 5) 

helped create a sister-college relationship between the University of 

Wisconsin-Parkside and the University of Calabria. 

Turano’s political platform includes passing legislation to 

make it easier to reclaim Italian citizenship; increasing 

funding to Italian consulates and improving consular services; 

eliminating duplication of effort among Italian government 

offices; increasing funding to Italian language programs on 

the elementary, middle and high school levels; increasing 

cultural programs from Italy and making them more 

accessible to the community; subsidizing newspapers, radio 

shows and television programs that promote Italian culture 

and language; encouraging academic, student and cultural 

exchanges on the university level; facilitating economic 

exchanges, joint ventures and increased trade; and reforming 

the Italian electoral process. 

His accomplishments have earned praise from all quarters. 

“Renato Turano is the ideal candidate to represent the Italians of 

North and Central America,” 

says Giovanni Chieffallo, 

consultore of the Region of 

Calabria representing East 

Canada. “He is admired on 

both sides of the Atlantic, 

he has the same background 

and spirit of many Italians 

living abroad, he has 

decades of experience 

serving on bodies similar to 

the parliament, and he has 

the best interest of his fellow 

Italians at heart.” 

“For most of its history, the 

Italian American Chamber 

of Commerce was a social 

club for Chicago-area 

businessmen,” says Fulvio Calcinardi, executive director of the Italian 

American Chamber of Commerce-Midwest. “Renato Turano helped 

transform it into a truly international organization with strong ties to 

Italy and other chambers around the world.” 

“Renato Turano has had a positive impact on the partnership 

between the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and the University of 

Calabria,” says UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford. “He has the 

enthusiasm and skills needed to bring people together and accomplish 

great things.” 

With all that he has accomplished, Turano is most proud of 

and thankful for his family. He has worked for 50 years with 

his two brothers, whom he considers his best friends, and he 

cherishes his relationship with his wife of 47 years, his three 

children and his nine grandchildren. 

For more information, visit www.renatoturano.com. 


Vote 

for 

Renato Turano 

Your voice in the Italian Senate 

Experience and competence in service to the community. 

“Italy must embrace a brighter future for all of its citizens, 

young and old. If I am elected senator, I promise to be the 

voice of my constituents in North and Central in the Italian 

Senate, and to help create that brighter future.” 

- Renato Turano, Candidate for the Italian Senate 

All eligible voters should receive ballots in the mail from their local Italian consulate by Feb. 6. Please mark 

the Partito Democratico logo with an X, write in Renato Turano for Senate, and mail the ballot back as soon as 

possible. All completed ballots must be received by the local consulate no later than 4 p.m. on Feb. 21. 

For more information, visit www.renatoturano.com. 


Lingua Italiana 

28 

SEZIONE IN 

LINGUA 

ITALIANA 

Notizie dell'Italia 

L’ex primo ministro Silvio 

Berlusconi, non si candiderà per 

un quarto mandato. Berlusconi, 

leader del partito PdL (Partito 

Democratico di centro destra) 

sembra si sia unito ed impegnato 

a questi termini con la coalizione 

alleata. Il gruppo non esclude che 

Berlusconi possa diventare il ministro 

dell’economia se la coalizione, 

la Lega Nord ed il PdL vincerà 

abbastanza posti nelle prossime 

elezioni parlamentari verso la fine 

del mese. Berlusconi ed il suo 

partito sono avanti nei sondaggi 

mentre Mario Monti che ha rinforzato 

Berlusconi nel novembre 

2011 è terzo nei sondaggi. Il suo 

sostegno viene da gruppi politici 

più piccoli. 

------------------------------- 

Il tasso di disoccupazione 

dell’Italia del più dell’11% è un 

argomento cruciale nella campagna 

elettorale. Il primo ministro 

Monti ha subito un colpo 

maggiore per come ha gestito il 

debito e la crisi del lavoro mentre 

la nazione lotta per uscire dalla 

profonda recessione dal 2011. Il 

tasso di impiego dei giovani 

dell’età 15-24 è di più del 37%, il 

livello più alto in più di 20 anni. 

I giovani tendono ad essere posti 

con salari da temporanei o precari 

invece che a tempo pieno. La 

recessione è stata ancora più evidente 

nel campo dell’industria 

e della costruzione. Gli analisti 

credono che l’Italia abbia bisogno 

di incominciare il mercato del 

lavoro e la sfida reale è tra le 

donne, i giovani e gli anziani. 

------------------------------- 

Le informazioni dall’Istat 

(Istituto Nazionale di Statistica), 

revelano che gli uomini italiani 

hanno perduto più di 740.000 

posti di lavoro negli ultimi 

5 anni. Uno studio recente 

rivela che leggermente più di 

13 milioni di uomini stanno 

ora lavorando, una percentuale 

inferiore dal 70% al 66%. 

D’altronde, c’è un aumento 

di più di 200.000 donne nel 

periodo di cinque anni. 

--------------------------- 

---- 

La Chiesa Cattolica in 

un recente programma Radio 

Vaticano favorisce i combiamenti 

legislativi che danno il 

diritto alla piena cittadinanza 

ai figli nati in Italia da genitori 

immigrati. La Chiesa 

ha riportato che una percentuale 

significante dei residenti 

italiani sono immigrati 

e crede che la coesione sociale e la 

crescita della democrazia verrano 

attraverso i cambiamenti legislativi. 

La legge corrente italiana 

detta che solo i figli di cittadini 

italiani possono automaticamente 

diventare cittadini, mentre quelli 

nati su territorio italiano da genitori 

non italiani possono essere 

eligibili al loro 18mo compleanno. 

------------------------------- 

La morte e le tasse sono le due 

solo cose garantite nella vita ed 

un gran numero di italiani apparentemente 

stanno cercando di 

battere le probabilità non pagando 

le tasse. L’anno scorso ci sono stati 

ben 285 miliardi di euro di tasse 

non pagate. L’ufficio fiscale ha 

elaborato un sistema per valutare 

le entrate studiando le spese personali. 

Loro credono che i dati 

possono suggerire quanto oneste 

sono le persone nel pagare le 

tasse. Il sistema mette in evidenza 

quando le entrate dichiarate 

non si abbinano con le spese del 

più del 20%. La maggior parte 

degli italiani hanno accolto questo 

metodo di ricerca degli evasori 

fiscali. Pertanto, altri suggeriscono 

che le autorità guarderanno di 

impoverire i pensionati e le casalinghe 

piuttosto che andare in cerca 

degli evasori abituali. 

------------------------------- 

C’è stato un ritrovamento di 

sculture durante gli scavi in una 

villa a Ciampino, un sobborgo 

di Roma. I ritrovamenti datano 

dal 1mo secolo e rivelano il mito 

di una donna cambiata in pietra 

perchè si vantava per la sua fertilità. 

A causa del suo orgoglio, 

Niobe nella mitologia antica greca 

perse tutti i suoi 14 figli. La villa 

era in possesso di Marcus Cor- 

vinus, un generale romano, un 

patrono del poeta Ovidio. 

------------------------------- 

Le rovine della piazza Largo 

di Torre Argentina a Roma è 

veramente un miao di gatti. In 

questa piazza nel cuore di Roma 

dove Giulio Cesare è stato pugnalato 

alle spalle, un gruppo di 

politici vogliono chiudere questo 

santuario dove vivono centinaia 

di gatti, nove vite o no. Una 

colonia di felini vivono in questo 

rifugio a forma di cava sotto il 

livello stradale e sono badati da 

dedicati volontari. I politici che 

si lamentano vogliono sfrattare gli 

animali da fusa ma gli amanti dei 

gatti stanno miagolando contro 

la chiusura del rifugio. L’Italia 

ha una politica di non uccidere i 

gatti randaggi ed ha controllato la 

popolazione sterilizzando e vaccinando 

le piaghe negli anni. 

------------------------------- 

In una ceremonia durata 

l’intera giornata, i sopravissuti e 

i parenti delle 32 vittime hanno 

commemorato il primo anniversario 

(13 gennaio) del naufragio 

mortale della Costa Concordia. 

Una placca con i nomi di quelli 

che hanno perso la loro vita nelle 

acque dell’Isola di Giglio, è stata 

affissata ad una parte della roccia 

che ha fatto il taglio profondo 

nella nave. I parenti delle vittime 

hanno gettato fiori nel mare 

durante la cerimonia. Durante la 

trasmissione sulla RAI, il capitano 

Francesco Schettino, che è colpevole 

del naufragio, ha dato la 

colpa agli altri. In un’intervista, 

Schettino ha espresso e condiviso 

il suo dolore per le vittime e le loro 

famiglie. 

------------------------------- 

18th Annual Spring Italian Dinner Show 

“Italians promoting Italians” 

Marcantonio 

Opening act comic 

Singing & Storytelling 

Joe Naples 

Emcee 

Jimmy Alleva 

Portion of Proceeds 

Benefit St. Anthony 

Parish 

Jimmy’s Romantic Neapolitan style singing 

reminder of Jimmy Roselli, Sergio Franchi & 

Mario Lanza - ‘O Sole Mio, etc. 

Sunday, March 3, 2013, 4:00PM 

The Georgetown, 5945 South Ave. Youngstown, OH 

DINNER & SHOW $45 

*Senior & Group of 8: $42 *Cash Bar 

Tables of 8 reserved, other seating assigned. 

Doors open 4:00, Dinner 4:15, Showtime 5:30 

Checks payable to Ciao Promotions 

35 W. McKinley Way, Poland, OH 44514 

(330) 757-2779, email: italia5231@aol.com 


I pi famosi 

Carnevali in Italia 


collaboratore, School Amici, 

Cincinnati, Ohio 

Ivrea (Torino) 

Come da tradizione, qui il Carnevale 

tocca il culmine con la spettacolare 

"Battaglia delle Arance", che si 

svolge nelle piazze del centro cittadino. 

Conosciuta in tutto il mondo, questa 

battaglia ricorda una grande rivolta 

popolare che ebbe luogo nel XII secolo 

e che portò alla distruzione del Castello 

cittadino. La manifestazione si presenta 

come un tumultuoso gioco delle parti tra 

gli aranceri a piedi, simbolo del popolo 

ribelle, e quelli sui carri, simbolo delle 

guardie del tiranno. Indumento tipico e 

obbligatorio del Carnevale di Ivrea è il 

berretto frigio, lo stesso in uso durante la 

rivoluzione francese, indispensabile per 

proteggersi dal lancio delle arance. 

Venezia 

Terra stravagante e misteriosa, 

Venezia offre un suggestivo scenario 

soprattutto nel periodo più variopinto 

dell'anno. Il carnevale è sempre ricco 

di eventi. Per l’occasione giungono a 

Venezia centinaia d’artisti ad animare la 

festa. Caratteristiche sono le maschere ed 

i costumi che la gente indossa per passeggiare 

nelle strade o andare in gondola nei 

canali della città, accompagnati da un 

sottofondo di musica classica che suona 

continuamente a Piazza San Marco. Le 

maschere tradizionali della città sono 

Pantalone e Colombina. 

Cento (Ferrara) 

Tra i più antichi d’Italia, il Carnevale 

di Cento ha ormai una fama internazionale 

grazie anche al gemellaggio con 

il Carnevale di Rio de Janeiro. I festeggiamenti 

prevedono suggestive sfilate 

di carri allegorici, enormi opere di cartapesta, 

che possono raggiungere una 

larghezza di 6 metri e una lunghezza e 

altezza anche di 20 metri. Nota caratteristica 

di questo Carnevale è il "gettito" 

o lancio di regali: il pubblico riceve dai 

carri in parata caramelle, cioccolatini, 

pupazzi di peluche, palloni, coriandoli e 

regali di ogni genere, perché "nessuno 

torni a casa da Cento a mani vuote!". Al 

termine dell'ultima giornata di sfilate si 

svolge un tradizionale rito: il rogo di un 

enorme Tasi in cartapesta, la maschera 

tipica di Cento. 

Viareggio (Lucca) 

Quando si parla di Carnevale non 

si può non citare quello di Viareggio, 

uno dei più belli d'Italia, un Carnevale 

ricco di storia e tradizioni e dalla forte 

vocazione satirica. Anche quella di 

quest’anno sarà una festa all’insegna della 

pace, dell’amore e della solidarietà. Dal 

4 febbraio protagonisti indiscussi delle 

spettacolari parate saranno ancora una 

volta i giganti di cartapesta che sfileranno 

a bordo di carri, sulla passeggiata 

del lungomare. Tra i temi affrontati 

dai costruttori, la politica nazionale e 

internazionale, i temi di attualità legati 

ai diritti dei cittadini e alla libertà di 

stampa. 

Fano (Pesaro) 

Il Carnevale di Fano è il più antico 

d'Italia: le prime attestazioni scritte relative 

a questa festa risalgono al lontano 

1347. La leggenda narra che questo Carnevale 

sia nato per celebrare la riconciliazione 

delle due più importanti famiglie 

cittadine di allora. Risale invece al 1450 il 

primo Palio disputato con cavalli ed asini 

al termine del quale il vincitore, per festeggiare, 

lanciava agli spettatori dei dolci 

al miele. 

Putignano (Bari) 

La tradizione fa risalire il Carnevale 

di Putignano al 1394, anno della 

traslazione delle reliquie di santo Stefano 

da un monastero della vicina città di 

Monopoli nella locale chiesa di S. 

Maria La Greca. La maschera tipica di 

questo Carnevale è Farinella, che ricorda 

l'immagine di un "jolly" con abito a 

toppe multicolori e sonagli sulle tre punte 

del cappello e sulle scarpe. Anche la città 

pugliese è attraversata da sfilate di carri 

allegorici sormontati da giganti di cartapesta 

ispirati a personaggi del mondo 

contemporaneo, dello sport, dello spettacolo, 

etc… 

Acireale (Catania) 

Con la sua straordinaria spettacolarità, 

quello di Acireale è ormai conosciuto 

come "il più bel carnevale di 

Sicilia". Le sue origini sono antichissime 

e risalgono al XVII secolo, quando squadroni 

di contendenti duellavano lanciandosi 

uova marce. Nell'Ottocento viene 

introdotta nella tradizione carnevalesca 

di Acireale la "cassariata", una sfilata di 

carrozze trainate da cavalli riservate ai 

nobili, che lanciavano confetti agli spettatori. 

Risalgono al 1880 le prime sfilate 

di i carri con maschere di cartapesta dalle 

gigantesche dimensioni mentre nel 1930 

fanno la loro prima comparsa le sfilate 

dei carri infiorati, maestose "costruzioni" 

realizzate con i garofani. 

Lingua Italiana 

Antiche tradizioni del 

gioved grasso in 

Ciociaria 

Simona Aiuti 

collaboratrice, Roma, Italia 

Nella nostra terra di Ciociaria ogni festività 

ha sempre avuto la caratteristica d’essere festeggiata 

con manifestazioni popolari vissute in 

piazza tra processioni, bande, canti e balli tradizionali 

come l’immancabile “saltarello.” 

Fino alla fine dell’ottocento e anche agli 

inizi del novecento, nei paesi di Ceccano, 

Morolo, e anche a Pofi, durante il giovedì 

grasso venivano organizzate delle vere e proprie 

corride popolari non molto dissimili dalla 

mitica e famigerata corsa dei tori di Pamplona, 

Spagna città che ogni anno si riempie 

di migliaia di turisti, i quali da ogni parte del 

mondo arrivano per vivere il pericolosissimo, 

ma estremamente affascinante spettacolo! Lo 

stesso Hemingway, colpito dalla corsa sfrenata 

ai limiti tra il coraggio e la follia, nella quale 

si calò completamente alla ricerca di umori 

mediterranei, scrisse il suo mitico romanzo 

“Fiesta”, regalando a Pamplona un altro pizzico 

di leggenda. 

La nostra manifestazione Ciociara, si 

chiamava invece: "Caccia alla Bufala." Si tratta 

di una sorta di giostra del tutto simile a quelle 

ispaniche, infatti tale tradizione è legata alle 

corride importate dalle truppe spagnole, che per 

moltissimo tempo presidiarono la zona influenzandola 

culturalmente. 

Per consentire lo svolgersi della manifestazione, 

un lungo tratto dell’arteria più 

importante del paese veniva chiusa e vi si trasportava 

una bufala, che veniva letteralmente 

imbestialita da gruppi di ragazzi temerari, che 

agitavano in aria fazzoletti rossi e che pungolavano 

l’animale con lunghe pertiche acuminate, 

procurando delle ferite superficiali, sufficienti a 

far infuriare la bestia. 

La bufala, ferita, spaventata, completamente 

disorientata dalle grida della folla esaltata dallo 

spettacolo e impaziente di vedere compiersi il 

rito, e soprattutto aizzata dagli abili giostratori, 

con ripetute cariche a capo basso, si scagliava 

contro questi ultimi, che cercavano scampo 

dalle incornate, arrampicandosi sulle palizzate 

tirate su lungo il percorso. 

Quando infine la bestia infuriata e ferita 

stava per raggiungerli, veniva distratta da altri 

giostrai usando sempre lo stesso rituale. 

Sprezzanti del pericolo, i ragazzi affiancando 

talvolta la bufala, correvano lungo la via 

più volte, fino allo sfinimento. Alla fine della 

"giostra", l’animale veniva abbattuto e la carne 

data al popolo. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 


Lingua Italiana & Kids Corner 

Il Carnevale di 

Putignano 

Brunella Barbati Reale 

Minischetti 

collaboratrice, Pisa, Italia 

Quando si pensa al Carnevale in 

Italia vengono subito in mente Viareggio 

con i suoi allegri carri allegorici che 

sfilano sul Lungomare della città e 

Venezia con le sue raffinate maschere 

e tradizioni. Ma in Italia c'è un altro 

importante Carnevale che non ha niente 

da invidiare alle due più famose città 

del centro e del nord: è il carnevale di 

Putignano, cittadina in provincia di Bari. 

Il Carnevale di Putignano è uno dei 

più antichi d' Italia. Dal 2006 ha luogo 

anche una edizione estiva che ha più che 

altro valore turistico. La maschera caratteristica 

della manifestazione è chiamata 

Farinella e deve il suo nome all'omonima 

pietanza di Putignano, uno sfarinato di 

ceci e orzo tostati con l'aggiunta di sale. 

Sembra che il Carnevale di 

Putignano sia addirittura uno dei più 

antichi d'Europa, la tradizione ne fa 

risalire le origini al 1394. In quell'anno, 

i Cavalieri di Malta, che detenevano 

il governo del territorio, decisero di 

trasferire nell'entroterra le reliquie 

di Santo Stefano martire, conservate a 

Monopoli, una cittadina vicino il mare, 

nel tentativo di metterle al riparo dagli 

attacchi dei Saraceni. All'arrivo delle 

reliquie, i contadini, in quel momento 

impegnati nell'innesto della vite (ancor 

oggi una delle attività agricole tipiche del 

territorio), lasciarono i campi e si accodarono 

festanti alla processione e, dopo 

la cerimonia religiosa, si abbandonarono 

a balli e canti. Ci furono poi alcuni che 

recitarono in vernacolo scherzi, versi e 

satire improvvisati. Secondo gli storici, 

nascevano in quel momento le “Propaggini”, 

ancora oggi cuore della tradizione 

carnevalesca locale. 

30 

HURRY! Save 

$500.00 thru 

March 1 

È solo con l'epoca fascista che il carnevale 

contadino si trasformerà in un più 

raffinato carnevale borghese e cittadino: 

nascerà così la sfilata di carri allegorici in 

parata, costruiti dai falegnami del luogo 

che misero le loro competenze a disposizione 

del ludico spasso carnevalesco. 

Oggi si può parlare di vera e propria 

forma di arte. 

Il Carnevale di Putignano è uno dei 

più lunghi per durata. Comincia infatti 

il 26 dicembre con la cerimonia dello 

scambio del cero, cerimonia in cui la 

gente dona un cero alla chiesa, per 

chiedere perdono dei peccati che si commetteranno 

durante il Carnevale. Continua 

poi la sera con le Propaggini. La 

festa delle Propaggini consiste nella recita 

di versetti in rima nel dialetto locale: i 

componimenti prendono in giro i potenti 

del paese e vertono sugli argomenti più 

sentiti dell'anno appena trascorso. In 

ricordo dell'evento che la tradizione vuole 

all'origine del carnevale, l'esposizione 

cantata dei versi viene tenuta da gruppi 

di cittadini in abiti da contadino e 

recando in mano arnesi da lavoro. Ma 

è a partire dal 17 gennaio, con la festa 

di Sant´Antonio Abate, che il Carnevale 

entra nel vivo. Da questa data, e fino 

all' ultima sfilata dei carri allegorici, si 

susseguono i Giovedì del Carnevale. Tradizione 

vuole che tali appuntamenti siano 

dedicati a diverse categorie di individui. 

Ogni giovedì, infatti, punta a rendere 

protagonista uno specifico strato sociale, 

con una vena mista di satira e puro divertimento. 

C´è quello dei monsignori, dei 

preti, delle monache, delle vedove, dei 

pazzi (i giovani non ancora sposati), delle 

donne sposate e dei cornuti (gli uomini 

sposati). Il tutto arricchito da sagre, spettacoli, 

musica e distrazioni. 

Il carnevale si conclude il martedì 

grasso, con una sfilata serale e con la 

celebrazione del funerale del Carnevale, 

rappresentato come un maiale. 

Gates Mills Club 

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Surprisingly Affordable 

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Delicious Meals/Housekeeping 

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Moda (fashion) 

Di moda (fasionable) 

Sfilata di moda (fashion show) 

Passerella (runway) 

Stilista (designer) 

Modello (male model) 

Modella (female model) 

Elegante (elegant) 

Vestito (dress) 

Abito (suit) 

Gonna (skirt) 

Homework /Compito 

Learn Italian - Speak Italian 

Find the Italian word in the puzzle 

Nonna 

Italian sayings and proverbs are among the richest 

sources of our tradition and heritage and we can thank 

and remember Nonna for her wisdom. 

Ho scritto una storia d’amore 

senza inizio e senza fine….per 

scriverla con te. 

I have written a love story without 

a beginning or ending...so that we 

may write it together. 

Il colpo di fulmine è la cosa che 

fa guadagnare più tempo. 

Love at first sight is something that 

lets you waste no time. 

L’amore ha fatto diventare gli 

uomini savi, pazzi; gli uomini 

dotti, ignoranti; gli uomini 

forti, deboli. 

Love has made wise men become 

fools, learned men ignorant, strong 

men weak. 

Chi ama assai, parla poco. 

He who loves much, speaks little. 

Scarpa (shoe) 

Tacco (heel) 

Guanti (gloves) 

Giacca (jacket) 

Cappotto (coat) 

Collana (necklace) 

Gioielli (jewelry) 

Cappello (hat) 

Borsa (purse) 

Amore (love) 

Romantico (romance) 

Cartolina di San Valentino (Valentine 

card) 

Martedi Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) 

La Quaresima (Lent) 

Venezia (Venice) 

Carnevale (Carnival) 

Maschera (mask) 

Ballo in maschera (Costume Ball) 

L’amore regge il suo regno senza 

la spada. 

Love rules his kingdom without a 

sword. 

L’amore vero non diventa mai 

canuto. 

True love never becomes old. 

Se ne vanno gli amori e restano i 

dolori. 

Love goes away but heartaches stay. 

Quando la fame entra dalla 

porta, l’amore esce dalla finestra. 

When hunger (poverty) comes in the 

door, love creeps out the window. 


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MAKE IT YOUR 

SPACE. 

Convenient to Lake and 

Cuyahoga Counties. 

Just off I-90 Exit 186 

www.euclidstorage.com 

216-289-9009 

55 PUBLIC SQUARE • SUITE 1950 

CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 • 216/621-8484 

Servicing All the Needs 

of the Closely Held Business 

Business Organization • Strategic Planning 

Commercial Litigation • Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning 

Protecting the Rights of Individuals 

John R. Climaco 

Thomas J. Tarantino 

Personal Injury • Negligence • Malpractice 

Criminal Matters 

Want To Buy 

C A L L 

MICHAEL 

I buy all 

Antiques & Collectibles, 

Jewelry 

Men's Watches 

I make house calls! 

John A. Peca 

440-461-4611 

Buying anything 

unusual! 

Classified 

TOURS to ITALY 

June: Alpine Tour (North Italy, 

Austria, Germany, Switzerland) 

July: South Italy (Sicily, Calabria, etc.) 

October: Best of Italy, including 

Abruzzo 

Call: 1-800-829-2201, 

email:italiantours@aol.com 

www.italianheritagetours.com 

Customized tours for clubs, churches, family or seniors are also our 

specialty. 


Club Newsletters 

President 

32 

Club Officers 

Sergio DiFranco 

Vice President Mario Ferrito 

Treasurer Dave Melaragno 

Secretary Michael Frabotta 

Sergeant at Arms Victor Melaragno 

Board of Directors 

Robert Campellone 

Aldino DiFranco 

Eugene DiFranco 

Wayne Farinacci 

Valerio Frabotta 

Anthony Ianiro 

Joe Pilla 

Up Coming Events 

1 Day Cornhole Tournament 

February 23rd 

Love cornhole? Members 1st then 

open to public. Sign up sheet in 

lobby. Cash Prize! 

Contact Flavio DiFranco for details. 

216 346-4800 

Mauro Frate Memorial Bocce 

Tournament 

March 8th-10th 

Open to the public! 

4-5 person teams $150/team 

Food & entertainment all weekend. 

Guaranteed grand prize for top 6 places. 

More details to follow in March issue. 

Deadline March 1st (tentative) 

For more information contact: 

Michael Frabotta - 440 785-6158 

Sergio DiFranco - 440 487-2295 

General Meeting Dates 

All Meetings Are Held at Club Molisani 

February 19th 

March 19th - Shareholder Only 

April 16th 

Play Bocce! 

29101 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe Ohio 44092 - www.clubmolisani.com 

2013 Calender of Events 

All Events Are Confirmed 

January 19th - Club Molisani Tripe Dinner 

February 3rd - Club Molisani Super Bowl Party 

February 23rd - 1 Day Cornhole Tournament 

March 8th - 10th - Mauro Frate Memorial Bocce Tourn. 

March 22nd - A Night on the Town - Motown 

April 13th - Club Molisani Pasta Dinner 

April 27th - Club Molisani Trap Shoot 

June 7th - Club Molisani Annual Golf Outing 

August 9th-11th - Marshall Superstore CICC of Bocce Tourn. 

September 21st - Club Molisani Italian Clambake Classic 

October 18th-20th - Club Molisani Fall Classic Bocce Tourn. 

October 26th - Kids Halloween Party 

November 16th - Homemade Wine Competition 

December 14th - Club Molisani Christmas Party 

1st Annual Tripe Dinner a 

Complete Success! 

On January 19th, club members Vic and Nina 

Melaragno, treated members and their guest’s to a 

fantastic tripe dinner at Club Molisani. Nina’s 

family tripe recipe didn’t disappoint the packed 

house of 180 plus, and was a great beginning of 

what we expect to be an annual event. The 

evening included 2 pasta dishes, chicken, corn, 

pizza’s, pastries and more. 

Guests were able to enjoy an evening playing 

bocce on Club Molisani’s indoor synthetic courts. 

Next year we expect to accommodate a larger 

crowd as the upper rooms of the club are being 

remodeled. We were also entertained by several 

members who brought their instruments and 

played some traditional Italian music we’re so 

accustom to hearing from the old country. 

Vic and Nina would like to acknowledge those who 

gave their time to help prepare the evenings event. 

They would like to thank Elena DiFranco, Lucia 

Montoni, Carmella Catellano, Paula DiFranco, 

Anna DiFranco, Maria DiFranco (Amedeo & 

Daniele) Lucy Patriarca, Judy Garris, Anne 

Farinacci, and Adelio DiFranco (KFC). If we forgot 

anyone we want to apologize and thank you for 

your help. We don’t want to forget to thank those in 

charge, Vic and Nina Melaragno. Thank you. 

Complements for the event were overwhelming 

and deserving. 

Nina Melaragno stirring a big pot of tripe! 

February 2013 

Construction of the Upper Rooms Begins! 

At the end of 2012, the board of directors approved 

the renovation of the 2 upper rooms of Club 

Molisani. Among the projects taken on are the 

replacement of the ceiling, floor and bar area. The 

upper rooms ultimately will look similar to the main 

hall area including the bar. The walls in the upper 

rooms will also be refinished and the current 

moldings will be replace. While there are 2 existing 

restrooms, 1 will be renovated and the other be 

turned in to a storage area. The supervisors of the 

project are Mario Ferritto & Vic Melaragno. 

Construction of the upper rooms began immediately after the tripe 

dinner. Above - The bar in the upper room gets a face lift and storage 

room. 


Casa Italia Foundation 

5200 West 130th Street - Brook Park, Ohio 44142 

(216) 362-1230 – Fax (216) 676-5516 

To promote Italian and American Culture 


In 1989, a small group of Italian-Americans desiring to preserve and perpetuate their Italian heritage formed 

the Casa Italia Foundation. On May 20, 1990, they registered with the State of Ohio as a non-profit organization. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

CLUB OFFICERS: 

Josephine Palumbo – President 

Margaret Montemarano – Vice President 

Elaine Buccieri – Secretary 

Carmelina Di Fiore – Treasurer 

February 6th - Valentine's Day & Carnevale dessert buffet 

March 6th - St. Joseph table/Potluck supper 

BUON COMPLEANNO! 

Jan 1 - Dora LoPiccolo 

Jan 4 - Lorenzo Ciavarella 

Jan 4 - Pina Russo 

Jan 5 - Angela Pietraroia 

Jan 5 - Charles Salvo 

Jan 15 - Claudio Gagliardi 

Jan 28 - Josephine Palumbo 

Feb 6 - Bionda Pietraroia 

Feb 8 - Yolanda CapoBianco 

Feb 15 - Lucy Zindroski 

Feb 26 - Bob Altieri 

ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES 

RESUME IN THE BEGINNING 

OF FEBRUARY: 

Monday night at the Home Family Club 

6:30-7:30 PM for INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED 

7:30 - 8:30 PM for INTERMEDIATE/BEGINNERS 

Thursday night at the North Royalton Library 

6:30 - 7:30 PM for BEGINNERS 

7:30 - 8:30 PM for INTERMEDIATE/BEGINNERS 

For more info call Margaret at (440) 572-5272 or Casa Italia at 

(216) 362-1230 

REMINDER 

Annual membership dues are due by February meeting!! 

MONTHLY MEETINGS: 

Held first Wednesday of every month, 

except July and August 

at 7:00 P.M. at Home Family Club 

6450 Pearl Road. Parma Heights, Ohio. 

WELCOME TO THE 

NEW 

MISS ITALIA OF 

OHIO 2012-2013 

Congratulations to Pasqualina Zindroski-Rossi! 

Our new Miss Italia of Ohio! She is currently 

attending St. Joseph Academy, maintaining a 3.1 

GPA. She aspires to become an intervention specialist. 

For more information about the 16th Annual Miss 

Italia of Ohio call (216) 362-1230 

FIRST PARADE FOR MISS ITALIA! 

Our Miss Italia, Pasqualina Zindroski, along with our second runner up Alisa is pictured with Bob Altieri 

of Strongsville Fiat. A big THANK YOU to Bob for supporting Casa Italia in various parades!! 

Contributing writers: 

Josephine Palumbo • Margaret Montemarano • Rosary Martino 

SIAMO UNA SQUADRA. 

WWW.CASAITALIAFOUNDATION.COM 



34 

FEBRUARY 2013 

nEwSLETTER 

AMERICANS OF ITALIAN HERITAGE CHARITIES, INC. 

offers four $2,000 scholarships 

AIH Club Officers 

David Vegh, President 

Gus Paolucci, Vice-President 

Bill Petrello, Treasurer 

Bryan Dardis, Secretary 

Carmen Rozzo, Boungiorno 

The Americans of Italian Heritage Charities, Inc. is offering four $2,000 scholarships to eligible students residing in Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, or Cuyahoga counties 

of Ohio. 

One of our scholarships is being offered in memory of Dolores La Spina, the late wife of our member, Angelo La Spina. Dolores volunteered countless hours for the 

good of our organization. She believed in all children having the opportunity to attend college. 

Scholarships will be awarded within three categories, i.e., (1) GREEN: GPA of 2.5 to 2.99, (2) WHITE: GPA of 3.0 to 3.5, and (3) RED: GPA of above 3.5. 

The selection committee is seeking to award well-rounded students who can demonstrate their dedication and commitment to continuing their education and who are in 

financial need. 

The applicant must be a high school graduating senior and enrolled full-time for the 2013-2014 academic year at an accredited 2 or 4 year college, university, vocational, 

or technical institution or be a full-time undergraduate student attending one these institutions. One parent of the applicant must be of Italian descent. 

Interested students may visit our website at www.aihclub.com for a copy of the application. Scroll down and click on the Charities button or the Applications button on 

the left side and then scroll to the bottom of the page to the scholarship link. The deadline is May 10, 2013. 

Any questions can be directed to AIH Charities Chairman, Rio DeGennaro, at 440-463-0808. Scholarships will be awarded within three categories, i.e., (1) GREEN: 

GPA of 2.5 to 2.99, (2) WHITE: GPA of 3.0 to 3.5, and (3) RED: GPA of above 3.5. 

The Americans of Italian Heritage Club would like to wish the Italian community a 

Happy Valentine’s Day 

Did you know: Romantic Festival of Valentine's Day is celebrated with enthusiasm in the beautiful country of Italy. Lovers take opportunity of the day to express love 

and affection for their beloved. Loads of Valentine's Day gifts are exchanged and everyone enjoys the day to the hilt. 

History of Valentine's Day in Italy 

Valentine's Day was initially celebrated as a Spring Festival in Italy. Celebration for the day was held in the open air. Young people would gather in tree arbors or ornamental 

gardens and enjoy listening to music and reading of poetry. Later they would stroll off with their Valentine into the gardens. The custom steadily ceased over the 

course of years and has not been celebrated for centuries. 

Early Valentine's Day Tradition in Italy 

In the Italian City of Turin, betrothed couple used to announce their engagement on the Valentine's Day. Several days ahead of February 14, stores were decorated 

and loaded with a huge variety of bon-bon. Some even sold china baskets and cups filled with delectable Valentine's Day candies and tied with a ribbon. These were to be 

presented as gifts to Valentine. 

Another interesting Valentine's Day tradition followed in Italy and Britain made unmarried girls to wake up before sunrise. People strongly believed that the first man 

an unmarried girl sees on Valentine's Day, or someone who looks like him would marry her within a year. Girls therefore used to wake up early on Valentine's Day and 

stand by their window to watch a man pass. 

Valentine's Day Celebration in Italy 

People of Italy see Valentine's Day as a holiday imported from US, just like Halloween and Mother's Day. For the love and lovers country of Italy, the major day for 

celebration of love is il giorno della festa degli innamorati. As lovers' exclusively celebrate this day family members and friends do not exchange gifts. 

In recent times however, lovers in Italy celebrate Valentine's Day by expressing their love to sweethearts. Couples usually go out for dinners at pizzeria or ristorante. 

Just as in several other countries, the festival has been commercialized to a great extent. There is a strong tradition to exchange gifts like rose, perfume, chocolates and 

diamonds depending on the age and taste of person. Another popular Valentine's Day gift in Italy is Baci Perugina - a small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts containing a 

small slip of paper with a romantic poetic quote in four languages. 

February Birthday Wishes: 

John Martello 2/1 

Skip Trombetti 2/5 

Bob Trovoto 2/5 

Charles Ciraolo 2/8 

Dr. Ron Taddeo 2/10 

Jim Federico, Jr. 2/16 

Carmen Cesa 2/24 

Attention: Please visit our new web page at www.aihclub.com. It has been upgraded with new information about the club and the charities. One of the 

new features is the photographs of past activities. We hope you will enjoy viewing our site. 


2013 Club Officers 

President: 

Gianfranco Gentile 

Vice President: 

Franco Maddamma 

Treasurer: 

Tito Antonelli 

Financial Secretary: 

Tony Di Fiore 

Recording Secretary: 

Chris Mastriano 

Parliamentarian: 

Nino Settanni 

Sergeants at Arms: 

Raimondo Di Franco, 

Nino Silvestro 

Trustees: 1 Year: Bob 

Campellone, 2 Year: 

Dino Maddamma, 

3 Year Domenico 

Di Franco 

General 

Information 

Italian Party Center: 

Did you know the Home Family 

Club can host your function? Our 

luncheon packages start at $15 

which includes a beverage. The 

Home Family Club is available for 

any occasion. Book anything from a 

wedding reception or baby shower, 

first communion, graduation party, 

or funeral luncheon. Hall capacity 

is up to 180 guests. Fresh Italian 

food is our specialty. Hall Rental is 

open to all. For more information 

call Gio De Lorenzo at 440-390- 

8558 or visit us at www.Italianpartycenter.com. 

Want To Become a 

Member? 

Want to join? We are always 

looking for new members. Stop by 

or call us for membership info @ 

440-888-1664. 

6450 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, OH 44130 • 440-888-1664 • www.homefamilyclub.com 


Super Bowl Party Reminder February 3rd 

If you have not decided what you are doing for the Super Bowl, don’t forget that we are having our Annual Super Bowl event. Come 

watch the game on a large screen. Cost will be $75 which includes food throughout the day and chances to win prizes. The hall opens 

at 1:30pm with pizza and sausage served from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. An Italian buffet will begin at @ 5:30pm. Munchies will be available 

throughout the day. Draft beer, house wine, American coffee and regular water will be included in the $75. You can purchase meal tickets 

alone for $25 before or the day of the party. For tickets or additional information, call Chris Mastriano 216-533-5333, Gianfranco Gentile 

216-261-0619 or Franco Maddamma 440-915-7633. 

Valentine's Dance for All February 9th 

The HFC and Southwest Italian American Club are having a joint Valentine’s Dinner / Dance on February 9th. Doors open at 6pm. 

Dinner will be served at 7pm. Tickets are $25. Menu will consist of: Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes, Cavatelli Bolognese, Red and White Pizza, 

Salad, Bread, Butter, Coffee, Lemon Sorbet, two bottles of wine at every table and draft beer. Music will be performed by Wayne Tomosic 

Band. Tickets are limited. Contact Franco Maddamma 440-915-7633 or any board member for more information. 

Le Maschere di Carnevale February 23rd 

The Home Family Club Women’s Auxiliary is holding 

their 3rd Annual Carnevale All’Italiana. The cost of this event 

will be $60 per person with an OPEN BAR. Doors will 

open at 6pm with Raffle and Door Prizes. An Italian Style 

Dinner will include the following: Antipasto: Seafood Salad, 

Assorted Cheese, Roasted Peppers, Artichokes, Assorted 

Olives, Sundried Tomatoes, Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Red Pizza, 

White Pizza; Insalata: Mixed Field Greens; Primo Piatto: 

Homemade Vegetable Ravioli w/ Blush Sauce Topped with 

Shitake Mushrooms and Roasted Peppers; Secondo Piatto: 

Roasted Strip Steak w/ Au Jus Served w/ Rosemary Roasted 

Red Skin Potatoes and Steamed Carrots; Dolce: Tiramisu. 

Entertainment by: Discoteca Italiana. Costumes welcomed 

but not required. R.S.V.P. by February 9th. Only 135 tickets 

will be sold. Make your reservations early. Please contact 

Sandie Zaccardelli 216-642-0337 or Laura Pajestka 440-655- 

8540 for tickets and additional information. 

Trippa Dinner Dance March 9th 

Details on the event are being finalized. Check with a board member for more info. 

4th Annual Wine & Spirits Contest 

March 15th 


The event will begin at 7pm. $5 per entry (members) and $10 per entry (non-members). Limit entries per person. Red Wine, White 

Wine, Grappa, Limoncello, and Aceto will be judged. We will take the first 20 entries per category. Entry forms must be turned in no later 

than March 8th. Your bottles will need to be brought up the night of the event. Winner’s names will be put on a plaque and shown for all to 

see at the club. Contact Gianfranco Gentile 216-261-0619 or Franco Maddamma 440-915-7633 for additional information. 



36 

Literature and Language Awards 

for Students of Italian Heritage 

3659 Green Road, Suite 124 

Beachwood OH 44122 

www.iacfcleveland.org 


Connie Sancetta, President 

Charlie Manno, Vice-President 

Our Sponsors! 

• Americans of Italian Heritage 

• Solon Italian Club 

• Italian American Brotherhood Club 

• Sante Catholic Union 

• Southwest Italian-American Club 

• Wickliffe Italian-American Club 

• Circolo Italo Americano Corenese 

• Rionero Sannitico Recreational Club 

• Kalena Club of Cleveland 

• Italian American Business 

and Professional Mens Club 

• The Spitalieri Family 

With Family You Will Always 

Survive 

Dennis Campola was the First Place Senior at Wickliffe High School this year. His essay does 

a magnificent job of weaving back and forth between the characters in John Fante’s “Wait Until 

Spring, Bandini” and his own ancestors, complete with relevant quotations from the book. Especially 

impressive to us was that Dennis took the time to research a bit about the author, and that he was 

able to find the common elements between the individual experiences. Herewith a few samples of 

his insights: 

I have always enjoyed hearing the stories of my heritage. Some of my relatives picture my greatgrandfather’s 

home in Italy as a picturesque and tranquil area. Other relatives tell me differently. 

They say that the farm he was born and raised on was a home where hard work and little reward 

prevailed. My grandfather says the same of his home in Donora, Pennsylvania. My grandfather is 

one of ten children, and his parents had time for little else other than maintaining the home and 

providing food and clothing. There was no time for nostalgia or sentimentality. Life was about 

working hard, avoiding bigotry, and trying to survive in a country originally thought of as a refuge 

from the hardships of Italy. My grandfather and his father harbored many grudges against their 

difficult lives. My great-grandfather was often seen as cold and even violent. Arturo Bandini often 

saw his father this way as well. I believe both of these men were a victim of their circumstances. 

“He came along, kicking the deep snow. Here was a disgusted man. He was cold and there were 

holes in his shoes. That morning he had patched the holes on the inside with pieces of cardboard 

from a macaroni box. The macaroni in that box was not paid for.” Much of what my grandmother 

purchased was on credit and this caused her strain and embarrassment. She felt as Maria, Arturo’s 

mother, did that the local vendors “pitied them with that cold pity small businessmen show to the 

poor as a class.” My grandfather told me of many times he, too, had to resort to similar remedies to 

the circumstances that resulted from his poverty and his father, my great-grandfather, tolerated even 

more. He spoke of hiding under his front porch and changing into clothes he somehow purchased 

that were not hand-me-downs or tatters. Like Svevo, my grandfather’s endless hours in the coal 

mines near Thomas, West Virginia and the steel mills near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, never merited 

enough money to allow him and his wife to relax and enjoy his life and family. 

[The next page of Dennis’ essay describes several features in common between the boy in the 

book, Arturo Bandini, and his own grandfather.] 

Springtime, however, was Arturo’s greatest joy for with it came baseball - his main pleasure. 

At his young age, I do not think that Arturo realized that his love of spring was not only due to the 

pursuit of baseball, but also because spring means renewal. A chance to begin again. An end to death. 

Warmth came to Colorado and revived a nation struck by the Great Depression. 

And so, like John Fante, Arturo not only survives, but thrives. Like my great aunts and uncles, and 

my grandfather and great-grandfather - they all overcome poverty and despair. Of course, my family 

has suffered from hardships as well, but we have one another as did the Bandini family. I realize that, 

with family, you will always survive. My family, and the Bandini family, have the gift to find joy in 

life’s less complicated pleasures and have learned the value of hard work and perseverance We also, 

like the Bandini family, learned the value of compassion. These values were passed on to my mother 

who then instilled them in me. 

I am very glad that I chose to read a novel by John Fante, and hope to finish the series that follows 

him into adulthood. As with last year’s essay contest, the novel I chose prompted discussions of 

the past and the sharing of memories. I will always be appreciative of the fact that I am an Italian- 

American, and that my family is so very proud of their heritage. I plan on pursuing the study of the 

Italian language at some point in my college education. I also plan on upholding our family traditions 

as the Bandini family did and passing them on to my children. 

Book Discussion on “Christ in Concrete” 

We’ll be having our next book discussion on March 23rd (Saturday). The books will be “Christ 

in Concrete” by Pietro Di Donato, which is available for less than $10 through various Amazon.com 

affiliates. If you might like to join us and don’t have access to e-mail, please call Connie Sancetta at 

(440) 247-1618. 


President: Kay Corsaro 

1st Vice President: Ennio Riccillo 

2nd Vice President: Pat Di Lullo 

Treasurer: Giovanni Catalano 

Secretary: : Virginia Cruickshank 

Sergeant-at-Arms: Domenic Cornacchione 

Trustees: Joe Motta, Ed Altieri, John Petzker 

Parliamentarian: : Marie Chiarappa 

FROM OUR PRESIDENT 

Dear Friends, 

I hope everyone had a good holiday season with friends and 

family. 

I also want to thank the members of Le Radici for donating several 

items for the patients at the Veterans Hospital in Cleveland. 

Everything that was donated to the veterans will be greatly appreciated 

by them and me. 

When I had asked the members of Le Radici if they would like 

to donate to the veterans, as usual they came thru. It shows the 

veterans that people do care. 

Anytime the members of Le Radici are asked to do something, 

especially make cookies or volunteer their time they are always 

there. I am very pleased as President of Le Radici that our members 

work together so well. 

I hope that everyone has a very Happy and Healthy New Year. 

Ciao, 

Kay Corsaro, President of Le Radici 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 

The meeting of Le Radici will be on February 12 2013 at 7:00 PM. 

Country Inn and Suites, 1420 Main St. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. 

La Cucina Delle Radici 

Recipes by the members and Friends 

of Le Radici. Akron OH. 

THREE-CHEESE SAUCE WITH BOW TIES 

By Dora Raymond 

1 lb. dried bow tie pasta 

1 1/2 c. heavy cream 

1/4 lb. Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled 

1/4 Fontina cheese, shredded 

1/2 c. plus 1/4 c. grated Asiago cheese 

1/4 tsp. salt 

1/4 tsp. black pepper 

1 ( 7-oz. ) jar roasted red peppers, drained & cut into strips 

3/4 c. coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted 

Cook pasta following package directions. Drain. While pasta is 

cooking, bring cream to a simmer in medium-size heavy-bottomed 

saucepan. Add Gorgonzola , Fontina and 1/2 cup Asiago cheeses; 

stir until smooth. Stir in salt, pepper and roasted red pepper strips. 

Remove from heat. Toss cooked pasta with cheese sauce and 1/2 

cup walnuts. Sprinkle remaining nuts and 1/4 cup Asiago cheese 

over top. Serve immediately. Yield: Serves 6 Prep: 10 minutes 

Cook: 15 minutes 


Mission/Vision Statement 

The Italian Community of Akron, Inc. (Ohio), Le Radici' wants to reach the 

entire Italian-American community and all those who love Italy. The main 

objective of our association is to organize and promote activities with the 

purpose of introducing to the Italian community the different facets of the 

Italian culture. This is why 'Le Radici' targets the whole community with 

no distinction of regional origin or age group. One of our most ambitious 

projects involves the construction of an Italian cultural center where various 

cultural and recreational activities would take place. Such a center would 

include an Italian library, classes for teaching the Italian language, a hall for 

theatrical shows, a museum, an indoor bocce court, an outdoor soccer field 

and tennis courts. 

'Le Radici' e' un'organizzazione che si propone alla Comunita' Italo Americana 

e di tutti coloro che amano L'Italia. L'obbiettivo primario e' quello 

di intraprendere iniziative di vario carattere che possono portare la comunita' 

a contatto con le molte espressioni della cultura e tradizione Italiana. 

Uno degli obbietivvi piu' ambiziosi riguarda la costruzione in questa zona 

di un Centro Culturale Italiano che potra' ospitare manifestazioni culturali 

e ricreativi. 

REMEMBERING ENNIO RICCILLO 

On January 7th LE RADICI & the Italian Community of Akron lost a dear friend & special 

member, Ennio Riccillo. Ennio was the Vice-President of LE RADICI, a long-time member of The 

Carovillese Club, founder & Director of ALI (Associazione Lingua Italiana) & a past member of 

the Comites (Comitato degli Italiani Residenti all'estero). Most of all, Ennio was a proud Italian- 

American who loved our heritage & culture. This year ALI classrooms were filled to capacity with 

students; he will be missed! Recently, Ennio was the turning point for LE RADICI's acquisition of a 

property in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, but he never was able to see it finalized. Ennio immigrated from 

the small town of Caroville, a town that he loved very much & visited every chance he had. We all 

will miss Ennio. 

CAROVILLI (the town of Ennio) 

Carovilli is a town in the Province of Isernia in the Italian region Molise, located about 35 km 

northwest of Campobasso and about 14 km northeast of Isernia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a 

population of 1,508 and an area of 41.6 km². 

L'ITALIA AL vOTO 

Cari connazionali, 

Durante il mese di Febbraio saremo chiamati a votare per l’elezione dei Deputati e del Senato 

della Repubblica Italiana, ricordando che il voto e’ un diritto costituzionale garantito dalla legge a 

noi italiani residenti all’estero Le Radici invitano tutti quello che ne hanno diritto a votare in massa 

ed a partecipare al sistema democratico della nostra patria. 

Le Radici wishes HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: 

Antonietta Altieri 2/11 

Visit our website: WWW.LERADICI.ORG for further information. 



baranellolodge.com 

admin@baranellolodge.com 

38 

PRESIDENT 

Bill Manocchio 

2013 BARANELLO LODGE 

OFFICERS 

President Bill Manocchio 

Vice President Mario Iannetta 

Recording Secretary John Manocchio 

Treasurer John Colagiovanni 

Financial Secretary Tony DiChiro 

Sergeant At Arms Mike Discenza 

Trustees Mario Manocchio (R) 

Tony Carriero (M) 

Umberto Manocchio 

Honorable Trustee Joe Tomaro 

2 Year Trustee Tony Velotta (P) 

3 Year Trustee Mark DiNardo 

Former President Joe Giovinale 

Entertainment Chairs Joe Tomaro, Tony Velotta (P) 

2013 BWJA OFFICERS 

President Francesca Cotugno 

Vice President Antonette Carnevale 

Recording Secretary Mary Manocchio 

Treasurer Annette Spetrino 

Corresponding Secretary Marisa Cotugno 

Trustees Cristina Gualtieri 

Maria Iannetta 

Antonietta DiChiro 

Honorable Trustee Maria DiNardo 

Former President Stella Bucciarelli 

UPCOMING PIZZA & 

SAUSAGE PARTY 

On Saturday February 23 at 6:00 p.m. the Lodge 

will hold its annual Pizza and Sausage Party. 

The event is open to all members of the Loggia Baranello 

and the BWJA, their children living at home, 

and widows of deceased Lodge members. Please RSVP 

to Co-Chairmen Mike Discenza(216-749-3132) or Victor 

Niro (216-524-9014). Come and enjoy foods and special 

pastries. Kids will have an opportunity to take a 

“whack” at the “piñata” filled with delicious candies. 

NEWS 

LODGE GENERAL MEETING 

February24th, Sunday, 4:00 p.m. 

LOGGIA 

BARANELLO 

10050 Shepard Road Macedonia, Ohio 44056 

Celebrating our 75th. year 

1936-2011 

The purpose of the Lodge is to promote a cultural and fraternal spirit among its 

members, and to perpetuate the heritage and traditions of Baranello. 

Baranello Lodge 2013 Officers 

baranellowomenclub.com 

PRESIDENT 

Francesca Cotugno 

2 Fred Nero 

2 Michael Niro 

6 Giocondo DiNallo 

10 Joseph F. Tomaro 

11 Anthony Velotta (Mayfield Hts) 

18 Gianfranco Colagiovanni 

21 Salvatore Velotta 

21 Roberto Zullo 

21 Fred Nero 

24 Vittorio DiChiro 

27 Michael A. Manocchio 

28 Frank Sebastiano 

Congratulations (Complimenti) to the winners of the “Best Floral Balcony Arrangements” held for the first time 

this year in Baranello, Campobasso. In the July issue of this page, there were details of the “Baranello in Fiore” contest. 

Mayor Marco Maio presided over the awards’ ceremony in September. 

2012 

COLUMBUS 

DAY 

PARADE IN 

LITTLE 

ITALY 

From left to right: Henry 

DiChiro, Jerry Nicastro, 

Joe Giovinale, Mike Discenza, 

Umberto Manocchio, 

Berardino Discenza 

BARANELLO IN FIORE 

FEBRUARY 2013 

BIRTHDAYS 

First Prize Winner, 200 eUrOs 

Giuseppina Bruscino, of Via Manna, 26 

secOnd Prize Winners, 50 eUrOs (each) 

Lillana Carnevale of Contrada Petrole, 43 

Alessia Muttillo of Contrada Piana Casale, 6 

third Prize Winner, 50 eUrOs 

Filomena DiChiro, Contrada Petrole, 33 


The Debutante Ball is a formal presentation 

of young ladies to society. The Deb is introduced 

individually to the audience and then guided by 

her Father who presents her. She is then joined 

by a younger male escort who escorts her Mother 

to the floor and all four are presented to the audience. 

This is a white gown and black tie event we 

would be holding in the summer. 

This is an extravagant affair so we don’t do it 

every year. This year we have had several young ladies 

express an interest but it really requires about 

20 young ladies to be a successful effort. Perhaps 

you are interested or know a young lady of Italian 

heritage that might be interested? Young ladies 

should be between the ages of 16 and 21. There is 

a Mother / Daughter Tea leading up to the main 

event, which many Grandmothers also attend. 

How often does the whole family get dressed 


The Italian Sons and Daughters of America is one of the three largest Italian American Fraternal Associations in the United States and the largest in the 

state of Ohio with ten lodges in Cuyahoga County. 

The ISDA sponsors numerous social, cultural and charitable events including the Columbus Day Parade, the Debutante Ball, bocce and bowling leagues 

and senior citizen housing and social services through its 

ownership of the Villa Serena. 

National Vice President 

Hon. Basil M. Russo 

National Counsellors: 

Roger Beyer 

Josephine (Fifi) Brescia 

Mary Calogero 

Josephine Capretta 

Joseph Frank 

Marie Frank 

Angela Talbort 

National Representatives: 

Elaine Corello 

Rose Marie D'Amico 

William D'Amico 

Linda Lakatos 

Norman Lakatos 

Phyllis Lopardo 

Evelyn Pipoly 

Deputies: 

Judy Adam 

Anne Cicora 

Frank Donia 

Mary Ferrante 

Lou Kish 

January 2013 

For more information contact Basil Russo at 440-461-8500. 

DEBUTANTE BALL 

up in formal attire? It is a wonderful opportunity 

for a multigenerational family portrait and 

there would be a professional photographer available 

for just that purpose. If you are interested 

or know someone who might be, please contact 

Elaine Corello for more details. Her telephone 

number is 330-562-6945. 

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO? 

When was the last time you went bowling? Ours is a fun league and it is more 

about the laughs than the score. No need to be a professional to participate. We play 

on Mondays at Freeway Lanes in Wickliffe. The season has started but that doesn’t 

matter. Stop out and see what it is about. You don’t even need a team but if you have 

one please bring them too! We are always in need of substitute bowlers. We’ll work 

you in and are sure you will want to stay. 

Every year we provide the muscle for a fundraiser at the Little Sisters of the Poor 

on Richmond Road in Warrensville Heights. We always need volunteers. There are 

meatballs to make, sauce to cook, salads and pasta to serve and tables to clean. Many 

of the residents or their guests could use a hand carrying their plate to the table. We 

need lots of runners. This year the Spaghetti Dinner is on Sunday, April 14th. If you 

can stop by and donate some time please talk to your Lodge President. If you can’t 

help this year but have time for e delicious dinner, we will have tickets on sale very 

soon. Dinners are available for carry out too! 

We also have a Women’s League. They meet on the third Monday of the month. 

They get together and have plenty of fun but more importantly they are involved in 

charitable activities. 

We would love to see you get involved! Please consider bowling or volunteering 

with the ISDA. 



40 

2013 Golf Outing 

Plans are under way for the 8th Annual Golf Outing. We are looking for a 2013 

beneficiary. If you have ideas please email Angie today. Also, if you would like 

to be on this committee please let me know. 

2013 Directories 

By now all of you should have received your 2013 Directory. Please review 

and if any of your information is incorrect please let me know today. 

Employment 

Opportunities 

Please let our executive director, Angie Spitalieri, or a member of our executive 

committee know if you are looking for a job or if we can publish a job you are 

looking to fill. 

Share Your Passion 

Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation 

Newsletter • February 2013 

A building block of the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation is the passion 

that our members have for our heritage and desire to reach out into the community. 

During the month of January we’re encouraging you to extend an invitation to at least 

one friend, family member or business associate of Italian descent to join you in NOIA. 

Tell them why you support our mission, the value you have found in membership and 

how they can benefit as well. 

Contact our Executive Director, Angie Spitalieri at aspitalieri@noiafoundtion.com 

and she or one of the committee members will reach out to the perspective member to 

answer any questions they may have and secure their membership. 

Share your passion – help us grow! 

NEW Website 

In February we will be going live with our new site. We will be asking several 

of you for your input. Please let us know if you are interested in being involved… 

Western Reserve Historical Society 

Pamela Dorazio Dean from the Western Reserve Historical Society will be collecting 

material from our ancestors this month. If you have items to donate please 

call Angie or Pamela. 216-721-5722, ext 324. 

Such items to collect are: 

• Letters and other correspondence 

• Diaries and journals 

• Photographs and recording 

• Ledgers and receipts 

• Meeting Minutes 

• Family History 

• Passports 

• Steamship tickets 

• Naturalization papers 

• Scrapbooks 

• Cultural Memorabilia 

Visit our website, www.noiafoundation.com, for event listings and to pay your dues online! 



RIONERO SANNITICO RECREATIONAL 

Cleveland, Ohio 

CLUB 

rionerosannitico@sbcglobal.net February 2013 

The Rionero Sannitico Recreational Club was organized on March 19, 1937 by a group of former Rionersi 

residing in Cleveland, Ohio. 

The Scope of the Club shall be to sponsor recreational activities for the benefit of its members to further 

share and enhance our Italian heritage. 

2013 CLUB OFFICERS 

President Anthony Ianiro 

Vice President Mario Fioritto 

Financial Secretary Bruno Frabotta 

Treasurer Cesare Frabotta 

Corr. Secretary Anthony DiFiore 

Sergeant-at-Arms Lou Ianiro 

Counselors Tom Antonello 

Pietro DiFranco 

Trustees Tito Antonelli 

Anthony Marotta 

Upcoming Events 

• February 10 Club Meeting held at: 

Club Molisani 

29101 Euclid Avenue 

Wickliffe, OH 44092 

• March 10 Club Meeting held at: 

Home Family Club 

6450 Pearl Road 

Parma Heights, OH 44130 

Dinner served for each 

meeting @ 2 PM immediately 

followed by the meeting 

• March 16 2012 Spring Bash 

Normandy Party Center 

30310 Palisades Parkway 

Wickliffe, OH 44092 

Cocktails and hors d’ouerves 

begin @ 6 PM 

Dinner served @ 7:15 PM 

February Birthdays 

Buon Compleanno to the following members in 

January: 

• Gianmichele Bruno (February 2 nd ) 

• Bob Campellone (February 27 th ) 

• Marco DiFranco (February 28 th ) 

Club News & Events 

• PLEASE NOTE 

The March meeting will be held at the Home Family Club in Parma Heights. 

This is to accommodate our West Side members as well as attract more 

membership from that side of town. If this meeting goes well we plan on 

having a couple of meetings per year at the Home Family Club. 

• NEW MEMBERS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2013. Feel free to 

invite any potential members to an upcoming meeting to share a meal with 

us and see if they would like to join the Club. As a reminder the Club is 

open to all males 18 and older who is a descendant or a spouse of a 

descendant of Rionero Sannitico. 

• 2013 membership dues are now being collected (see Bruno Frabotta to pay 

your dues). As a reminder, all membership dues must be paid in full prior 

to the April 14, 2013 meeting. 

• We are looking to plan additional events in 2013. Several good 

suggestions were brought to the Club’s attention and we are open to any 

and all new suggestions (details for these events will be outlined in future 

months). 

• A date has been set for our inagural Rionero Club in-town golf outing. The 

outing will be on Sunday, July 7 th and Fowler’s Mill. Additional details and 

ticket availability will be announced in the upcoming months. 

• The 2013 budget has been approved. Contact either Anthony Ianiro or 

Anthony DiFiore if there are any questions. 

• Club members are reminded to contact Club President Anthony Ianiro, Club 

Secretary Anthony DiFiore or Club Trustee Anthony Marotta with any news 

or announcements that they would like mentioned in La Gazzetta. 

2013 Spring Bash 

The 2013 Spring Bash will be held on March 16 th at Normandy Party Center. The 

evening will include the following: 

• Cocktails beginning at 6 PM with an impressive hor d’ouerves table featuring 

many traditional Italian antipasti. 

• A traditional Italian sit down dinner served at 7:15 PM. 

• After dinner pastry and fruit dessert table and full service coffee and espresso 

bar. 

• Open bar and live entertainment offering both classical and contemporary 

selections throughout the evening. 

This year we have booked i Molisani for the after dinner live entertainment and 

strolling musicians Michael Di Geronimo and Mark Delia during the cocktail hour. 

Also, as always, Filippo Andaloro of Ital-Sound DJ System will provide dancing music 

in between acts and throughout the evening. 

50/50 side boards will once again be offered (The Dance Committee is in need of 

volunteers to man the side boards – see any committee member if interested). Door 

prizes will also be awarded. As always, door prize donations are always welcomed! 

Get your tickets now as we expect this event to sell out quickly! Tickets are $70 per 

person and are available by contacting any of the following Dance committee 

members: 

Tony Marotta – 440.449.8327 

Mario Fioritto, Jr. – 216.552.3072 

Jeff Di Fiore – 216.323.3198 

Giovanni Ianiro – 440.256.6241 



42 

Newsletter FEBRUARY 2013 

CLUB HEADS TO THE ICE 

LAKE ERIE MONSTER GAME ON 

MARCH 23 

The Solon Italian Club will 

head to Quicken Loans Arena 

on Saturday, March 23 for an 

American Hockey League game. 

The Monsters face the Grand 

Rapids Griffins. It's fantastic 

family entertainment and a fun 

night you won't want to miss! 

Tickets go on sale at our January 

general meeting. For more information, 

contact Don DeRoia at 

440/241-5945. 

EASTER EGG HUNT SCHEDULED 

FOR MARCH 30 

Plans are already underway for the 29th Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Solon to 

be staged on Saturday, March 30th at noon. The Solon Italian Club in cooperation 

with the Solon Recreation Department will hold the event on the varsity football 

field at Solon High School. More than 1,000 area children are expected to participate. 

Preparation for the 

event includes buying and 

stuffing more than 10,000 

plastic eggs with candy. The 

annual stuffing party will be 

held on Friday, March 22nd 

at 6 pm at the Solon Community 

Center. Members 

and their families are 

invited to help with the egg 

stuffing. It’s always a fun 

event. The Hunt is totally 

underwritten by the Solon 

Italian Club. 

Tom Romeo accepts donations of canned goods for local 

charities at the 2012 Easter Egg Hunt. Solon Recreation 

Director Don Holub (left) and City Councilman 

Bill Russo (a Solon Italian Club member) stand 

nearby. 

The Hunt has drawn 

more than 20,000 children 

and their families since 

1984. This is entirely a 

FREE event. There is no 

charge to participate. We do, 

however, encourage all attendees to donate canned goods to be donated to a local 

charity. As was done last year, we are also collecting non-perishable goods for 

The Solon Italian Club crew is poised to stage the 29th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on 

Saturday, March 30 at Solon High School. 

our troops overseas. We will collect: toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, deodorant, 

dental floss, cotton balls, disposable hand and feet warmers, toilet paper, razors, 

hair gel, shampoo, soap, chap stick, wet wipes, foil packets of chicken, dried fruit, 

energy bars, snack cakes, hot chocolate, candy, beef jerky, playing cards, batteries, 

puzzle books, and blank greeting cards (to send notes back home). In addition, 

we encourage donations of money to defray the cost of shipping packages to the 

troops. 

A foul weather backup location will be the Solon Recreation Center gymnasium. 

Watch the Club website and the City of Solon’s cable news for changes to 

the site for the Hunt due to weather.! 

IT'S SCHOLARSHIP 

APPLICATION TIME! 

The Solon Italian Club Foundation is awarding scholarships to students of 

the 2013 Senior Class of Solon High or members’ children that attend other high 

schools that are students of their 2013 Senior High School Class. Scholarship 

recipients are limited to students of Italian ancestry. (Parents, Grandparents, 

Great-Grandparents) 

Applications for Solon High School students for the Solon Italian Club Foundaiton 

scholarships are available online through the SHS Guidance web site on 

February 1. Solon students may also find the application on the Club website. 

March 20 is the last day for Solon students to submit completed scholarship applications 

to SHS Guidance Office by 3:15 on that day. 

Non-Solon High School students have until April 2 to deliver their applications 

(with Transcript) to Bill Russo's office. The address is 33595 Bainbridge Rd. 

Suite 104, Solon, OH 44139. 

Applications must be accompanied by an essay citing the impact the student’s 

Italian heritage has had on their life. All submissions will be reviewed anonymously 

by Committee members to select the winner (or winners) of the award. 

Criteria used to determine recipients include: academics, after school activities and 

the quality of the essay. 

Each year the Solon Italian Club awards between $12,000-$15,000 in college 

scholarships.. 

REVERSE RAFFLE/DINNER DANCE 

APRIL 27TH 

Tickets are already on sale for this year’s Reverse Raffle/Dinner Dance which 

will be held at Hilton Garden Inn/Twinsburg on Saturday, April 27th. Reservations 

can be made by calling John Zito at 440/248-6308. 

CLUB LOGOWEAR AVAILABLE 

ONLINE 

Several new members have joined the club over the past year…and we wanted 

to remind everyone that you have access to a wide variety of Club logowear 

items. Members and their families can order a broad range of merchandise with 

the Solon Italian Club logo by accessing a page via our website (www.solonitalianclub.org). 

The Club partnered with Gary Amato of Mirabel Promotions to 

select the line of clothing and accessories. 

BUON COMPLEANNO! 

Best wishes to the following members who celebrate birthdays in the month of 

February: 

2/1 - Leonard Visconti 

2/2 - Michael Vara 

2/3 - Antonio Catalano 

2/4 - Anthony Sanelli 

2/12 - Lawrence Barrett 

2/13 - Joe Piscitello 

2/15 - Bill Lopilo 

2/15 - Fabio Puzzo 

2/18 - Antonino Giallanza 

2/19 - Nick Zavarella 

2/27 - David Perry 

2/27 - Dan Trinetti 

Did we miss you? It’s possible we need to update our records. If you have a birthday 

this month and we neglected to acknowledge it, we apologize! Please get in touch with Mike 

DiCarro, Membership Chairman so we can update our records. We’ll be happy to include 

you in the future! 


SOUTHWEST ITALIAN 

Newsletter February 2013 

The following article depicts 

the true life experience of a decorated 

World War II hero, fighter 

pilot Lt. Colonel Robert Joseph 

Grace, Retired US Air Force. 

Lt. Colonel Grace was the 

Father of our member Bob Grace. 

Lt. Colonel Grace passed away 

on December 28, 2012 at the age 

of 91. Our deepest and sincerest 

sympathies to Bob Grace and his 

family. 

Lt. Colonel Robert Joseph 

Grace was a fighter pilot of a 

P-47 Thunderbolt attached to the 

373rd Fighter group of the 411th 

Squadron 9th Air Force based in 

Woodbridge, England. 

On May 19, 1944 on a 

bombing mission in Prum, 

Germany near the Belgium border, 

Lt. Colonel Grace was shot down 

by enemy fire and bailed out over 

enemy territory. After parachuting 

into a forest in Belgium, he wandered 

for 2 days until he found a 

farm house where he was taken 

in by a couple who contacted the 

Belgium Underground to help him 

get back to a friendly area. 

Even with all the injuries he 

received during his bailout, Grace 

was given a bicycle and began a 

50 mile trip to a town where the 

Belgium Resistance was located. 

On his way there he was 

stopped by Belgium Collaborators 

who worked for the German 

Police. He was taken to the Police 

Station to be turned over to the 

Germans but escaped through a 

bathroom window. 

Grace continued his journey 

and went to a Benedictine Abbey 

in Dense, Belgium where a Monk, 

Father Ambrose Watalet helped 

save his life by hiding him in the 

bell tower of the monastery for 

days as the Germans searched 

for him. 

After the Germans left, Father 

Watalet hid Grace in a forest for 

several days until he could get 

help again from the Belgium 

Underground. 

A couple of weeks later 

Grace was taken by the Underground 

to the home of a widow, 

Angele Hubort in Flavion, Belgium 

where she hid him from the 

Member Christmas Party 

The Annual Club Christmas Party was held on 

December 16, 2012 at Nido Italia in Little Italy. 

The evening started off at 5:30 PM, with a hot 

antipasti table of Fried Calamari, Eggplant, Sausage 

with peppers and onions, Rice balls, and Pizza. There 

were 2 carafes of wine at each table and an open bar. 

The menu consisted of: 

Pasta Primavera with Broccoli, Pasta with red 

sauce, Veal Marsala, Chicken Piccata, Bread, Salad, 

and Dessert. 

The 2012 “Man of the Year” award was presented 

to this year’s well deserved recipient, Dave Buccieri. 

The newly 

elected offices for 

2013 were introduced. 

George Mastrobuono,President, 

Anthony 

Capretta, Vice 

President, 

Armand Rossi, 

Secretary, Ken 

Ramser, Treasurer. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 

Germans. 

In October of 1944, 5 months 

after his crash, the Americans liberated 

the city of Flavion and Lt. 

Colonel Grace was taken to Paris 

and flown back to England. 

To read the entire story, go 

to: http:/DonMooresWarTales. 

com/2010/03/28. 

Besides being a decorated 

pilot with a Purple Heart, Air Medal 

with 5 Battle Stars and a World 

War II Victory Medal. 

Lt. Colonel Robert Joseph 

Grace also self authored a book 

in November of 1999 called “Silverwings, 

A Young Man’s Dream” 

that is in the Library of Congress 

in Washington, DC. 

Lt. Colonel Grace in civilian 

life, retired as a superintendent of 

the Cleveland Press. 

We thank him for his service to 

our country. 

To those who have served and 

are presently serving, we thank 

you also for your commitment and 

sacrifices to keep our country free. 

BUON 

COMPLEANNO 

Birthdays 

For February 2013 

SAM CALAMIA 

FEBRUARY 28 

There were a total of 80 members, wives and 

guests in attendance. A great time was had by all. 

A special thank you to Mike LaMarca for taking 

care of all the details and continuing to make this a 

premier event. 

Annual Club Dues 

As a reminder, effective 

January 1, 2013, Club dues will 

be an annual fee to be paid all 

at once. If your dues are paid in 

full by March 15, 2013, dues will 

be reduced to $85.00 after which 

date the full amount of $100.00 

will be due. After June 15, 2013 

to be current dues will be $115.00. 

(Article 2, Section 4 of the 

By-laws) 

Ladies Night 

Saturday, February 9, 2013 

at 6:00PM, SWIAC in conjunction 

with The Home Family Club, will 

have a Ladies Night Valentine’s 

Day Dinner Dance at the Home 

Family Club 6450 Pearl Road, 

Parma Heights. The cost will be 

$25.00 for the member and the 

Club will pay for the member’s 

wife or guest. This is for SWIAC 

members only. 

The menu will be a Prime Rib 

dinner. 2 bottles of wine at each 

table will be provided. 

Each member will receive a 

flyer with all the information by 

email. There are only 75 tickets 

per club so get your ticket 

money in as soon as possible. 

There will be live music and all 

ladies will receive a gift. 


AMERICAN CLUB 

The Hot Corner! 

Upcoming Events & Information 

January 2013 

8 – General Meeting 

Tickets will be available 

for sale at the January 8, 2013 

meeting and from the Committee 

members listed below. 

Ticket money must be turned in 

by January 20, 2013. 

After January 20, 2013 any 

unsold tickets will be sold to 

non members for $25.00 each 

or $50.00 per couple. 

Dave Buccieri 

440-546-1632 

George Mastrobuono 

440-845-6594 

Angelo Salvatore 

216-387-8746 

Spring Dance 

On May 18, 2013 SWIAC will 

hold the annual “Il Ballo di Primavera” 

dinner dance. It will be 

held at St. Michael’s Woodside 

Party Center in Broadview Heights 

(same place as last year) 

The Cavalieri Reale Band will 

provide the music for the evening. 

Tickets will be for sale at the 

January thru May meetings at 

a cost of $60.00 per person or 

$120.00 per couple or call Dave 

Buccieri 440-546-1632 

SWIAC CALENDAR 


5 - General Meeting 

9 - Valentine’s Day Ladies 

Night Dinner Dance at Home 

Family Club 

March 2013 


Annual dues due 

31 - Buona Pasqua 

(Happy Easter) 

April 2013 


May 2013 


18 - Il Ballo di Primavera 

Spring Dinner Dance at 

St. Michael's Woodside Party 

Center 

Edited by George Mastrobuono 



44 

Wickliffe Italian-American Club 

The Wickliffe Italian American Club was founded in 1932, 

and received its non-profit charter in 1933. Our purpose is to promote 

the social, civic, and cultural fellowship of the Italian heritage. 

Executive Committee 

President: Rick Continenza 

Vice President: Clarke Brassell 

Secretary: Larry Koval 

Treasurer: Chris Brassell 

Financial Secretary: Jim DiRosa 

Board of Directors 

Philip Fratino 

Joe Francischiello 

Bob Gallese 

Gino Latessa 

Marco Orlando 

Club Manager 

Jim Vincent 

Ladies Auxilary Officers 

President: Terri Jo Rotondo 

Vice President: Toni Perossa 

Financial Secretary: Donna Yanick 

Recording Secretary: Cheryl Latessa 

Treasurer: Diane Sturniolo 

For club information contact Gino Latessa, Club 

Ambassador at glatessa@marcs.com or 

216-789-6393 

Club Events 

February 3 Superbowl Party 

February 14 Valentine Brunch 

March 30 Easter Egg Hunt 

Buon 

Compleanno: 


4 Louis Vitantonio 

6 Todd Irvin 

7 Rich Tanski 

8 Lou Vitantonio 

12 Ray Giannetti 

13 Albert Fratina 

16 Gary Willis 

18 Anthony Coladangelo 

22 Larry Koval 

22 Rich Tanski 

27 Vinny Latessa 

27 Peter Formica 

29 Ralph Randall 

Auxiliary 


3 Diane Sturniolo 

5 Mary Tanski 

6 Terri Jo Rotondo 

8 Elsie Olivo 

20 Francis Formica 

July, February 2010 2013 

www.wickliffeianda.com 

Wickliffe: It's Own Little Italy 

Carmen Latessa was born in Wickliffe and loved being an Italian. His 

childhood memories bring him back to his first home on Bell St. (now Rockefeller 

Rd.) as the smells of Italian cooking filled the air. He remembers the 

many families chatting on the front porches and the men gathered in the back 

yards with their homemade wine. Most everyone spoke Italian and it made him 

feel like he was in Italy. 

Carmen, a 55-year member 

of the Wickliffe Italian-American 

Club is proud of his years with the 

Club. While joining friend, Tony 

Lastoria, as a new member in 

1958, he has seen many changes 

in the Club and the City of Wickliffe. 

In his early days in the Club 

there were just two bocce courts 

and the meetings ended with socializing 

out back behind the Club 

playing motto and bocce. On some 

evenings, after the meetings, the 

members would travel to Cleveland 

for food and drink. He had 

fond memories of past Club President 

Ray Sack who showed much 

kindness to the men. Also, cousin 

Gino Latessa, upon becoming 

president, sent the Club in a new 

direction of growth and brotherhood. 

In 1988, the first year of the 

I&A’s bocce league, his Palermo’s 

team won the championship and 

ironically this past year the Palermo 

team was the champion of the 

Thursday Night League. He remembers 

playing 4-club golf with 

Carmen’s parents, Carmen and 

Mary 

Club members Bart, Jim Palermo 

and Clyde Cook at Green Ridge 

Golf Course. 

His wife of 50 years can attest 

to the fun they had when the Club held many socials in the early years. Theresa 

married Carmen on Oct. 20, 1962. They have a daughter, Carmel, and a grandson 

Hunter Just. Theresa grew up in Collinwood. She moved to Wickliffe where 

they were classmates at Wickliffe High School. 

Theresa’s father, Vito DiPetta a former Club member, was from Chieuti, 

Italy. Her mother, Antoniette Matteo, was born in Cleveland. 

Carmen’s father, Carmen also a Club member, had originated from Oratino, 

Italy. After moving to the Cleveland area he married Mary Palermo, also from 

Collinwood. His mother’s father, Jimono Palermo was born in Ripio, Italy. He 

(L-R): Theresa Tirabasso Lastoria on car, Carmen’s grandmother 

Clara, his grandfather, James Palermo, Lucy and Mike 

Tizzano 

Add new logo 

came to the U.S. and worked 

as a gardener for John D. 

Rockefeller in Wickliffe. 

As a youth he would 

watch the I&A fast pitch baseball 

team play on a ball field 

where Marino’s is now located. 

At that time the Club’s 

property extended south to 

Euclid Ave. The property abutting 

Euclid Ave. was sold to 

Club members Sydney Joseph 

and George Whinney. The 

money from the sale went towards 

building the I&A Hall. 

The property on the east side 

of Euclid Ave., now occupied 

by ABB, was once Tommy’s 

Drive In Theater. 

Carmen played football 

and baseball at Wickliffe 

High. As a sophomore, he was 

a member of the football team 

Theresa and Carmen’s wedding that tied for the league title. 

His football playing days continued 

after enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 right after graduation from 

high school. In those days military branches had football teams and Carmen 

was athletic enough to make the Air Force team. The games took him to many 

states including Bermuda. 

After his discharge from the Air Force, in 1958, he was hired at Kennemetal, 

in Willoughby, in 1959. He was a buyer of all sorts of tools and worked there 

for 40 years retiring in 1989. 

His Italian traditions carried over to the Club where many cousins and 

Carmen and Theresa on Hawaiian vacation in 1989. 

nephews have joined him. His three brother-in-laws were Club members. They 

include: Justin Silvaroli, Richard D’Angelo, and Dave Loparo. They are the 

sons of his sisters Eleanor Silvaroli, Carol D’Angelo, Beverly Loparo and 

brother Bart. Other nephews in the Club are: Steve Silvaroli, Jeff Tanski, Rich 

Tanski and David Loparo. 

He served as Club vice president for six years. He is now the main greeter 

to Club members at the monthly Club meetings. He still has that smile and 

friendly hello that makes all feel welcome. 


IAB Club 

A Non-Profit Organization established for charitable, scientific, 

literary and educational purposes. 

Club Officers 

Monthly Wednesday Dinner 

OFFICES LOCATED AT: 

12412 Mayfield Rd. 

Cleveland OH, 44106 

Office: 216.421.1155 

Fax: 216.421.1155 

Email: iabc1928@att.net 

Tom Frisina 

President 

Frank DiMarco 

First Vice President 

Charles Siracusa 

Second Vice President 

Ray Guarino 

Financial Secretary 

Chuck LoPresti 

Recording Secretary 

Trustees 

John Gil 

Lou Gillombardo 

Don Raimondo 

Phil Talarico 

COME DINE WITH US! 

The Board of Directors of the IABC hosts a 

monthly Wednesday night dinner at Nido 

Italia. 

Cost: 

$30 for members and their guests. 

We recommend reservations. 

Call the IAB Club! 

Time: Cocktails - 6:30 pm 

Dinner 7:30 pm 

Parking available at Holy 

Rosary Church 

Appetizer, Main Dish, Soup, 

Salad, Pasta, Side Dish, Dessert, 

Coffee & Wine. 

Wednesday February 13th 

Wednesday March 13th 

Wednesday April 10th 

Call For Speakers 

Did you like our monthly dinner speaker segment? 

Judging from the increased dinner attendance 

and comments you sure did! Well now is the 

time to start thinking about who the lineup will be 

for the next 12 months beginning inApril 2012. 

So if you have someone of interest who would be 

willing to share their experiences (about 15 minutes 

after each dinner) with us we’d be interested in 

speaking with them! Submit your names to Tom 

Frisina at tom.frisina@docclarity.com or call him at 

216-347-2186. 

February 2013 - A Monthly Publication 

Our Goal 


In its 84th year, the goal of the Italian American 

Brotherhood Club is to remain 

dedicated to the support, planning 

development and contribution to the 

needs of approved charitable organizations, 

whose good works and deeds 

align with ours 

With God, All Things Are Possible 

Members Vote to Retain Current Slate 

The club held it’s “A” member meeting in December. This meeting is for “A” members of the club only. At this meeting, 

all club business is discussed including a year in review, all accomplishments, observations, and club metrics. The 

Board also presents the slate for 2013, which is voted on by the members present. The Board recommended that the 

current slate of officers stay intact for 2013. A motion was made and seconded from the floor to accept the Boards’ 

recommendation with a final vote approving the motion. So we are happy to report that the slate (see Club Officers 

at left) will remain the same. “This is a good vote of confidence from our membership and I am honored to continue 

working hard for them and for our Club,” said trustee Phil Talarico. “I can’t wait to dig in for 2013,” said Frank DiMarco. 

The “A” member meeting includes a complimentary dinner as well as a complimentary shirt. For those “B” members 

wishing to upgrade their membership, please contact the club. 

Sports Announcer Les Levine to Speak at 

April Dinner 

Plug this one into your calendar! And bring all your Cleveland sports 

questions too. Les Levine will be our guest speaker at our April 10th 

monthly dinner at Nido Italia. Les Levine is a 34-year veteran of radio 

and television in Northeastern Ohio. Since 1970, he has done the playby-play 

of over 1,800 sporting events from 39 different states! He has 

hosted sports talk shows on Ohio stations WWWE, WSLR, WERE, WHK, 

and FOX Sports NET. 

Les was the television voice for the Cleveland Crusaders hockey team 

of the late great WHA from 1972-74. He was the voice of Kent State basketball 

& football from 1974-79. Les called games on radio for the Cleveland 

State Vikings from 1985-2001, while also hosting the Ohio State 

Scoreline from 1985-89, and the Rollie Massimino show on Fox Sports 

Net from 1997-2000. He called indoor arena football league games for 

the Cleveland Thunderbolts on radio and television from 1992-94. Les 

also covered his beloved Indians hosting the tenth inning show in 1990 

on the Cleveland Indians radio network. 

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Les attended The Ohio State University, 

graduating in with a degree in Political Science.. 

Club Announces 2013 Events 

You’ll want to add these events to your calendar so you 

don’t miss out on any of the fun! 

IAB monthly dinners – second Wednesday of every 

month 

Saturday, March 16th – Tripe Night (note this is 

moved from April!) 

Saturday, June 15th – Steak, Stogie, and Hold’Em 

Night at the new IAB (new event!) 

Friday, July 12th – Golf outing at Pleasant Hills. 

Noon shotgun start 

Friday, July 19th – Italian Heritage Night at the Lake 

County Captains 

Thursday, August 15th thru Sunday August 18th – 

Feast of the Assumption 

Saturday, October 12th – Clambake at the new IAB 

Monday, October 14th – Columbus Day Parade 

Tuesday, December 3rd – A Member dinner and 

meeting 

Wednesday, December 11th – Christmas Party 

Other events subject to level of interest and level of 

effort 

Casino Night (in the fall) 



a close-up view of the 

Sistine Chapel's most 

famous works, which 

attract 20,000 tourists 

a day. 

"It was something 

sooner or later we were 

going to have to address," 

Mr Paolucci told 

the Corriere della Sera. 

"Dust, temperature, 

humidity and carbon 

dioxide are the biggest 

enemies of paintings." 

46 

Visitors to Sistine Chapel to be 

'dusted, cleaned and chilled' 

Celebrating, Supporting & Enjoying the Treasures of the Vatican Museums 

Lorraine Dodero, Ohio Chapter Chairman & Executive Director • Denise Jasko, Administrative Coordinator 

6275 Cochran Road Suite #1, Solon, Ohio 44139 • (440) 498-1300 vaticanpatronsoh@aol.com • vaticanpatronsohio.org 

Vatican Museum Director Antonio 

Paolucci said the new hi-tech 

vacuum system is designed to ensure 

that visitors are free of environmental 

pollutants that might damage the 

500-year old artwork that adorns 

the world's most famous chapel. 

Each visitor will be "dusted, 

cleaned and chilled," Mr Paolucci 

said, adding that there will be a carpet 

that cleans visitors' shoes, while 

side vacuums will suck dust from 

clothes and cool temperatures to reduce 

heat and humidity that emanate 

from their bodies in the hot Rome 

weather. 

The new system is expected to 

be ready sometime in mid 2013. Vatican 

officials said they are also working 

on a "virtual tour" that will allow 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR 

Some very exciting things are in the works for the Ohio Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums…and for Northeast Ohio residents, as well. The Cleveland Museum of Art 

will be featuring an exhibition that opens on Sunday, February 24, 2013 entitled, “The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection”. This exhibition explores the ruins, discovery 

and preservation of artifacts as inspiration for the work of foremost artists—from Piranesi, Fragonard, Ingres, and Alma-Tadema to Duchamp, Rothko, and Warhol. We’re working on a special 

event for Ohio Chapter members to experience this exhibit as a group this spring. Stay tuned for more details. 

We’re also preparing to announce a very important project in the Vatican that our chapter will be involved in. Please watch for details, very soon and if you’re not already a member of the 

Ohio Chapter of Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and would like to find out how you can join us, please call our office at (440) 498-1300 for more information. 

Ciao, 

Lorraine Dodero 

Chairman, Ohio Chapter 

Vatican Museum Director Antonio Paolucci 

The Sistine Chapel is seen by 20,000 visitors, daily. A new vacuum system will 

help protect the art from harmful environmental pollutants. 

New Members 

It is with pleasure that we welcome the following families and individuals as new members to the 

Ohio Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. 

Dr. Linda Neiheiser, Gates Mills, Ohio 

Ms. Carol Puzzitiello and Family, Palm Harbour, Florida 

The Ohio Chapter is proud to have each and every member. Your continued interest and promotion 

of our organization’s mission is greatly appreciated. 

Timing is Everything for the Gallucci Family 

Daniella, Cindy and Alexandria Gallucci just outside the doors of the 

Sistine Chapel. 

Rome. Arrangements were made for 

Cindy, Alex and Daniella to connect 

with a personal tour guide, courtesy 

of the Patrons and enjoy a private visit 

to the Sistine Chapel. They also had a 

very unique peek at the sanctuary behind 

the Sistine Chapel where popes 

rest and prepare for their first public 

address, shedding the scarlet Cardinal 

garments and donning the robes of the 

Holy Father. 

The timing of the Galluccci tour 

made this visit even more special. Their 

trip to the Vatican was on the eve of 

Daniella’s final exam in Art History. As 

luck (and timing) would have it, 50% of 

Daniella Gallucci views the tabernacle in the Sistine Chapel during her 

family’s private tour. 

Cindy Gallucci had not been 

to Italy in more than 25 years. 

Her last visit to the Vatican included 

a group tour of the Sistine 

Chapel where she was “jammed 

into the Chapel with hundreds of 

others like sardines”. This time, 

with the benefit of membership 

in the Patrons of the Arts in the 

Vatican Museums, her tour was 

quite a bit different. 

This past December, Cindy 

and her daughter, Alexandria 

made the trip and rendezvoused 

with her youngest child, Daniella, 

who was studying at Loyola in 

Daniella, Cindy and Alexandria Gallucci pose in the private sacristy 

behind the Sistine Chapel with their guide, Steven. 

the exam’s grade was based 

on the Sistine Chapel. How 

did Daniella do? An “A”, of 

course! But that was only 

a fringe benefit. “This was 

such an incredible experience,” 

says Cindy Gallucci. 

“If you go to Europe, you 

simply have to go to the Vatican. 

It would be sad to not 

make that part of your itinerary. 

And our privileges as 

Patrons members made this 

even better. Our tour was 

serene, vast and wonderful. 

It was, frankly, a spiritual experience 

and awe expiring,” 

she said. 


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Monday thru Friday Monday thru Saturday 

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La Gazzetta Italiana February 2013 - Something New Events Inc

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