July/August 2016

Transcription

July/August 2016

ITALIAN TIMES
THE
JULY 22-24,
2016
Published by the Italian Community Center,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916
VOL. 38, NO. 2
www.ICCMilwaukee.com
SECTION B
JULY/AUGUST 2016
Bartolotta Fireworks Company plans
a spectacular nightly show for Festa
by Pam Pietravalle
If Marco Polo were alive today
he would be thrilled to know that
Festa Italiana has one of the grandest fireworks extravaganzas produced by the Bartolotta Fireworks
Company. After all, from his trip to
China, Marco Polo brought back a
crate of pyrotechnics to his native
Italy where the “fire masters”
developed the most spectacular displays.
As a result, the Italians developed “shells”, which are explosivefilled canisters that were fired into
the air and detonated at maximum
height. This discovery became the
foundation of modern aerial
pyrotechnics. The Italian fire masters also experimented with slower
burning explosive mixtures, which
became the precursor to a variety of
fireworks currently being used.
These “shells”, which were developed around 1292 AD, are the basis
for the fireworks that are used
today and which will be detonated
at Festa Italiana.
Festa would not be complete
without the brightest, loudest and
most beautiful fireworks from
Bartolotta Fireworks Company.
The Bartolotta family has a long
and special history with Festa
Italiana. The “birthdays” of
Bartolotta Fireworks Company and
Festa Italiana coincide – they are
both in their 39th year of existence.
Going into their fourth generation, Bartolotta Fireworks was
founded by the late Sam Bartolotta
and currently owned by brothers
Jeff and Jim Bartolotta. Every year
the Bartolottas bring something
new and exciting to the fireworks
display at Festa Italiana in keeping
with the tradition of Sam
Bartolotta, who inspired the company to continue to create what he
called “Abbondanza in the sky!”
Futsal, a variation of the game
of soccer that is taking America by
storm, is in the lineup at the 2016
Festa Italiana. An eight-team tournament is scheduled for Saturday,
July 23 starting at noon on the
sports court adjacent to the T.J.
Bartolotta Stage.
This marks the third straight
year that Festa has organized a futsal tournament. The 2016 tournament field will include the defending champion, FC Palermo, a
Milwaukee team coached by Italian
Times photo
by Craig
Schoenung
Experience fast-paced futsal
tournament at Festa on July 23
Please turn to page 4B
Community Center member Sal
Carini.
Tournament
coordinator
Michael Palmisano told The Italian
Times that this will be a “5 v. 5”
playoff, meaning there will be four
players and a goalie on the court
‘La Parata Italiana’ set for the Saturday
and Sunday of Festa at 5 p.m.
for each team during each match.
In futsal, the field (or surface) is
smaller than a regulation soccer
field, and the goals are smaller.
The rules create an emphasis on
improvisation and techniques as
well as ball control and passing in
small spaces. “All of this makes for
Cosa c’è dentro?
What’s inside?
Festa bocce details page 3B
Kids of all ages will enjoy
Festa’s Children’s
Stage
page 4B
Bartolotta Fireworks –
A Festa tradition
page 4B
ICC calendar
page 5B
Mark Sept. 9 for “Casino
Night” at ICC
page 6B
Italian classes return
in September
page 6B
Election news
page 7B
Solomon Juneau Club
donates its last
$325 to ICC
page 7B
Courtyard Music Series
heating up
pages 8B-9B
Sponsor Wednesday
opera shows
page 9B
The Pinocchio mobile, designed and built by Italian
Community Center member Cosmo Carini, will be one
of the units in “La Parata Italiana” on Saturday and
Sunday, July 23-24 at 5 p.m. The panels on each side of
the mobile tell the story of the fairy tale novel “The
Adventures of Pinocchio” as written by the Italian
author Carlo Collodi. Look for a story on the parade on
page 4 of this section. (Times photo by Joe Spasiano)
UNICO organizations
present scholarships
and awards
page 10B
Italian golf tournament
names honoree
page 11B
PAGE 2 – SECTION B – JULY/AUGUST 2016
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Play bocce during your visit to Festa
by Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
Whether you are 9 or 90, in
shape or out of shape, an athlete or
non-athletic, you can play the
THE ITALIAN TIMES
631 E. Chicago St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916
(414) 223-2180
Published 11 times annually
Publisher . . . Italian Community Center
ICC President . . . . . . . . .Giuseppe Vella
Newspaper Committee
Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . Blaise DiPronio
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas Hemman
Advertising Sales
Manager . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas Hemman
Advertising Sales
Representative . . . . . . Faye Ann Kessler
Editorial Contributors, Reporters
and Columnists . . . . . . .Blaise Di Pronio,
Donato Di Pronio, Pam Pietravalle,
Lorraine Sutton, Susan Christiansen,
Barbara Collignon, Roberto Ciampi,
Paul Salsini, Christina Ziino
and the late Mario A. Carini
Staff Photographers. . . . . . .Joe Spasiano,
and Tom Hemman
For advertising information, please call
(414) 223-2180 or send an e-mail to:
[email protected].
Copyright 2016
The Italian Community Center, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
All advertisements must be in accordance
with the rules and requirements as determined by editorial policy. Paid advertisements are not to be interpreted as an
endorsement by the Italian Community
Center or its newspaper, The Italian Times.
In addition, the Newspaper Committee
reserves the right to reject ads based on editorial policy approved by the Board of
Directors of the Italian Community Center.
The Italian Community Center is a member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee
Association of Commerce, Visit Milwaukee
and the Historic Third Ward Association.
Italian lawn bowling game of bocce
and enjoy it. During your visit to
Festa Italiana, July 22-24, you can
test your playing skills on regulation size courts. Those courts will
be set up on the lawn east of the
Flags of Festa and south of the
Palermo’s Pizza Stage.
“As a game that can be played
by people of all ages and physical
abilities, bocce makes a great family activity or a fun challenge among
friends,” said Dan Conley, bocce
manager.
Best of all, the cost to participate is inexpensive. The price to
play remains the same as it has
been for the last several years, just
$2 per person per 12-point game.
Special Olympics qualifying tournament. While the tourney always
proves to be a lot of fun, some of the
Special Olympians have a real
incentive to win to advance to the
state finals. As for the Carmelite
Sisters’ fundraising tournament,
you are welcome to challenge those
habit-wearing nuns. Be aware,
however, they are sharp players.
Open bocce courts for Festa
attendees’ enjoyment will be available for a good share of the festival
hours. On opening day, Friday,
July 22, the courts will be open
immediately after a Special
Olympics of Southeastern Wisconsin tournament (approximately 2
p.m.) until just prior to the 10:30
p.m. fireworks. On Saturday, July
23, most of the courts will be open
from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. A
couple of the courts are being
reserved for a fundraising tournament challenge hosted by the
Carmelite Sisters to benefit the
Carmelite Home for Boys in
Wauwatosa. On Sunday, attendees
can play after the 39th annual
Festa Italiana bocce tournament
ends. (The tournament is usually
finished by approximately 6 p.m.,
leaving the courts open from that
time to 9 p.m.)
Just a few notes you might be
interested in knowing. The Friday
tournament is a State of Wisconsin
Last year, it seemed like they had
someone special on their side!
Teams must register in advance to
play in the Sunday tournament.
Please see the registration form on
this page.
The major sponsor of bocce at
Festa this year is American Taxi
Company. Also serving as a sponsor
is the Pompeii Women’s Club.
Is your team good enough to win
the 39th Festa bocce tournament?
Maybe the players on your team will hold the championship trophy in
their hands after winning the 39th annual Festa Italiana bocce tournament on Sunday, July 24. Last year, the victors were players on Young
Money, a team from the Milwaukee area. Young Money is expected to
return to defend its title. To register your team, please use the form adjacent to this caption. The players on Young Money included (from the left)
Justin Mudlaff, Zach Martens, Josh Martens and Jared Norgal. This year,
American Taxi Company is the primary sponsor of Festa bocce. The
Pompeii Women’s Club is also a sponsor. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
–ENTRANCE FEE:
THE ITALIAN TIMES
JULY/AUGUST 2016 – PAGE 3, SECTION B
La Grande Parata della Festa Italiana
Celebrating la famiglia (family),
la cultura (culture) and all things
Italian, La Grande Parata della
Festa Italiana will return on
Saturday, July 23 and July 24,
starting at 5 p.m. on the north end
of the grounds.
Featuring characters and representations from The Story of
Pinocchio, Topo Gigio, Italian folk
dancing groups, flag throwers from
Italy, the UW Marching Band,
floats, jugglers, a drum line, many,
many children and much more, the
parade will wind through the
grounds to the south end.
Children will toss out candy,
balls, beads and other small trinkets to the crowd. It will be colorful, entertaining and fill the air
with Italian music.
The parade will salute Pinocchio
on a mobile filled with children and
in costume joined by the Blue Fairy
and Topo Gigio, the Italian mouse.
The folk dance groups include
Tradizione Vivente: the Italian
Dance Group of Milwaukee, I Bei
Bambini: Children’s Italian Dance
Group, and the Italian Regional &
Renaissance Dancers. There will be
a Sicilian carretto and stunning
A beautiful decorated Sicilian “carretto” carried a young passenger in “La
Parata Italiana” last year. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
Bartolotta Fireworks
ready to light up the
lakefront skies
from page 1B
This year will be no exception
according to Gina Bartolotta, Jeff’s
daughter. She says we will see and
hear a fantastic array of glittering
“peonies”, “chrysanthemums”,
“salutes” which are responsible for
the large flashes and noise, “batteries” which zoom straight up from
the ground and are all noise,
“mines” which are flashes hanging
on wire providing low to the ground
flashes, “batteries” which fire
straight up ground bombs and
many others. Gina indicated that
all of these fireworks are variations
of the original “shell” design from
the Italians.
As technologies evolved,
Bartolotta Fireworks embraced
them by applying them to their
fireworks displays in both planning
and execution. Their shows, particularly the larger shows, require
careful planning of each firework
and it is all documented. These
plans are then choreographed and
displayed on a computer. In execution, most shows utilize electronics
to set off the fireworks rather than
doing it by hand. This is especially
beneficial in controlling the timing
of launches and increasing safety.
The Festa display requires
countless hours of planning and
execution. Gina said that as soon
as Festa Italiana is over, planning
begins for the next Festa. There are
anywhere from 15 to 20 crew members from Bartolotta Fireworks at
Festa Italiana each night. Set up
takes five to six hours to implement and great care is expended
during the production to ensure
quality and safety for all.
Bartolotta Fireworks has grown
greatly over the years since Sam
started the business in 1977.
They now produce over 500
shows a year with some of their
largest being Summerfest “Big
Bang” Fireworks and Fourth of
July celebrations throughout
Milwaukee County parks. During
this time, they employ over 400
technicians to execute the fireworks displays. Ever concerned
about quality and safety, they provide intensive training for their
technicians. Fireworks shows are
conducted throughout the year
including the winter months where
they provide fireworks at ski
resorts, New Year’s Eve events and
Christmas celebrations throughout
Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.
Come experience the loudest
and most spectacular fireworks of
the season at Festa Italiana - 10:30
pm on Friday and Saturday and
10:15 pm on Sunday.
At Festa, special emphasis is
always placed on noise along with
the dazzling colors. According to
Jeff Bartolotta, “Italians like to
‘feel’ their fireworks along with seeing the colors”. Irrespective of their
fireworks extravaganza, Gina
Bartolotta said that Festa has a
special meaning for her because
she and her whole family attend
every year and have a great time.
Italian cars carrying the Italian
Community Center’s Royalty of
Carnevale 2016.
Sbandieratori dei Borghi e
Sestieri, the phenomenal flagthrowing unit from Figline
Valdarno, Italy, will astound
parade viewers as they twirl and
toss their flags, soaring high in the
air.
“We hope to have many children
in Venetian masks and in costumes,” said Gina Jorgensen,
Parade Manager. “We are waiting
confirmation from the Madison
Area Jugglers, who always entertain the crowd with their expertise
and flair. Since it’s the peak of
summer, beach balls will be tossed.
Prizes and candy will be thrown to
be collected by our young parade
Festa’s Children’s Stage
offers something for kids
of all ages
by Pam Pietravalla
The Children’s Stage at Festa
Italiana this year is going to be
full of fun for kids of all ages. Rick
Alswager (a.k.a. Rick Allen) and
founder of Rick Allen Magic
Productions, is the stage manager. Having participated at Festa
Italiana for many years as Bingo
The Magical Clown and as the
magician in the Rick Allen Magic
Show, he was asked to take over
as stage manager about four
years ago when Michelle Shoplas
moved out of the area. It was
Michelle’s mother, Grace, a first
grade teacher, who started the
Children’s Stage at Festa Italiana
and continued as such for over 30
years. Michelle took over when
her mother retired.
Kicking off this year’s entertainment on the Children’s Stage
will be I Bei Bambini, The
Children’s Italian Dance
Group of Milwaukee at 4 p.m.
on Friday, July 22, under the
direction of Susie (DeSanctis)
Christiansen
and
Ashley
DeSanctis. The Children’s Italian
Dance Group is part of Tradizione
Vivente - The Italian Dance
Group of Milwaukee, Inc. which
has been in existence for over 65
years started with their desire
their to keep Italian traditions
alive for future generations
through music, dance and costume. The Children’s Dance
Group consists of over 50 children
ranging in age from 2-1/2 to 14
years old who sing and dance and
speak
beginning
Italian.
Embracing Italian culture, these
children perform authentic
Italian folk dancing, wearing the
costumes representative of their
ancestors. Through these children, the Italian Dance Group of
Milwaukee is ensuring that our
Italian traditions are never forgotten. They will be performing
every day of Festa Italiana – 4
p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday.
Following the Children’s
Italian Dance Group on Friday, at
5:30 p.m. will be a performance
from Anita’s Dance Group of the
Anita’s Dance Center of Muskego.
Anita’s Dance Center has been
offering dance classes in
Southeastern Wisconsin for ages
3-18 in tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical,
ballet, drama, pointe, poms and
ballroom dancing for over 50
years. Having performed around
the country, they have garnered
national recognition. Among the
events where they have performed are the Globetrotters New
Year’s Eve show, the Indianapolis
500 Festival Parade and Fourth
of July parades and shows in New
Berlin and Hales Corners. Their
performances will be on Saturday
and Sunday at 4 p.m.
Rounding out Friday entertainment at the Children’s Stage
will be Rick Allen with a very
exciting magic show at 7 p.m. for
Doug The Jug
Youngsters in I Bei Bambini take a bow after a completing a performance on the Children’s Stage. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Calendar of Events
June 28 – September 1, 2016
Tuesday, June 28
• Italian Community Center Culture Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Leroy Airmaster with special guest
Junior Brantley, 6:30 p.m. Details on all Courtyard shows in this section.
Monday, July 11
• Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Jazz with Tom Sorce Band featuring vocalist
Anita Stemper, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Rockin’ Johnny with special guest
Aki Kumar, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 13
• Order Sons of Italy in America/Filippo Mazzei Milwaukee Area Lodge
Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 14
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with the Rick D’Amore Band,
6:30 p.m.
• Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
• Società Santa Rosalia meeting, 7 p.m.
Monday, July 18
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with The Bel Airs, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 19
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with the Bryan Lee Band, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 21
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with the Oldies But Goodies
Spectacular, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 22
• Festa Italiana VIP Day for persons with disabilities, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
Maier Festival Park. Details in Section A.
• Festa Italiana “Italian Idol” Contest, 8:30 p.m., Piazza Stage. Details in
Section A.
• Festa Italiana Fireworks. presented by Bartolotta Fireworks, 10:30 p.m.
Details in Section B.
• Festa Italiana, 2 p.m. – midnight, Maier Festival Park.
Saturday, July 23
• Vince Lombardi Walk/Run to Tackle Cancer, 7:30 a.m., registration,
9:30 a.m., run, 10 a.m., walk, and 11 a.m., post-walk/run activities in the
Palermo’s Pizza Stage. Details in Section A.
• Festa Italiana, 11:30 a.m. – midnight, Maier Festival Park.
• Festa Italiana Futsal Tournament, noon. T.J. Bartolotta Sports Court.
Details in Section B.
• Festa Italiana Cannoli-Eating Contest, 3:30 p.m. Details in Section A.
• Festa Italiana Parade, 5 p.m. Details in this section.
• Festa Italiana “Italian Idol” Contest, 8:30 p.m., Piazza Stage. Details in
Section A.
Sunday, July 24
• Festa Italiana Mass and procession, 11 a.m., Marcus Amphitheater.
Details in Section A.
• Festa Italiana, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Maier Festival Park.
• Festa Italiana Bocce Tournament, 2 p.m. Details in Section B.
• Festa Italiana Kids Pizza-Making Contest, 3 and 3:30 p.m. Details in
Section A.
• Festa Italiana Parade, 5 p.m. Details in Section B.
• Festa Italiana Chef’s Choice Recipe Contest winners chosen, 6 p.m.
• Festa Italiana concert with singing sensation Jackie Evancho, 6 p.m.
BMO Harris Pavilion. Special ticket required. Details in both sections.
• Festa Italiana “Italian Idol” Contest Finals, 8:30 p.m., Piazza Stage.
Monday, July 25
• Courtyard Music Series: Las Vegas show with the Tom Anthony Group,
6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 26
• Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Joey Leone, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 28
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with Bob Hirschi & Groove
Therapy, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 1
• Courtyard Music Series: Jazz with Suzanne Grzanna Band, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 2
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with John Sieger with Sub Continentals,
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 3
• Courtyard Music Series: Opera with Kay Sparling Theatrical
Productions, 6:30 p.m.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Thursday, Aug. 4
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with the Doo Wah-Wahs,
6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 8
• Italian Community Center Finance Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Jazz with Jeff Lebarge Band featuring vocalist
Pete Sorce, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 9
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Leroy Airmaster with special guest
Denny Goyer, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
• Courtyard Music Series: Opera with Mezzo-Soprano Kerry Hart &
Friends, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with The Ricochettes, 6:30 p.m.
• Italian Community Center Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15
• Courtyard Music Series: Jazz with Generation Gap, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
• Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO general meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Third Coast Collection with special
guests Jim Voegli and Perry Weber, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 17
• Order Sons of Italy in America/Filippo Mazzei Lodge general meeting, 6
p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Opera with Kay Sparling Theatrical
Productions, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 18
• Italian Community Center membership dinner, 5:30 p.m.
• Italian Community Center general meeting, 6:30 p.m. Election slate
finalized. Details in Section B.
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with the Tom Anthony Group,
6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 22
• Courtyard Music Series: Jazz with Jack Grassel, Jill Jensen and Jeff
Sontag, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 23
• Italian Community Center Culture Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with the Blues Disciples, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 24
• Courtyard Music Series: Classical with Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra,
6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 25
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with Bob Hirschi & Groove
Therapy, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26
• Abruzzese Society social, 6 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 29
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Hat Trick, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 30
• Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO Board meeting, 6 p.m.
• Courtyard Music Series: Blues with Alex Wilson Band, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 31
• Courtyard Music Series: Opera with Tenor Joe Graziano & Friends, 6:30
p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 1
• Courtyard Music Series: Rock and Roll with the Larry Lynne Band, 6:30
p.m.
Daily and weekly classes and activities
• Bocce leagues. The fall season will get underway the week of Sept. 12
with mixed couples’ leagues on Monday and Wednesday nights and
seniors’ leagues on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Registration forms
available at the ICC.
• Hula hoop dance class. Every Tuesday night, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. in the
bocce court room. Everyone is welcome. Cost: $5 per member, $10 per nonmember.
• ICC Italian classes. Details about the fall semester will be announced
soon.
• I Bei Bambini, The Children’s Italian Dance Group. This children’s folk
dance group practices weekly on most Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the
ICC. New dancers are welcome. For details, visit:
www.tradizionevivente.com.
• Tradizione Vivente, The Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee. This folk
dace group practices weekly on most Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at the ICC.
Visit: www.tradizionevivente.com for details. Ballate con noi! Dance with
us!
Casino Night planned as ICC
fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 9
If you’ve never been in a casino,
the Italian Community Center is
giving you a chance to get a taste of
what it’s like to win big, while
keeping the risk small, and all in a
casino-like environment. Alternately, if you’ve experienced gambling fever and played in casinos,
this is an opportunity to sharpen
and practice your skills for not a
whole lot of money.
The ICC Membership Committee is very excited to sponsor and
offer an enjoyable night of make
believe gambling on Friday, Sept.
9. The third annual Casino Night
ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
CASINO NIGHT ENTRY TICKETS ORDER FORM
Name(s) _____________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _________________________________________________
Phone _______________________________________________________
Email address _________________________________________________
Order your entry tickets by Aug. 15, 2016 and receive a $5 discout on your
entry tickets. Complete this area if you ordering by Aug. 15:
ICC Members: No. of entry tickets ______ x $25.00/person = $___________
Non-Members: No of entry tickets ______ x $30.00/person = $___________
If ordering entry tickets after Aug. 15, 2016, complete this area:
ICC Members: No. of entry tickets ______ x $30.00/person = $___________
Non-Members: No of entry tickets ______ x $35.00/person = $___________
Mail this form with your full payment to: Italian Community Center, c/o
Casino Night, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916.
event will give all attendees the
opportunity to use “fun” chips to
play a variety of Vegas style games
including Blackjack, Craps,
Roulette and Hold’Em Poker.
Reservations only
for this fundraiser
The evening is a fundraiser for
the ICC and is open to the general
public and, of course ICC members,
their families and friends. “Please
note that we are limiting attendance to the first 150 people
who make reservations to attend,”
said Membership Committee
Chairs Bill and Karen Dickinson.
Reservations are recommended
and, if made and paid for by
Monday, Aug. 15, you can save $5.
“Last year, Casino Night drew 100
people, and everyone said they had
a terrific time and wanted to see us
impose the attendance cap. It made
it easier for everyone to play the
games and enjoy the atmosphere of
the event.”
Here are the specifics so you can
start making your plans: The
Casino Night will be held in the
Festa Ballroom. It will run from 7
to 10 p.m. Entry tickets, if ordered
by Aug. 15, are $30 for non-members and $25 for members. After
Aug. 15, entry tickets will be $35
for non-members and $30 for members. There is a reservation form,
which accompanies this article, can
be used to send in paid reservations
by mail, or you can call the ICC
office at 414-223-2180 and pay with
a credit card. Tickets will also be
available to buy in person at the
ICC office. Remember, the $5 dis-
count applies only on entry tickets
ordered by Aug. 15. Should tickets
still be available, Karen and Bill
plan to have them on sale at the
general membership meeting on
Thursday, Aug. 18.
Here’s what you’ll get
With your paid entry fee, you
will receive two raffle tickets worth
$100 each. You give these raffle
tickets to a table dealer in
exchange for playing chips that you
use for gambling. Afterwards, you
turn in your winning chips for raffle tickets. The more chips you win,
the more opportunities you have at
winning prizes. Additional $100
tickets will be available for purchase throughout the night at 7 for
$5, 16 for $10, and 24 for $15.
Complete and easy instructions will
be provided all evening.
The gambling tables will be provided by Music on the Move along
with professional dealers who, if
necessary, will explain the rules of
play for the individual games.
They are trained to be patient and
friendly, and they will make sure
that it will be an evening of fun for
all.
“We encourage all guests to
come to the ICC early and have
dinner at Cafe La Scala prior to hitting the gaming tables,” said the
Dickinsons. “Table side service for
drink orders will be available in the
ballroom.”
Sponsorship opportunities
In addition, the Membership
Committee wants to stress and proPlease turn to page 19B
Italian classes being
ICC’s FREE children’s
Italian class to begin Sept. 24 offered for adults and teens
The fall semester of a free weekWisItalia as Wisconsin’s 2009
ly series of Italian classes for chil“Italian Teacher of the Year.”
starting Sept. 13 at ICC
dren between the ages of 6 and 12
Tarantino Woytal has been leading
will begin Saturday, Sept. 24, at
the Italian Community Center. The
class, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m.,
will continue for eight weeks, with
the final session on Nov. 12.
The course is intended to provide children with an introduction
to the Italian language and the culture of Italy. Besides learning some
basic words and the Italian alphabet, the children also make drawings for holidays and special occasions and receive a snack during
each Saturday session.
The instructor is Enrica
Tarantino Woytal, who also leads
the ICC’s Italian classes for teens
and adults. She was honored by
the children’s class at the ICC since
the early 1980s. Over the years,
several hundred youngsters have
participated in the free class.
To register for the fall semester,
please complete the form accompanying this article and mail it to:
Children’s Italian Course, c/o ICC,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI
53202-5916. Since there is no
enrollment fee, parents can also
register their children in person
any time during the semester.
For further information, contact
the ICC office at 414-223-2180, or
Enrica Tarantino Woytal or Pietro
Tarantino at 414-481-0170, or via
email at [email protected].
Free Children's Italian Course Registration Form
(For children ages 6-12)
at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
Parent(s) Name ________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________
City ________________________ State _______ Zip __________
Phone No.: ______________ Email_________________________
Children's Names & Ages: _______________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Send this form to: Children's Italian Course, c/o ICC,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916.
This fall, the Italian Community
Center will offer an introductory
class (Italian I) as well as an
Italian II class, both starting
Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Both courses will be held on 10
consecutive Tuesday nights, with
the final classes on Nov. 15.
Instructor Enrica Tarantino
Woytal described Italian I as being
for those who want an introduction
to the language and the culture of
Italy. The introductory course will
run from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.
The Italian II course will begin
at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:15 p.m.
“Italian II is ideal for those who
have completed our introductory
course and are ready to learn more
about the language and culture of
Italy,” Tarantino Woytal said.
Enrollment is open to ICC members and the general public. There
is a limit of 25 students per class.
The fee for each course is $100 for
an ICC member and $110 for a
non-member. The fee does not
include the course textbook.
To register, complete the form
accompanying this article. Checks
or money orders are payable to the
Italian Community Center.
Registration will be accepted up to
the start of the Sept. 13 classes if
the enrollment limit has not been
reached. People can also stop in at
the ICC office, fill out the registration form and make their payment.
Registration form for
Italian I course & Italian II course
Name(s) ___________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________
Phone No. ___________________Email _________________________________
I am (we are) enrolling in:
Italian I course Number of persons enrolling.
Italian II course Number of persons enrolling.
Course fee: ICC Member - $100.00; Non-Member - $110.00
Make payment to: Italian Community Center, and send to: ICC, c/o Italian Class,
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916. Enrollment in each class is limited to the first 25 students who send in this registration form with full payment.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ICC election slate will be finalized at
Aug. 18 general meeting
By Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
Italian Community Center members who may be eligible and are
interested in running for any of the
officer positions or any of the four
open director-at-large positions are
being asked to make their intentions known to the Nominating
Committee.
A five-member Nominating
Committee was selected at the May
19 general meeting. In accordance
with the organization’s bylaws, ICC
President Giuseppe Vella appointed two of the members – Rosemary
DeRubertis and Sal Lo Coco – and
named them as co-chairpersons.
Members fulfilled their obligation
by electing the three other members – Suzanne Wypijewski, Ray
Martinez and Christina Ziino.
A slate prepared by the Nominating Committee will be presented
at the Aug. 18 general meeting,
start begins at 6:30 p.m. It will be
finalized with any further nominations that night. If someone decides
at the last minute to run for a position, the ICC bylaws (Article V,
Section 7) allow further nominations to be made from the floor the
night of the general meeting (Aug.
18).
Candidate qualifications
According to Article V, Section 1
of the ICC By-Laws: “To be eligible
as an officer or board member of
the Italian Community Center, a
potential candidate:
“a. Must be a member in good
standing;
“b. Must have been a member of
the Italian Community Center for
at least 12 months prior to his/her
nomination;
“c. Must have served on at least
one Italian Community Center or
Festa Italiana committee within
the past year or attended at least
50% of the regularly-scheduled general membership meetings in the
preceding year as confirmed by the
record.”
Once the committee presents its
proposed slate at the general meeting, any additional nominations
can and will be taken from the
floor.
The next responsibility of the
Nominating Committee is stipulated in Article V, Section 1.d., which
states, “Nominations for an officer
or board member to be made from
the floor will be validated by the
Nominating Committee prior to
placing the names on the ballot.”
After verifying the eligibility of
the candidates, the committee will
conduct a drawing to determine
placement of names on the election
ballot. The committee will go on to
oversee the mailing of ballots to all
members in good standing.
The mailing must take place
within eight days of the September
general meeting. That meeting date
is Thursday, Sept. 15.
To guarantee that the ballot of
every eligible voting member is
counted, the return envelope with
the enclosed ballot (or, in the case
of couples, ballots) must be postmarked no later than the Thursday
preceding the October general
meeting. The October general
meeting is Thursday, Oct. 20,
Solomon Juneau Club
donates $325 to ICC
The Solomon Juneau Club, a
volunteer organization that was
initiated in the early 1930s to
oversee the 4th of July celebration
activities at Solomon Juneau Park
on Milwaukee’s East Side, has
donated $325 to the Italian
Community Center.
The club, which, in recent
years, was comprised of elderly
members, many of Italian
descent, has ceased its existence.
Club members voted to donate all
that was left in its bank account –
$325 – to the ICC.
In its heyday, Solomon Juneau
Club members handed out
American flags to schoolchildren
and led them on a march to the
park. They also judged bicycles
and buggies that were decorated
for Independence Day and handed
out cups of ice cream with to all
the youngsters.
“We are very grateful for this
donation to the ICC. On behalf of
our Board of Directors and our
members, I want to acknowledge
the long history that the Solomon
Juneau Club has in our community and all the great things they
accomplished over the years, benefiting thousands of children and
celebrating our nation’s independence,” said Giuseppe Vella, ICC
President.
Fall bocce season to start
week of Sept. 12 at ICC
After a summer break, bocce
leagues will start up again at the
Italian Community Center. Get
your team together now.
The fall bocce season gets
underway the week of Sept. 12.
Teams in the senior citizen leagues
play on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. Teams in the mixed couples’
leagues compete on Monday and
Wednesday nights. The regular
season lasts eight weeks.
The fall season champion playoffs will take place Monday, Nov.
14 at 7 p.m.
If you’re interested in registering a team to play in a fall league,
here are a few things you need to
THE ITALIAN TIMES
know. There are two sets of player
registration fees. The lower fee is
for players who are members of the
ICC. That fee is $30 per person per
league season. The non-member
registration fee is $40 per person
per league season.
Each team must consist of at
least four players, with one player
designated as the team captain.
Each league is interested in having
eight teams. That way every team
can compete each week.
Team registration forms are
available by calling the ICC office
at 414/223-2180 or by picking one
up at the ICC. The form can also be
emailed to you.
which means ballots need to be
postmarked no later than Oct 13.
Ballots that are not postmarked
or are postmarked after Oct. 13 will
not be opened or counted.
Tellers, whose chair and members will be appointed by the ICC
President, will meet prior to the
October general meeting to confirm
the validity of all returned ballots.
These same individuals will meet
the day of the October general
meeting (Oct. 20) to open all valid
ballot envelopes and tally the votes.
The committee will report the
results to the membership before
the general meeting is adjourned.
Newly-elected officers and directors will officially begin their service on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
All nomination and election procedures are spelled out in Article V
of the ICC By-Laws.
Terms of office
The term of officers is one year.
The current officers are: President
Giuseppe Vella, Vice President
Dean Cannestra, Treasurer Sam
Purpero, Secretary Rose Anne
(Ceraso) Fritchie and Sergeant-atArms Joanne (Sanfilippo) Czubek.
Under the term limit stipulation
set forth in Article IV, Section 8.c.,
“A President shall be allowed to
succeed himself/herself for one
term and one term only. All other
officers shall be eligible for re-elec-
tion to said offices without limitations.” Since Vella is completing his
second consecutive term, he is not
eligible to run for another term. All
other officers are eligible to seek reelection.
The term for directors-at-large is
two years. Current directors who
will be completing two years of
service are Ted A. Catalano, Joe
Campagna, Jr., Karen Dickinson
and Anthony M. Zingale.
The term limit stipulation for
directors-at-large is set forth in
Article V, Section 8.b., which
states, “The term of office for
Directors-At-Large shall be two
years, with four Directors elected
each year. No Director-At-Large
may serve more than two consecutive terms (four consecutive years).
After two such consecutive terms,
he/she must either run for a higher
office or remain on a hiatus from
the Board of Directors as a
Director-At-Large for at least a
one-year period prior to running for
Director-At-Large again.” All four
are eligible to run for a second
term, however, it is expected that
Campagna will be unable due to
recent health issues.
Directors Mary Anne CerasoAlioto, Susan DeSanctis Christiansen, Joseph Emanuele and Pietro
Tarantino will have one year of
service remaining when the 201617 term begins on Nov. 1.
ICC’s 39th annual
Festa Italiana
Friday, July 22 – Sunday, July 24
annual Festival di Danza e
Cultura
Friday, Oct. 21
ICC’s Columbus Day
Celebration Dance
Saturday, Oct. 8
ICC’s 2nd annual Holiday
Boutique
Saturday, Nov. 26
ICC’s 3rd annual Casino Night
Friday, Sept. 9
ICC’s Student Culture Day
Program
Monday, Oct. 17
ICC and International
Institute of Wisconsin’s 3rd
ICC’s Installation Dinner
Saturday, Nov. 5
ICC’s Membership Christmas
Party
Thursday, Dec. 15
ICC’s New Year’s Eve Party
Saturday, Dec. 31
ICC offering photo ID parking
pass to members during
summer festival season
The Italian Community Center
is offering its members a chance
to substantially save on parking
costs during the summer festival
season, June through September.
A new photo identification parking pass is available to members
for a one-time price of $50.
This pass will be valid for all
the lakefront festivals, including
Festa Italiana, in 2016.
To obtain the pass, all a member needs to do is stop in at the
front desk at the ICC office
between 2 and 5 p.m., Monday
through Thursday, present your
membership card and have your
picture taken. The $50 payment
is due at this time. The photo ID
parking passes will be issued
afterwards.
Over the course of the summer, members can save significantly on parking fees by having
the pass. Summerfest daily parking is normally $20 per vehicle
(sometimes $25) and daily parking for the other festivals is normally $10.
The privilege to use the ICC
issued photo parking is based on
lot availability. If the lot is full or
in use for another event, you will
not be able to enter.
This parking pass offer is
available to members of the ICC
only. It is not open to the general
public.
Enjoy free weeknight music all
summer long in the ICC’s Courtyard
Opera/Broadway performers added to lineup on Wednesday nights in August
by Thomas Hemman
Times Editor
Here’s something to do this summer that is fun, entertaining and
appropriate for all ages. And – best
of all – everyone can attend for free!
It’s the Italian Community Center’s
Courtyard Music Series.
Parking in the ICC’s lot south of
the building is also free.
The 16th season of the series is
offered on Monday, Tuesday and
Thursday nights in July and
August, and – just announced – on
all five Wednesday nights during
the month of August. The
Wednesday night programs will
feature opera and Broadway performances.
This year, the ICC is pleased to
have the Bartolotta Restaurants as
the presenting sponsor.
As always, some of the best
vocalists, musicians and bands are
scheduled to perform. Whether you
are a fan of traditional or contemporary jazz, the big band sound,
any of the genres of blues, R&B or
rock and roll, the ICC has something for you this summer in the
Courtyard.
The staff of Cafe La Scala is on
hand to take food and beverage
orders. By the way, the food and
drink prices are very reasonable,
too. Each night, food and drink
service is available from 5 to 10
p.m. Reservations are recommended as many of the acts draw capacity crowds. Call 414-223-2185 to
reserve a table.
All of the shows begin at 6:30
p.m. and end around 9 p.m. They
go on rain or shine. In the event of
inclement weather, the shows are
brought indoors to the Festa
Ballroom, the room next to Cafe La
Scala.
The 2016 season started
Thursday, June 9. If you happen to
be reading this story between June
29 and July 10, you will find the
series is on hiatus in deference to
Summerfest at nearby Henry W.
Maier Festival Park.
Here is the lineup in July and
August. The entertainers were
booked by music producer/versatile
guitarist Tom Sorce.
• Monday, July 11 – Anita
Stemper with the Tom Sorce Band.
Jazz vocalist Stemper, a recording
artist known for her performances
with the trio, OPUS, joins Sorce for
an evening of standard and contemporary jazz.
• Tuesday, July 12 – Rockin’
Johnny
with
Aki
Kumar.
Chicagoland blues featuring guitarist Rockin’ Johnny with powerhouse harp player Aki Kumar will
Continued on page 9B
Tom Sorce is once again serving as
the music director for the
Courtyard Music Series.
Commitment
based
membership
payment
options
Presently, there are two payment options available to you
should you choose a 2-year membership or a 3-year membership.
1. You may pay each January
for the duration of your 3-year or
2-year membership. As an show
of good faith, you must sign the
statement at the bottom of the
new application (that appears on
the next page).
2. You may pay for your full
3-year or 2-year membership by
the end of the first year – in 4
quarterly payments.**
** If a member pre-pays for a
2-year or 3-year membership,
and passes away or moves out of
state, the remainder of their
membership dues will be donated to the Italian Community
Center in the member’s name.
Pro Rated Amount
You may have received a bill
for a smaller amount of money.
This dues payment doesn’t relate
to the new dues program, but
rather, is a transitional amount
that is intended to return everyone to a Jan. 1 through Dec. 31
Membership. You are not being
charged an additional amount.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
ICC’s Courtyard Music Series just
starting to warm up
from page 8B
keep the crowd jumping.
• Thursday, July 14 – Rick
D’Amore Band. Vocalist Rick
D’Amore sings the songs of all of
the legends of rock and roll and Top
40s including Elvis, Roy Orbison
and Tom Jones and, perhaps, some
Sinatra.
• Monday, July 18 – The BelAirs. Fronted by brothers Dick and
Dave Pruitt on bass and electric
guitars, with Michael Cherry on
drums, the Bel Airs play a danceable mix with an authentic but
eclectic bluesy-country-soul-androck-n-roll sound influenced by the
likes of Wilson Pickett, Slim Harpo,
Howlin’ Wolf and Johnny Cash.
• Tuesday, July 19 – Bryan
Lee Band. Lee, the blind New
Orleans blues legend, brings his
super funky New Orleans-style of
blues to the Courtyard for a show
sure to draw a big crowd.
• Thursday, July 21 – Oldies
But Goodies Spectacular. Vocalists
Kim Marie, Chuck Travis and Tony
Clementi bring their all-star cast of
musicians to the ICC for the
group’s final appearance of the
summer. The group opened the
2016 series this past June 9.
• Monday, July 25 – Tom
Anthony Group – Vocalist Tom
Anthony delivers rock and roll,
R&B, Top 40 and country backed
by a cast of expert musicians
including Tom Sorce. Make reservations for this show, as Tom and
company always draw a big crowd.
• Tuesday, July 26 – Joey
Leone. This singer, songwriter and
master guitar player from the hills
of Vermont brings his blend of rockin’ blues to the ICC’s Courtyard
Music Series for the first time.
• Thursday, July 28 – Bob
Hirschi & Groove Therapy. Hirschi,
a former vocalist with the Oldies
But Goodies Spectacular, brings his
group of young, talented musicians
to the courtyard for a show that
features rock and roll, R&B, today’s
pop music and lots of danceable
numbers.
• Monday, Aug. 1 – Suzanne
Grzanna Band. Sax diva Suzanne
Grzanna returns to the courtyard
for the first time in many years.
From New York, Paris, Japan,
Russia, Los Angeles and Chicago,
Grzanna has made a prominent
worldwide name for herself. She
has performed at prestigious halls
such as the Blue Note, Birdland,
Preservation Hall, Cinegrill, and
the Hollywood Bowl.
• Tuesday, Aug. 2 –Sub
Continentals, The Subcontinentals,
John Sieger on guitar and vocals,
Mike Sieger on bass and vocals,
Kelli Gonzales on vocals and keyboards and John Carr on drums
have just come off a very productive
year. The release of their debut
recording “The Early Years” was
met with solidly good reviews.
• Wednesday, Aug. 3 – Kay
Sparling Theatrical Productions.
Expect to hear opera, Neopolitan
songs and traditional Broadway
featuring international soprano
and regional singers.
• Thursday, Aug. 4 – The Doo
Wah Wahs. Vocalist Chuck Travis
and his band play the best of the
‘50s and ‘60s for everyone’s dancing
and listening pleasure.
• Monday, Aug. 8 – Pete Sorce
with the Jeff LeBarge Band.
Recognized as one of the “Midwest’s
premier big bands.” Peforming at
music festivals, dances and concert
THE ITALIAN TIMES
A whacky weather forecast brought the opening night
show of the 2016 Courtyard Music Series indoors. The
morning forecast, used to determine whether the ICC
staff should set up the stage, lighting, chairs and tables
indoors or out in the courtyard for that evening’s
show, called for heavy rain and wind. The courtyard
series, Sorce and the musicians
present a variety of compositions
and arrangements from Stan
Kenton and Woody Herman to
Bobby Darin and Brian Setzer.
Sorce has been singing since he
was 8 years old.
• Tuesday, Aug. 9 – Denny
Geyer with Leroy Airmaster. Steve
Cohen, leader of the legendary
blues outfit Leroy Airmaster, has
played his harmonica and guitar
with some of the world’s top blues
players. Geyer, a Milwaukee
native, has been playing rhythm
and blues his entire life.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10 – Kerry
Hart & Friends. Mezzo soprano
Hart and her talented friends – all
regional professional singers – will
perform opera arias and ensembles
and Broadway hits.
• Thursday, Aug. 11 – The
Ricochettes. Formed initially in
1963, The Ricochettes were dubbed
“Milwaukee’s Beatles” in 1964 and
released a number of singles
including “Come in My Love,”
which sold over 10,000 copies in the
area. Their goal continues to be to
give their audience the very best of
British Invasion and American rock
and roll from the mid 1960s.
• Monday, Aug. 15 –
Generation Gap. The members of
Generation Gap are well known to
veteran jazz fans. They include
Tom Anderson, the group’s leader
and accordionist, drummer Vic
DiCristo, saxophonist Wayne (Zim)
Zimmermann, guitarist Don Eliot
and Chris Peppas on congas. The
Generation Gap is influenced by
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Earl
Bostic, Frank Sinatra, et al.
• Tuesday, Aug. 16 – Third
Coast Blues Collective. Led by
Milwaukee blues harmonica master
Jim Liban, Third Coast Blues
Collective will be joined by Jim
Voegli and Perry Weber for an
evening of straight-up blues and
R&B.
• Wednesday, Aug. 17 – Kay
Sparling Theatrical Productions.
This evening’s performance of
Sparling and her regional singers
will include opera arias and ensembles and Italian art songs.
• Thursday, Aug. 18 – Tom
Anthony Group. See previous
description.
• Monday, Aug. 22 – Jack
Grassel, Jill Jensen and Jeff
Sontag. Jack and Jill, the married
was ruled out, and, as happens so often here in
Milwaukee, the bad weather never materialized.
Nonetheless, a large crowd enjoyed the rock and roll
show presented by the Oldies But Goodies
Spectacular. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
Sponsorship sought for
Wednesday night
Courtyard Music shows
Bill and Rita Jennaro sponsoring
first opera night
The Italian Community
Conference is welcoming sponsorships for the Wednesday night
opera presentations in the
Courtyard Music Series shows.
Mike Palmisano, chairman of
the Italian Conference Center
Board, announced that Attorney
William Jennaro and his wife,
Rita, are sponsoring the first
night of opera programs in
August. Kay Sparling Theatrical
couple of jazz fame, gives a noholds-barred performance displaying their improvising abilities and
telepathic interplay. They will be
joined by the funky mixes of Jeff
Sontag.
• Tuesday, Aug. 23 – Blues
Disciples. The Blues Disciples have
been bringing their blues to the
people of the local clubs in the
Milwaukee area and the Midwest
region since 1990. The group was
founded by “Barefoot” Jimmy
Schwarz and Kent “The Colonel”
Knapp with the intent of remaining
true to the influences of the
Chicago electric blues era of the
‘50’s and ‘60’s.
• Wedneesday, Aug. 24 –
Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra.
The MMO is the oldest frettedinstrument music organization in
the United States, established in
1900. Enjoy Italian folk, popular
Italian songs and opera on this
evening.
• Thursday, Aug. 25 – Bob
Hirschi & Groove Therapy. See previous description.
• Monday, Aug. 29 – Hat
Trick. Led by Mark “Slowhand”
Cooper (vocals and guitar), this
band will take you back to the
beach, covering the big hits of the
‘50s and ‘60s and R&B with flashes
of raggae.
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Alex
Wilson Band. Alex Wilson grew up
in a family of talented musicians.
Productions will perform that
evening, Aug. 3. William Jennaro
is a past president of the Italian
Community Center.
Businesses and/or individuals
who may be interested in sponsoring other shows, should contact
Palmisano at dcmigroup.com or
call the ICC at 414-223-2180. The
cost of a Wednesday night show is
estimated at $500.
He has played with B.B.King, Big
Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy
Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughn,
Susan Tedeschi, Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers, to name a
few. The group has won Wisconsin
Area Musician Industry awards in
the blues and guitar categories.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Joe
Graziano & Friends. Tenor
Graziano will be joined by singers
from the Florentine Opera and the
area for an evening of opera,
Neapolitan songs and Broadway
hits.
And now, a
word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio
Buffoon: One who acts in a
silly or ridiculous fashion such
as a clown or fool or a ludicrous
or bumbling person.
It comes from the Italian
“buffare” which means to puff
out one’s cheeks with a comic
gesture representing or echoing
the resulting sound as the air is
expelled. The sisters at St. Rita’s
called this an onomatopoeia( a
word formed in imitation of
some natural sound and it
rhymes with Sister Mary Pia).
This evolved to “buffa” or joke or
jest and “buffone” or jester, and,
eventually our buffoon.
Continuing a longstanding tradition,
UNICO organizations present
scholarships and awards
Local scholarship recipients and special
guests from UNICO National are seen with
Milwaukee UNICO representatives. From
the left: Ted Glorioso, Milwaukee Chapter
UNICO National Foundation President;
Michael Vesulka, Past UNICO National
President; Rose Anne Fritchie, Milwaukee
Chapter UNICO National President;
Thomas Mazza, scholarship recipient;
Steven Bramel, scholarship recipient; Ann
Walko, UNICO National President; Anthony
Schultz, scholarship recipient; Vincent
Ellarson, scholarship recipient; Carla
Pellin, Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO
President; and Daniel Pankow, scholarship
recipient.
The Ladies of UNICO presented the civic organization’s
2016 “Star Award” to Josephine Ninfo (right). The award,
which recognizes a member’s service and dedication to
principles and goals of the Ladies of UNICO, was presented
by Catherine Kelly, chairperson of the Star Award
Committee and a past president of the organization. (Photo
by Liz Ceraso)
Rose Anne Fritchie (far right), Milwaukee
Chapter UNICO National President, greeted dignitaries from UNICO National who
were in attendance for the Milwaukee
scholarship banquet at the Italian
Community Center on May 17. From the
left: Paul Domico, Past UNICO National
Midwest District Governor; Michael
Vesulka, Past UNICO National President;
Ann Walko, UNICO National President; and
Anthony Bengivenga, UNICO National
Membership & Retention Chairman.
Seen here are Elizabeth Ceraso, Milwaukee Chapter
UNICO National Fundraising Chairperson, and Bea
Ceraso, UNICO National Wisconsin 1 District Governor.
The Italian Times thanks Liz Ceraso for the photos.
Ladies of UNICO to
participate in ICC’s
Holiday Boutique
Ann Walko, UNICO National President,
presented Rose Anne Fritchie, Milwaukee
Chapter President, with a UNICO National
Presidential Citation recognizing the local
chapter for its efforts to promote Italian
heritage, its service to the community and
its presentation of scholarships to assist
students of Italian descent obtain their
higher education goals. The Milwaukee
Chapter has been in existence since 1931.
The members of the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO are
looking forward to participating in the Italian
Community Center’s Holiday Boutique on Saturday,
Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Ladies of UNICO will have some wonderful gifts
at their booth, including crocheted and knit items and
more. The funds that they raise will benefit local students of Italian descent who are selected as UNICO
scholarship recipients in 2017.
If you are looking to join an organization that focuses
on community projects and enjoys participating in
fundraisers to provide scholarships for students, the
Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO are the organization to
join. Our members invite ladies to come to our next general meeting. The Ladies of UNICO general meetings
are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at
the ICC.
– Submitted by
Carla Pellin
President
Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Chicago news anchor Allison Rosati to be
honored by the National Italian Invitational
Golf Tournament for Charities on Aug. 6
The National Italian Invitational Golf Tournament for
Charities (NII) announced that
Allison Rosati, the award winning
news anchor for NBC 5 in Chicago,
will be the honoree at their 59th
Annual Golf Tournament to be held
August 5-7 at The Grand Geneva
Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.
“We are delighted that Allison
has accepted our invitation to be
honored at this year’s banquet,”
said NII President Joseph G.
Alioto. “Her long history of success
and achievement in the field of
journalism and her charitable work
in the Chicagoland community are
the perfect representation of the
values our organization strives to
encourage and support.”
“I am proud of my Italian heritage and am humbled and honored
to be recognized,” said Rosati. “I
am impressed at how NII is making
a difference for Italian organizations in our community and around
the world. I am looking forward to
be a part of this year’s event.”
The Tournament raises money
for a host of Italian American causes, including scholarships for high
school students, as well as supporting charitable organizations includ-
ing but not limited to Boys and
Girls Town of Italy, Italian
Community
Center,
Villa
Scalabrini, Breast Cancer Research
and St. Judes Research Center.
The NII has raised over $1 million for various charitable causes
and scholarships over the years.
The event has grown into a
three-day event featuring golf and
bocce tournaments, top flight entertainment, and world-class Italian
cuisine prepared by Italian and
Sicilian chefs.
For more information, to register for the weekend or to purchase
tickets to the banquet go to
www.niigolf.org or contact Regis
Welsh at 414-839-1236 or via email
at [email protected].
Some 120 people shared in the
celebration of the Pompeii
Women’s Club’s 19th annual May
Crowning on Wednesday, May 25
at the Italian Community Center.
The dinner celebration was held in
the Pompeii Grand Ballroom.
The evening began with a
prayer by the club’s Spiritual
Director Phyllis Travia, followed
by the invocation given by Fr.
Timothy Kitzke, Pastor of Three
Holy Women Parish, Old St. Mary
Catholic Church and Vicar General
of Urban Ministry for the
Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Following the serving of dinner,
Pompeii Women’s Club President
Pat Consolazione presented the
“Angel of the Year” award to
Recording Secretary Janet Corona.
This annual award is presented to
a member who has shown exemplary service to the club.
The crowning procession opened
with the entrance of “Angels” Eva
and Nicolas Mendoza, the grandchildren of member Clara
Balistreri and great-grandchildren
of member Mary Pecoraro.
Following them were the court
members Sr. Ann Catherine, SJA,
Connie
Sanfilippo,
Carla
Sanfelippo, Lucy Sorce and Lena
Zingale. They were joined by
crown bearer Aggie Collura, statue
unveiler Karen Dickinson, and
Janet Corona, who placed the
crown on the Blessed Virgin statue.
Music for the evening was provided by pianist John Puchner and
vocalist Maggie Smith. Club
Chaplains Fr. Tim Kitzke and Fr.
Mike Hammer with Fr. Phil
Schumacher and Fr. Mike
Michalski, who were our guests,
honored and delighted all in atten-
Rosati, who has been with NBC
5 since 1990, joins a long list of
accomplished Italian-Americans
who have received the award since
the Tournament’s beginning in
1958.
Pompeii Women celebrate May Crowning
Participants in the Pompeii Women’s Club’s May Crowning ceremony are
seen here. Front and center: “Angels” Nico and Eva Mendoza. Back row,
from the left: Karen Dickinson, Aggie Collura, Carla Sanfilippo, Connie
Allison Rosati
dance with their chanting of the
“Regina Coeli.”
Altar decorations, statue veiling
and the crown were prepared by
member Peggy Zoet. The closing
prayers were led by Phyllis Travia,
Fathers Kitzke and Hammer.
President Consolazione and
club members wish to thank all
who attended, including our good
friend, Sharon Goodman, who has
continued to attend and bring
more guests each year.
– Submitted by
Mary (Mineo) Winard
Public Relations Chair
Sanfelippo, “Angel of the Year” Janet Corona, Lucy Sorce, Sr. Ann
Catherine Veierstahles and Lena Zingale. (Photo provided by Suzanne
Wypijewski)
Flying, feathers and flags
by Blaise Di Pronio
Peacocks do it by strutting,
preening and fanning their
fla...oops, I mean feathers.
Males do it with cars (preferably
Ferraris), tacky jewelry (those gold
chains with corni?) and comb overs
(you all know who by now).
So what’s the real story with our
Festa flag throwers and all that
swagger, flaunting and tossing
THE ITALIAN TIMES
about? Actually it’s a blend of many
traditions, customs and a good portion of old fashioned Italian
machismo (mahkeesmo).
Back in the Medieval and
Renaissance days, flag throwing
was used in many ways: It was a
way of posturing and flourishing
military colors in order to gain
attention and incite and work up
your soldiers and intimidate your
enemy. It was used in sending signals high up in the air so that the
massed armies could see them. It
was used in drilling troops as you
could signal how to move about
(much like a drum major with his
staff) and also was used in marches
and parades.
The colors represented the many
contentious factions of the cities,
regions and countries or they could
be warnings of danger or boastings
of victory or, to say it another way,
announce the thrill of victory or the
agony of defeat (I hope this wasn’t
copyrighted!).
Flags among the troops were
always a sign of civic pride and
always a point of reference during
battles – whether on the ground or
flying about. Looking up toward the
by Blaise Di Pronio
A good and dear friend recently
informed me that he will soon be
having a Da Vinci Robotic Surgery.
Of course, always being on the lookout for the latest Italianate names
and phrases infiltrating the
English vernacular, I began to wonder why the surgery was so named
and did it have something to do
with the famed Italian archetypal
Renaissance Man, Leonardo da
Vinci? Da Vinci is known for his
inventions, paintings, sculptures,
architecture, music and on and on.
The Da Vinci mode
The medical procedure is formally known as the Da Vinci Surgical
System. It is a robotic method of
human surgery made by the
American company, Intuitive
Surgical. It is designed to make
very complex surgery easier to perform by using a minimally invasive
approach controlled by a surgeon
using a console with which the surgical instruments are manipulated.
The procedure is called Da Vinci
because Leonardo da Vinci’s
famous studies of human anatomy
led to him designing one of the first
known robots in human history. He
sketched a humanoid robot around
1495. It was rediscovered in his
notebooks in the 1950s. The drawings showed a kind of mechanical
knight who was able to sit and
wave its arms and move its jaw.
The entire robotic system was operated by a series of pulleys and
cables. Today it is referred to as
Leonardo’s Robot. This device is
also known as the Soldier Robot or
as Leonardo’s mechanical knight.
Basically, it is a warrior clad in
medieval armor that is capable of
Donizetti and Puccini works
featured in All’Opera film
presentation in August
by Barbara Collignon
An All’Opera film presentation
of Donizetti’s La Favorita will be
shown at the Marcus Theatre in
Mequon on Aug. 10. This grand
opera, which premiered in 1840,
takes place in 1340 in the
Kingdom of Castile. It centers
around a love triangle involving
the King of Castile Alfonso XI, his
mistress (“the favorite”) Leonora,
and her lover, Fernando. The story
unfolds against the background of
the Moorish invasions of Spain
and power struggles between
church and state.
Fernando
has
left
his
monastery in search of the beautiful Leonora with whom he has fallen madly in love. He is unaware
that she is the king’s mistress.
When he bravely distinguishes
himself in battle and the king asks
him what he would like as a
reward, he responds he would like
to marry the woman who inspired
his bravery.
The king is astonished to learn
Fernando is his rival. He orders
Leonora and Fernando to be married in an hour. With mixed feelings of apprehension and delight,
Leonora sends her maid to tell
Fernando about her past but, Ines
is arrested and Fernando learns
the truth only after the wedding
ceremony.
Considering himself dishonored
by the King, he breaks his sword
and leaves Leonora to return to
the monastery and religious life.
Later, Leonora arrives in a state of
exhaustion and faints before the
cross. Fernando, at first, rejects
her, but moved by her love and
sincerity, he decides to give himself to her again. However, it is
too late. Leonora collapses again
and dies in his arms.
Here is the aria he sings upon
learning of her past.
La favorita del Re,
La favorita del Re.
Spirto gentil,
ne’ sogni miei
brillasti un dì,
ma ti perdei:
fuggi dal cor;
mentita speme,
larve d’amor, larve d’amor,
fuggite insieme,
larve d’amor.
A te d’accanto
del genitore scordava
il pianto,
la patria, il ciel...
donna sleal
in tanto amore
segnasti il core
d’onta mortal,
ahimè!
Gentle spirit,
in my dreams
you once shown
but I lost you:
leave my heart,
your false promises,
ghosts of love flee all together,
ghosts of love.
Near you
I would forget
my father,
homeland and heaven...
unfaithful woman
in so much love
you marked my heart
with human shame,
alas!
– Translation by Barbara
Collignon
Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West,
the first “spaghetti western” in
opera’s history, will be the featured All’Opera film at the Marcus
Theatre on Aug. 24. It’s interesting to note that this opera from
1910 and Madama Butterfly from
1904 were both based on plays by
American author David Belasco.
The Girl of the Golden West premiered in 1905 and Madame
Butterfly was a one-act play that
Belasco adapted from a short story
of the same name by John Luther
Long, written in 1898.
The cast of characters includes
a gun-toting sheriff, a group of
homesick Gold Rush miners, a
gang of desperate bandits lead by
Ramirez, and Minnie, a girl with a
pure heart who works at the
saloon.
Minnie has fallen in love with
Dick Johnson, who is really a bandit named Ramirez. He has come
to her cabin to rob her but is
unable to do so after seeing her.
He then tells her that, when his
father died six months ago, he had
no choice but to take over his
father’s gang to support his family. After seeing Minnie, he no
longer wants to be a thief.
Or son sei mesi che mio padre
morì...
Sola ricchezza mia,
Per la madre e per fratelli, alla
dimane,
L’eredità paterna :
Una masnada di banditi da strada!
L’accettai. Era quello il mio destino!
Ma un giorno v’ho incontrata
Ho sognato d’andarmene con voi
tanto lontano
E redimermi tutto in una vita
Di lavoro e d’amore...
E il labbro mio mormorò un’ardente preghiera :
Oh Dio! Ch’ella non sappia mai la
mia vergogna!
Il sogno è stato vano! Ahimè! Ora
ho finito.
My father died just six months
ago…
The only inheritance for my mother,
for my brothers, for the future,
the only thing he left us:
a gang of road-agents and robbers!
I accepted it. . . .
That was my fate!
But then one day I saw you.
I dreamed of taking you with me
far, far away,
and to redeem myself with a life of
honest work and love.
And all the while
I was uttering a prayer:
God, grant that she may never my
shame!
My prayer was in vain!
Alas! Now I’ve finished.
Another famous aria from the
opera is “Ch’elle mi creda”.
Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano
sopra una nuova via di redenzione!…
Aspetterà ch’io torni…
E passeranno i giorni,
E passeranno i giorni,
ed io, ed io non tornerò…
ed io non tornerò…
Minnie, della mia vita mio solo
fiore,
Minnie, che m’hai voluto tanto
bene!…
Tanto bene!
Ah, tu della mia vita mio solo fior!
Let her believe I’m free and far
away
On a new path of redemption!…
She will wait for my return....
And the days will pass,
And the days will pass,
and I, and I will not return.
and I will not return.
Minnie, the only flower of my life,
Minnie, who loved me so much!…
So much!
Ah, you’re the only flower of my
life!
The miners capture a wounded
Ramirez and are ready to hang
him for being a thief and a murderer. Ramirez pleads for his life
admitting he was a thief but
denied he ever murdered anyone.
Minnie appeals to the mob making
them recall various ways in which
she helped them and begs them to
allow them both to flee to start a
new life together. They are persuaded to set Minnie and Ramirez
free.
some human-like movements.
The robot has, in fact, been built
faithfully following Leonardo’s
design and it was found to be fully
functional. Imagine that in 1495
when Leonardo is said to have displayed the machine at a celebration
hosted by Ludovico Sforza at the
court of Milan.
So we can now add another
accomplishment to a very long and
distinguished list which already
includes such names as Mona Lisa,
Last Supper, Vitruvian Man, etc.,
etc.
And now, a word
from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio
Animate: To make, design or
produce so as to create the illusion
of motion, e.g., as in a cartoon.
It comes from the Italian
“anima” or soul or breath in Latin.
Thus, to animate is to fill with
breath and endow with life or spirit/soul, but I’m not sure if Mickey
Mouse has one.
Are you a wit
or a twit?
Take the test
and find out
by Blaise Di Pronio
Questions:
1. Well versed rhymer.
2. Words from the wise.
3. It’s going downhill.
4. They get hit in the winter.
5. Spa spot.
6. Anise’s relative.
7. Florence’s river.
8. The Arno’s “old” bridge.
9. Cry one for me.
10. Venice is full of it.
11. Barely clothed one.
12. Mine is yours.
13. Makes the “mondo” go round.
14. ICC’s grand mall.
15. Festa’s booth store.
Look for the answers
and scoring on page ??B
For your
Wedd ing
Reception
and
Rehearsal
Dinner
The Italian
Conference Center
located at the
Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
You'll welcome our attention to detail
and the way our staff goes out of its
way to meet your every need. Your
guests will love the setting, the food,
and easy access and parking.
Our wedding specialists will work
closely with you to make certain that
your day is everything you dreamed it
would be. They'll even assist with floral arrangements, music, photography,
ordering the wedding cake and other
extras.
Call David now for available dates
and a tour.
(414) 223-2800
www.italianconference.com
THE ITALIAN TIMES
The Sicilian seaside village of
Porticello – Part 1
The seaside village of Porticello
is a borough of Santa Flavia. It
owes its origin and subsequent
development to its tuna fishing
industry shared with the nearby
towns of Solunto and Sant’Elia. It
is no coincidence that the site was
chosen by its first inhabitants
because its stretch of coast was
teeming with fish while the interior
terrain’s arid conditions and sheer
savageness certainly did not favor
inland settlements.
In the beginning, it was a temporary settlement tied to seasonal
migration which began in March
with the opening of the fishing
traps and ended in September
when the fishermen ceased all fishing activities and returned to their
places of origin.
During fishing season they lived
in makeshift shelters comprised of
caves dug out from the porous volcanic rock called tufa, in pits called
pirrere. By 1500, with the increase
of commercial activities in the area,
the fishermen settled more permanently at the location. The small
fishing village soon began to grow
and became an active and hard-
working fishing center.
The area, now known as
“Pirrera” for its tufa caves, housed
generations of fishermen and eventually came to be called “Porticello”
after its convenient, natural bay
which overlooked the new fishing
village. The memory of these first
clay pit shelters remains intact to
this day and, in fact, Porticellesi
are still also called “Pirriroti”
Around 1700, associations of
fishermen were first formed as kind
of mutual aid unions and they also
established the first fish collection
center resulting in its first wholesale fish market. The original layout of Porticello can be traced to
the area overlooking the sea, near
the area where the Trizzanò wharf
zone still exists today. The old boat
shelters are visible for the boats
along with the nets recovered in
part by digging into the natural
rock.
Porticello’s great urban development occurred in the last century
when the primary activity of tuna
fishing joined forces with its newly
founded conservation and exporting
industries.
The village still keeps its identity as a fishing town and its fishing
fleet remains one of the most
important in the vicinity of
Palermo and the coastal towns
nearby. The location and beauty of
this stretch of coast, divided into
numerous bays, coves and inlets
and the clarity of its sea also
allowed the development of
tourism/hotel business with the
establishment of a variety of dining
venues made famous for their offering of the famous local product:
“Porticello fish”.
–
From
the
website:
comune.santaflavia.pa.it
Words in an
Italian word
by Blaise Di Pronio
How many words can you
make with the letters in “MANGIA” (eat)
Look for the answers
on page 14
WORD SEARCH – ITALIAN AMERICAN ACTORS
By Blaise Di Pronio
And now, a
word from Italy
by Blaise Di Pronio
Restaurant: A place where
people pay to sit and eat meals
that are cooked and served on
the premises.
It comes from the Italian “ristorare” or to revive and refresh
and, ultimately, restore a person’s strength.
And also “restaurare” or
restore, recondition, renovate or
bring back and reintroduce. All
of which are quite different from
coming out from a typical gluttonous feeding frenzy at a fast
food or buffet joint as you come
out replete rather than reconditioned.
U Fistinu feast
Saint Rosalia is known as La
Santuzza, or “the little saint,” and
most of what is known about her
today stems from legend and mystical revelation. However, as the
patroness of Palermo in the region
of Sicily, she holds a special place
of honor for Italians. July 15 is the
anniversary of the discovery of her
remains in a remote cave where
she had lived as a hermit; this discovery coincides with the end of the
Plague in Palermo, a miracle which
her intercession is believed to have
brought about. In July of each
year, citizens of Palermo honor
their Santuzza with a grand festival.
The festivities oftentimes begin
in early July, and on the 14th the
image of Saint Rosalia is driven by
oxen through the streets in a magnificent procession which stops in
front of the Cathedral of Palermo.
Here the mayor of the city lays
flowers at the feet of the saint’s
statue to shouts of “Viva Santa
Rosalia!” A fireworks display,
musical performances, and the eating of babbaluci (garlic and parsley-baked snails) also accompany
the celebrations. The event is a
great tourist attraction and revelers often number in the hundreds
of thousands.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Word Search solved, turn to page 14B
Largest Italian cities
City
Population
1. Milan
6,623,798
2. Naples
5,294,546
4,447,881
3. Rome
4. Turin
1,865,284
5. Venice-Padua
1,645,900
6. Florence
1,485,030
7. Bari
1,257,459
8. Palermo
1,183,084
9. Catania
988,240
924,090
10. Brescia
11. Genoa
861,318
12. Messina-Reggio Calabria
828,507
13. Rimini
748,352
692,710
14. Bologna
15. Modena
588,998
16. Verona
583,069
17. Pisa-Livorno
571,559
Words in an
Italian word
(as of Jan. 1, 2014)
City
18. Pescara
19. Versilia
20. Vicenza
21. Cagliari
22. Taranto
23. Trieste
24. Ancona
25. Perugia
Italy’s five smallest towns
1. The smallest recorded Italian town is
Pedesina, with just 34 people. It is in the Province of
Sondrio in Lombardy.
2. The remote town of Morterone in Lombardy
has 35 citizens.
3. Huddled in a valley, the town of Cervatto,
from page 13B
60 words in “MANGIA”
1. magian 2. maaing 3. amain
4. mania 5. gamin 6. amiga 7.
ainga 8. agami 9. amnia 10.
again 11. manga 12. anima 13.
mana 14. agma 15. gain 16.
anga 17. mang 18. amin 19. ngai
20. mina 21. mani 22. main 23.
aiga 24. ming 25. agin 26. gama
27. naga 28. naam 29. magi 30.
amia 31. man 32. ama 33. aia
34. gin 35. ana 36. ami 37. gam
38. gan 39. ani 40. aim 41. ain
42. nim 43. mna 44. nag 45. mig
46. ing 47. maa 48. aga 49. nam
50. mag 51. na 52. mi 53. aa 54.
in 55. ag 56. ai 57. am 58. an 59.
gi 60. ma
Population
529,070
522,092
480,392
452,816
439,730
409,905
408,358
348,952
Piedmont, has 49 full time residents.
4. Also in Piedmont is the town of Ingria which
has 49 residents.
5. The town of Moncenisio, west of Turin in
Piedmont, has 50 residents.
As of November, 2014 per italymagazine.com.
WORD SEARCH SOLVED –
ITALIAN AMERICAN ACTORS
from page 13B
Festa del
Redentore 2016
in Venice
Residents and visitors to the
city of Venice in the northern
Veneto region of Italy will celebrate the annual Festa del
Redentore this year on Saturday
and Sunday, July 21-22. Like most
summertime festivals in Italy, this
celebration is a tribute to the
unique culture and history of religious devotion in the region.
In accordance with tradition, at
dusk on July 21, boats filled with
thousands of sightseers and festival-goers enjoying traditional
Venetian cuisine will begin to populate the famous St. Mark’s Basin
in Venice. At 11:30 p.m., a magnificent fireworks display will begin
and the skyline of Venice will be
illuminated until well past midnight.
After the fireworks display, it is
tradition for the youth of the city to
await dawn on the Lido di Venezia
(home of the annual Venice Film
Festival).
The next day religious ceremonies take place at the Chiesa del
Santissimo Redentore (more commonly called Il Redentore), a beautiful example of early Palladian
architecture along the Canale della
Giudecca.
The church was built in thanksgiving for the end of Venice’s 16thcentury bout of the Plague, an
event which the Festa del
Redentore is also meant to celebrate. The celebratory weekend
ends in a uniquely Venetian way –
with a sequence of gondola races.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Phil Balistreri, longtime ICC member
known for his massive record collection
and radio show, dies at the age of 92
Longtime Italian Community
Center member Philip Balistreri,
Sr., who had a passion for music
and record collecting, died May 11
at the age of 92.
Balistreri attended Lincoln High
School before entering the Army,
where he served for three years
during World War II. After he
returned to civilian life, he worked
for Johnson Controls and then
Briggs & Stratton before retiring.
He was married for 59 years to the
late Madeline Storniolo. The couple
had six children.
Balistreri had no ordinary passion for music of many genres and
record collecting. At one time he
had more than 25,000 records. His
collection included the long-gone
shellac records and those singles
and long-playing albums produced
on polyvinyl chloride discs, commonly referred to as vinyl records.
At one time, he had some phonograph cylinders – the predecessors
of records – but those are gone.
He bought his first phonograph
record when he was eight years old.
His first purchase? A Columbia disc
featuring Paolo Dones singing “Lu
Cardidduzzu” (“The Parakeet”).
That purchase was not surprising,
given the fact that Balistreri grew
up in a Third Ward home (at Cass
and Clybourn Streets) where
Sicilian and Italian recordings were
frequently played. His parents,
Salvatore – a produce merchant –
and Gaetana, had emigrated from
Sicily.
Near their Third Ward home
was a music store operated by
Ignatius Castagna, and it was
there that Phil Balistreri launched
his collecting career. In an interview that appeared in the October
2008 issue of The Italian Times,
Balistreri said he remembered the
address of Castagna’s store being
419 E. Clybourn.
The decision to purchase a
recording by Dones as his first was
also to be expected, since the baritone was a favorite in the Balistreri
home. Many Italian families
around the country bought Dones’
recording of “A Luna ‘Mmenzu U
Mare” (that’s the Sicilian dialect
version; the Italian title would be
“C’e La Luna Mezzo Mare), the
melody for which many readers will
recognize and are likely to start
humming when they hear its
English title – “The Butcher Boy.”
Dones became one of Phil
Balistreri’s personal favorite
artists. One of the highlights of
Balistreri’s life was traveling to
Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1945, where he
met Dones at his home. That happened while Balistreri was in the
Welcome
new ICC
members!
The following individuals
became members of the Italian
Community Center between
May 16 and June 10, 2016.
Benvenuti! (Welcome!)
Mark Germano of Wauwatosa
Jackie Vitucci of Shorewood
Roger Leto of Menomonee Falls
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Phil Balistreri
Army and stationed at the
Aberdeen Proving Grounds in
Maryland and, on a weekend pass,
was visiting a friend who happened
to live down the street – literally –
from Dones.
Another Phil Balistreri favorite
was Italian bandmaster Giuseppe
Creatore. His 55-piece orchestra
recorded many operatic selections
and the finest Italian march music
of the period.
Balistreri came to be a lover of
opera and laid claim to having in
his collection every recording ever
made by Giuseppe Di Stefano. He
even had some recordings by Di
Stefano that were never released.
How did he acquire those? “That’s
the kind of thing that happens
sometimes when people know
you’re a collector,” he told The
Italian Times.
Speaking of DiStefano, Balistreri treasured his full-size cutouts
of the tenor and soprano Maria
Callas. Both were in costumes worn
for a production of “Cavalleria
Rusticana.”
In addition to the records,
cutouts and other memorabilia,
Balistreri had a number of old
record players, including Victrolas
that were produced by the Victor
Talking Machine Company in the
early 20th century.
Balistreri, while confined to a
September
issue deadline
All advertising copy, news
stories and photos for publication in the September 2016 issue
of The Italian Times must be
submitted to the editor no later
than Tuesday, Aug. 9.
All materials can be emailed
to editor Tom Hemman at [email protected], sent to The
Italian Times, 631 E. Chicago
St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. For
further information, call 414223-2189.
Phil Balistreri is seen here in his favorite room where he kept his 25,000plus phonograph records.
wheelchair in his later years, was
still an active collector. When he
was 80, he discovered five Enrico
Caruso albums, which he described
as being “in mint condition.” The
owner didn’t want them, so he sold
them to Balistreri for $1. That’s $1
for all five!
The collection included many big
band recordings and performances
by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony
Bennett and Dean Martin.
According to Balistreri, his records
weren’t formally catalogued, but he
spent so much time with them that
he could find what he was looking
for in short order.
In the late 1980s, Milwaukeean
Michael G. Corenthal published a
book entitled “The Iconography of
Recorded Sound 1886-1986” that
focused on the development of the
record business and record collecting. He interviewed five local collectors. Phil Balistreri was one of
the interviewees.
In addition to his passion for collecting records, Balistreri told
Corenthal about the radio program
he hosted on Sunday afternoons on
what was then known as WTOS
Radio. His one-hour “The Voice of
Sicily,” which featured Sicilian and
Italian music, was often built
around a theme (e.g., songs by
Caruso or other famed singers and
composers or holiday programming). The program was on the air
from 1963 to 1978.
People who have had lunch at
Cafe La Scala, the Italian
Community Center’s public restaurant, might have seen Balistreri.
He was part of a group of retired
Italian American men who come for
lunch virtually every Wednesday
afternoon and sit at a round table
near the Chicago Street entrance.
Balistreri knew most of the men
since his childhood, so he made
every effort he could to attend
those Wednesday afternoon affairs,
even if it meant taking a taxi to the
ICC after he was unable to drive.
In addition to his wife, he was
preceded in death by his son,
Salvatore. He is survived by his
sons Joseph (Nancy), Jack, Phil, Jr.
and Alex (Ursala) Balistreri, his
daughter Donna (Rosario) Carini
and daughter-in-law, Sandy
Balistreri, 11 grandchildren and 17
great-grandchildren, many other
relatives and friends.
In memory of Peter Frank
Sorce
Peter T. and Kathy M. Sorce
Christina Sorce
In memory of Grace Shoplas
Rosemary DeRubertis
Jimmy & Linda Spataro
Sal & Antonette Lo Coco (memorial
to Festa Mass)
Thanks for your donations to the ICC
The officers and directors of the
Italian Community Center wish to
thank and acknowledge all those
who pledged, fulfilled a pledge, or
made a contribution to the nonprofit organization.
To obtain information on how to
make a pledge or make a donation,
please call 414-223-2808.
The following donations were
received between May 16 and June
13, 2016.
In memory of Kathleen
DiMaggio Campagna
Isidore & Mary Pecoraro
Rosemary DeRubertis
Pauline A. Cannestra
Anna Pitzo
In memory of Lorraine Zingara
Rosemary DeRubertis
In memory of Tony and Marie
Maida
Frank & Nina Galioto
Bill & Rita Jennaro
In memory of Vincent S.
Azzolina
Maria, John and Carmen Azzolina
Tony & Joe Fuoti
La Pagina Italiana
Il borgo marinaro di Porticello è
una frazione del comune di Santa
Flavia.Esso deve la sua origine ed il
successivo sviluppo all’attività della
pesca del tonno legata alla tonnara
di Soltanto e di Sant’Elia. Non è
casuale la scelta del sito da parte
dei primi abitanti, giacché questo
tratto di costa si presentava “
frastagliata a formare caldi anfratti
pescosi e spontanei rifugi per gli
uomini e le loro attrezzature ed
inoltre le scoraggianti condizioni di
aridità e selvatichezza durature
dell’interno, non favorivano
certamente insediamenti nell’entroterra.
All’inizio si trattò di un
insediamento temporaneo, legato
all’immigrazione stagionale che
aveva inizio a marzo con l’apertura
delle tonnare e si concludeva a
settembre allorché i pescatori,
cessata ogni attività di pesca,
tornavano ai paesi di origine.
Durante il periodo della pesca del
Porticello – Parte 1
tonno essi abitavano in alloggi di
fortuna, nelle grotte ricavate dalle
cave di tufo dette “PIRRERE”.
Verso il 1500, con l’incremento
della tonnara di Solanto e delle
attività commerciali ad essa
collegate, i pescatori si stabilirono
in via definitiva in questa località
ed il piccolo borgo marinaro
cominciò ben presto a svilupparsi
divenendo un attivo e laborioso
centro peschereccio.
La località “PIRRERA” che,
nelle sue grotte di tufo, aveva
ospitato generazioni di pescatori,
venne chiamata “ PORTICELLO”
per quella comoda ansa naturale su
cui si affacciava il nuovo borgo
marinaro. Porticello Il ricordo di
questi primi alloggi di fortuna
ricavati nelle cave di tufo, rimane
intatto fino ai nostri giorni ed
infatti i Porticellesi vengono tuttora
chiamati anche “ PIRRIROTI”.
Verso il 1700 furono costituite le
prime associazioni di pescatori
dette “Università” con finalità di
mutuo soccorso che dettero origine
alla distinzione dei gruppi di
pescatori in “ Tonnaroti, faranzori,
lentaroli, tataronari”.
All’università di pescatori si
deve anche la costituzione di un
primo centro di raccolta del pesce
dove venivano svolte le funzioni di
un vero e proprio mercato di pesce
all’ingrosso. Il nucleo originario
dell’impianto di Porticello può
essere rintracciato, nell’area
prospiciente il mare, in prossimità
della zona trizzanò dove ancora
oggi sono visibili vecchi ricoveri per
le barche e le reti ricavati in parte
scavando la roccia naturale.
Il grosso sviluppo urbano di
Porticello è avvenuto nel secolo
scorso quando all’attività primaria
del tonno si affiancò quella
industriale della conservazione ed
esportazione del prodotto;
Porticello L’attuale forma del
centro abitato di Porticello è quella
di una fascia allungata che si
distende parallelamente al mare.
Mantiene tuttora la sua prerogativa di borgo marinaro. La sua
flotta peschereccia, la più
importante del palermitano, ed
esercita la pesca costiera locale e
ravvicinata. Porticello è al 2° posto
in Sicilia, dopo Mazzara del Vallo
per il naviglio d’alto mare ed al 1°
posto per il naviglio di piccolo
cabotaggio, ha un porto peschereccio di 4° classe con quattro
cantieri per la costruzione e
riparazione dei natanti. La felice
posizione geografica, la bellezza di
questo tratto di costa, articolato in
numerose baie, cale ed insenature e
la limpidezza del suo mare hanno
consentito anche lo sviluppo delle
attività turistiche/alberghiere, con
l’istaurasi di una molteplicità di
locali gastronomici resi famosi per
l’offerta del prodotto locale “pesce
di Porticello”.
– Dal sito: comune.santaflavia.pa.it.
di Donato Di Pronio
Il 2 giugno si festeggia la nascita
della Repubblica Italiana avvenuta
a seguito del referendum del 2 e 3
giugno 1946, indetto per determinare una nuova forma istituzionale da dare all’Italia.
Il referendum, da tanti voluto
(soprattutto dai contrari alla
Monarchia), diede questi risultati:
voti favorevoli alla Repubblica
12.717.923, contrari 10.719.284. Si
disse (e molti ne sono ancora
convinti) che le predette cifre
furono alterate a favore della
Repubblica.
Per effetti di tali risultati, il
regnante Re Umberto II 13 giugno
lasciò volontariamente l’Italia e se
ne andò in esilio nel Portogallo.
Il Presidente in carica del
Consiglio dei Ministri Alcide De
Gasperi assunse le funzioni di Capo
provvisorio dello Stato Repubblicano, funzioni che il successivo
giorno 28 furono affidate dall’Assemblea Costituente ad Enrico De
Nicola. Lo stesso De Nicola, dopo
l’entrata in vigore della nuova
Costituzione della Repubblica, il 1°
maggio 1948 fu eletto per primo
Presidente della Repubblica
Italiana, incarico che espletò sino
all’11 maggio 1948, quando gli
successe Luigi Einaudi.
Così, con Umberto II, ebbe fine il
Regno d’Italia proclamato il 17
marzo 1861 con capitale Torino (nel
1865 la capitale fu trasferita a
Firenze e soltanto nel 1871 dopo la
presa di Roma e la fine dello Stato
Pontificio, fu trasferita a Roma).
Per raggiungere l’Unità d’Italia
c’erano voluti anni di lotte, di
rivoluzioni e di guerre (1a guerra
d’Indipendenza nel 1848, 2 a nel
1859, 3 a nel 1866). Infatti allo
scoppio della Rivoluzione francese
(1789), l’Italia era divisa in: Regno
di Sardegna, territori sotto il
dominio austriaco (Lombardia,
Trentino e Litorale), Repubbliche di
Venezia, di Genova e Lucca, Ducati
di Parma, di Modena e di Massa e
Carrara, Granducato di Toscana,
Stato Pontificio, Regno di Napoli,
alcuni Statarelli.
Ma il sogno degli Italiani di
un’Italia libera, unita e indipendente, aveva favorito il sorgere di
Società segrete (Carboneria ed
altre) e il fiorire di Patrioti: Silvio
Pellico, Maroncelli, Confalonieri,
Mazzini e la sua Giovane Italia, i
Fratelli Bandiera, Nino Bixio, e
vari componenti della Famiglia
Savoia (Re Carlo Alberto, Vittorio
Emanuele II ecc.), Cavour,
Garibaldi, ecc.
A titolo di curiosità si aggiunge
che non sono pochi gli Italiani che
sognano un ritorno alla Monarchia.
di Donato Di Pronio
Sull’argomento si legge nella
Storia e Leggende di Briganti e
Brigandesse di T. Maiorino:
“I briganti sono spariti da un
pezzo, tutt’al più può essere
davvero rimasto nascosto in luoghi
impervi qualcuno dei loro
favoleggiati tesori. […] C’è chi, dai
paesi della bassa montagna, sale
sul massiccio alla ricerca di tesori: i
forzieri colmi di monete d’oro che si
vuole siano nascosti dai ‘briganti
della Maiella’ che nel secolo scorso
si rifugiarono quassù quando si
disfece il regno borbonico, ma
quando si diffuse anche un’ondata
di diffidenza contro i soldati e gli
esattori di balzelli del nuovo regno
dei Savoia. I tesori dei briganti
fanno parte dei segreti meglio
custoditi di queste parti d’Abruzzo,
e sentirete raccontare leggende
sinistre di grotte in cui è facile
penetrare ma i cui accessi si
richiudono poi fatalmente alle
spalle dei violatori. Se proprio
volete sfidare l’incantesimo, verrete
esortati a imitare l’esempio della
gente del posto, e a munirvi di uno
speciale amuleto che qui viene
chiamato ‘breve’, e che è fatto di
polvere di campana, crini di cavallo
e fili di scopa, oltre che di una
varietà di erbe di alta quota (ogni
mahàre aveva i suoi segreti). Senza
questo
talismano,
sareste
pericolosamente minacciati dalle
forze della natura e dai cattivi
spiriti che fanno buona guardia
contro le intrusioni dei ficcanaso.
[…] Se è vero che la farina del
diavolo è destinata ad andare in
crusca, dicono gli abitanti dei paesi
circostanti, è meglio salire sulle
balze della Maiella senza idea di
forzieri ricolmi di ducati e di
preziosi gioielli scintillanti”.
Ma esistevano veramente questi
tesori? E che dire di quel favoloso
tesoro ‘confidatomi’ da cumpare
‘Ndonie
d’Ngrilli
(un
suo
discendente, sarto, emigrò negli
Stati Uniti d’America. Regalò al
presidente Eisenhower, dopo la sua
elezione, un paio di pantaloni che,
‘ispirandosi’
alla
bandiera
americana, aveva confezionato con
cinquanta pezzi di stoffa di colori
differenti) l’anno scorso durante la
nottata passata con lui nello stazzo
di Calandrèlle per farmi raccontare
un po’ di storièlle dei tempi
passati? Fu ‘sotterrato’, a suo dire,
in contrada Le Nètte della
Maielletta e questa sarebbe la ‘via’
e le condizioni da seguire per
scovarlo: una notte di 17 marzo,
venerdì, luna piena - scava sotto lu
paretèlle formato da quei ‘due
massi’ che si mantengono ‘in bilico’
per contrasto - attenzione perché lu
paretèlle viene schiarito soltanto
per 13 minuti dai raggi lunari che
in questa notte penetrano tra di
essi - troverai una pietra - segui la
direzione della freccia incisa sopra
di essa - fa diciassette passi, poi
gìrati al lato sinistro e … quel che
segue, caro diario, me lo tengo a
mente. Se un giorno mi dovesse
venire un attacco di febbre dell’oro
… e toccasse proprio a me la
fortuna di scoprirlo …”.
Dopo la soppressione nel 1807
dei Frati Celestini (Ordine religioso
fondato da Celestino V, gli Eremi di
Santo Spirito e di San Bartolomeo
siti in Roccamorice, Abruzzo, gli
anfratti ed i pareti circostanti,
attirarono cercatori di un favoloso
tesoro che i monaci (si sussurrava)
avevano nascosto in attesa di tempi
migliori. La febbre attaccò anche
quegli eremiti-custodi (non sempre,
per non dire mai, in odore di
santità) che vi si erano insediati
con il tacito consenso delle
Autorità. Sono tuttora visibili i
“sondaggi” di questi speranzosi,
ma, ahimè, sfortunati scavatori,
sulla statua di San Benedetto da
Norcia (erroneamente da qualcuno
detta di Sant’Antonio Abate)
intagliata nella roccia.
La nascita della Repubblica Italiana
I tesori dei briganti
PAGINA 16 – SEZIONE B – LUGLIO/AGOSTO 2016
Proverbi
Italiani
1. (Dialect-Sardinia): Chie
faghe trinta non semper faghe
trintu.
(Literally) Who turns 30,
doesn’t always turn 31.
(Meaning) One’s luck can run
out.
2. (Dialect-Sardinia): Nisciunu est nasciu imparatu.
Nobody is born learned or
nobody is born knowing it all.
3. (Dialect-Sicily) ‘Nprisenza
ri vecchi, parra picca picca e
senti assai.
In the presence of old people,
talk little and listen carefully.
4. (Dialect-Sicily) Quannu u
patri duno o figghio rire u patri e
rire u fighhiu; quannu fighhiu
duna o patri chiangi u patri e
chiangi u fighiu.
(Literally) When a father
gives to his children both the
children and the father
laugh;when the children give to
the father both the children and
the father cry.
(Meaning) It’s normal and
natural for a father to help out
his children, but when the children are the ones who need to
help out their father, everyone
breaks down and cries.
5. (Dialect-Sicily) Nuddu
nasci che causi pantaloni ‘ttaccati.
(Literally) No one is born
with his pants on.
(Meaning) No one is born
knowing it all or everyone needs
to learn the ropes.
6. (Italian) Se vuoi vivere a
lungo, pranzo poco e cena ancora
di meno.
If you want to live long, have
a light lunch and even lighter
dinner.
* * *
With thanks to Mary Melfi and
italyrevisited.org
THE ITALIAN TIMES
A Favorite Poem:
10 AGOSTO (August)
Indovinelli
1. Qual è l’unico porto che
non ha acqua?
by Giovanni Pascoli (1855 - 1912)
San Lorenzo, io lo so perché tanto
di stelle per l'aria tranquilla
arde e cade, perché si gran pianto
nel concavo cielo sfavilla.
St Lawrence, I know why so many
stars through the calm air
burn and fall, why such great weeping
in the concave sky sparkles.
Ora è là, come in croce, che tende
quel verme a quel cielo lontano;
e il suo nido è nell'ombra, che attende,
che pigola sempre più piano.
Now she is there, as on a cross, protending
that worm to that distant sky;
and her nest is in the shadows, waiting,
peeping softer and softer.
A swallow was returning to the roof:
they killed her: she fell among thorns;
she had an insect in her beak:
the dinner of her little swallows.
Ritornava una rondine al tetto:
l'uccisero: cadde tra spini:
ella aveva nel becco un insetto:
la cena de' suoi rondinini.
Also a man was returning to his nest:
they killed him: he said: Forgive me;
and a scream stayed in the open eyes:
he was bringing two dolls as a gift.
Anche un uomo tornava al suo nido:
l'uccisero: disse: Perdono;
e restò negli aperti occhi un grido:
portava due bambole in dono...
Ora là, nella casa romita,
lo aspettano, aspettano in vano:
egli immobile, attonito, addita
le bambole al cielo lontano.
E tu, Cielo, dall'alto dei mondi
sereni, infinito, immortale,
oh!, d'un pianto di stelle lo innondi
quest'atomo opaco del Male!
* * *
La sera del 10 agosto 1867, festa di San Lorenzo, il
padre del poeta, Ruggero Pascoli, fu ucciso con una
fucilata mentre tornava a casa dal mercato in un
'biroccio'; portava in dono due bambole per le sue bambine.
Now there, in the lonely home,
they're waiting, waiting in vain;
he, motionless, astonished, points
the dolls to the distant sky.
And you, Heaven, from the heights
of serene worlds, infinite, immortal,
oh! with tears of stars will you flood
this opaque atom of Evil!
* * *
On the night of the feast of St. Lawrence, on August
10, 1867, the author's father was killed by a gunshot
as he was coming home carrying two dolls for his children.
Italian idioms
and expressions
1. Nascere con la camicia.
Literally: To be born with a shirt
on.
Meaning: To be born with a
silver spoon in one’s mouth.
2. Attaccare il cappello al
chiodo.
Literally: Hang one’s hat on
a nail.
Meaning: To settle down
especially in a wealthy
marriage).
3. Essere in manica larga.
Literally: To be large handed.
Meaning: To be lenient, to be
generous.
4. Sudare sette camicie.
Literally: To sweat seven shirts
worth.
Meaning: To work really hard,
make a big effort.
5. Fare un buco nell’acqua.
Literally: To make a hole in the
water.
Meaning: To fail in an attempt.
6. Fare castelli in aria.
Literally: To build castles in
the air.
Meaning: Dream idly and
vainly.
7. Fare venire la barba.
Literally: Making a beard grow.
Meaning: To bore to death.
Il famoso Palio di Siena
Di residenti di Siena (Toscana la
regione
dell’Italia)
nonché
entusiasta di turisti provenienti da
tutto il mondo avrà la possibilità di
visualizzare lo storico annuale
Palio cavallo di razza mercoledì 2
luglio e Sabato, Agosto 16.
La corsa dei cavalli - diviso in due
parti, la prima delle quali si terrà il
2 luglio, l’altro su agosto 16 caratteristiche dei cavalli in
rappresentanza di Siena della
contrade racing uno all’altro
attorno a Piazza del Campo. La
corsa dura soltanto circa un minuto
e mezzo ma i visitatori provengono
da lontano e ampia a testimonianza
di questo famoso evento.
La rivalità tra le contrade
(quartiere quartieri di Siena) sono
profondamente radicate e la
vittoria su un avversario è un
grande onore per il distretto di
successo.
Ogni contrada ha i propri colori
ed emblema per il suo fantino e
cavallo; questo anno di dieci
partecipanti sarà composto di sette
distretti che sono state escluse in
2015 come pure tre partecipanti
che sono stati assegnati i punti
come il risultato del sorteggio.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Solo due volte nella storia ha un
cavallo mai vinto il Palio di luglio
(Palio di Provenzano) e il Palio di
agosto (Palio dell’Assunta). Anche
se ci sono 17 contrade solo 10 sono
rappresentati, a causa di un
decreto del 1729 dalla Città del
governatore Violante di Baviera,
che sperava di ridurre la quantità
di infortuni che sono stati risultanti
dalla vivace rituale, in cui i
partecipanti e gli astanti simili
sono stati conosciuti per essere
ferito.
Apply conventional wisdom when planning your next
business conference, banquet or meeting. Hold it at the
ITALIAN CONFERENCE CENTER
LOCATED AT THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
The Italian Conference Center offers . . .
• First rate conference, convention, banquet &
meeting facilities for groups from 4 to 1,400.
• Professional planning assistance.
• Outstanding food service.
• Handicap access & convenient parking.
• Easy access to freeway & downtown.
For professional assistance in coordinating your event,
call David at (414) 223-2800
or visit www.italianconference.com.
Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI
Just a block west of Summerfest in the Historic Third Ward.
2. Qual è l’unico numero che
ha tante lettere quante le cifre
che indica?
3. Indica il nome di un
oggetto che si vede sempre, che
va e viene
costantemente, si muove in
continuazione,
lasciandoci
passare quando è in una
posizione e bloccandoci il passo
nella posizione contraria.
4.. Si sposta nell’aria ma non
è un uccello e vive in acqua ma
non è un pesce. Che animale è?
5. Come si può far cadere un
uovo da una distanza di un
metro senza romperlo?
6. Qual è quello strumento
musicale che ha una sola corda?
7. Sicuramente ti ricorderai
il nome dei sette piccoli
personaggi del racconto di
Biancaneve, ma ti ricordi chi era
il più alto della casa dei sette
nani?
Risposte – pagina 18B
E fatti una
risata
1. Dal dottore: “Dottore, se mi
tocco qui ho male (indicando il
fegato).
Pure se mi tocco qui ho male
(indicando la testa). E anche se mi
tocco qui
(indicando il gomito).Ecc,ecc.
Cosa può essere?
Il dottore:”Mi sa che lei ha un
dito fratturato!”
2. “Dottore, dottore, vedo
doppio!”.
“Si distenda sul lettino”.
“Su quale dei due?”.
3. Paziente: Dottore ho i denti
gialli, cosa posso fare?
Dentista: provi con una cravatta
marrone.
4. Dottore, dottore... mi scoppia
la testa!
PRESTO,
TUTTI
A
TERRAAAAA!!!!
5.
Ginecologo: “Ma come
signora, ancora incinta? Sono otto.
Sono troppi.
Possibile che con suo marito non
prenda delle precauzioni?”.
Signora: “Con mio marito si’.
Ma con gli altri...”
6. - Oh, mio Dio.... - dice una
bella ragazza al dentista.
Non so propio se sia peggio farsi
togliere un dente o fare un
bambino!
Il dentista:- Si decida signorina,
prima di incominciare devo sapere
fino a
che punto devo abbassare la
poltrona.
Interested in advertising in our
next issue? Get all the details by
calling (414) 223-2189 or
sending by an email
to the editor at
[email protected].
LUGLIO/AGOSTO 2016 – PAGINA 17, SEZIONE B
by Blaise DiPronio
The object of the game of bocce
is to roll your bocce balls closer to
the “pallino” (white “jack”) ball
than your opponent.
Bocce is usually played with one
to four players per team. For bocce
teams and leagues at Italian
Risposte
1. L’aeroporto.
2. Tre.
3. La porta.
4. La rana.
5. Lasciandolo cadere e
riprendendolo prima che
colpisca il suolo.
6. La campana.
The basics of bocce
Community Center and for Festa
Italiana tournament, four players
per team is the desired number.
When one player competes
against another player, each rolls
four bocce balls per frame (a frame
will be defined later). If it is a twoon-two competitions, each player
rolls two balls each frame. If four
players are competing against four
players, each rolls one ball per
frame.
The game of bocce consists of
several frames. A frame starts with
tossing the pallino by a team
towards the opposite end of the
playing court. The frame is complete after the balls have been
thrown and points awarded (awarding of points is explained later).
Balls are tossed or rolled underhand.
A bocce match is generally started by a coin toss. Whoever wins the
Flying, feathers
and flags
7. Biancaneve.
from page 11B
sky seeking the flying messages
was commonplace for the soldiers.
If the flag bearers or throwers were
overcome, it was imperative to save
the flag and continue tossing and
waving it accordingly.
The tactics of our Festa flag
thrower amount to only the esthetic and showmanship aspects of the
tradition and thus add to the festive and carnival atmosphere of the
lakefront event.
You may notice as you duck the
falling flags around you that they
are never allowed to touch the
ground as the flags were also considered sacred symbols of purity
and, as such, they were not allowed
to touch the contaminated and
soiled ground-much like the consecrated sacramental host was safeguarded from the ground by the
paten held by the altar boy during
Communion.
So be sure to watch and enjoy
with pride the young men of
Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri
Fiorentini for their athleticism,
precision, dedication and civic
responsibility and take a look back
to another era and another time.
coin toss will begin by tossing the
pallino into the playing area. The
pallino must be thrown past the
center line of court and not further
than the four foot line. If the pallino lands out of the designated area,
the opposing team will throw the
pallino into the playing area.
Once the pallino is in position,
the teams throw their bocce balls.
Taking alternative turns, each
team throws their balls toward the
pallino to get their balls closest to
the pallino, to move the pallino
closer to their ball or to move the
opponent’s ball further away, The
team that wins the frame begins
the next frame. Usually, the team
that wins the coin toss has one of
its players roll a bocce ball first,
then a player on the opposing team
rolls a bocce ball. A determination
on which player on which team
rolls his or her next ball is determined by who’s bocce ball is closest
to the pallino.
Frames are played alternately
from one end of the court to the
other.
In each frame, only one team
scores. One point is given for each
bocce ball that is closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s bocce
ball. The pallino distance marker
can be used to determine which
balls are closer.
The match continues until 12
points have been scored or until a
pre-determined number of points
set by players before the game
starts.
Are you a wit or twit?
Answers:
1. Poet.
2. Proverb.
3. Skiing.
4. Slopes.
5. Resort.
6. Fennel.
7. Arno.
8. Vecchio- It. for old.
9. River.
10. Water.
11. Stripper.
12. Casa.
13. Amore-It. for love.
14. Galleria.
15. Mercato.
The answers
from page 12B
Scoring: 10-15 correct= you’re a wit. 5-9 correct= you’re a twit. 1-4
correct = you’re moribund.
Milwaukees Italians who served in the U.S.
Military during World War II – Part 14
Researched and written by the late Mario A. Carini,
Italian Community Center Historian
The information presented here was researched and
copyrighted as a historical record of the men and women of
Italian descent who lived in the City of Milwaukee and
served in the United States Military during World War II.
The information recorded and documented by this
researcher from records kept at the Milwaukee County
Historical Society and the City of Milwaukee Legislative
Reference Bureau. These works were copyrighted in 2004
and an original copy has been placed in the repository at
the United States Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The research was secured from City of Milwaukee Directories 1941,
1942 and 1944-45. No directory was published in 1943. The years 1944
and 1945 were combined into one directory.
Name
Mattano, Steven T.
Mattila, Jack
Mazza, John
Mazza, Sam
Mazza, Joe
Mazza, Nick
Mazza, Sal
Mazzara, Peter
Mazzara, Paul
Mazzarello, Sam
Mazzarello, Tom
Mazzaroli, Robert
Megna, Anthony
Megna, Vince
Megna, Mark
Megna, Phil Jr.
Melo, Anthony
Mendini, Gene
Mercurio, Vincent
Micale, Rosario
Micale, Sam
Micelli, Carlo
Miconi, Alfred
Migliaccio, Louis
Milacco, Vince
Branch
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Marines
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Address
2465 N. Oakland
3315 N. 21st St.
624 N. Cass
624 N. Cass
1822 N. Marshall
2515 N. 1st St.
2515 N. 1st St.
1542 N. Cass
1604 S. 21st
1531 N. Jackson
1531 N. Jackson
2735 N. Palmer
1859 N. Cambridge
1859 N. Cambridge
1855 N. Cambridge
1808 N. Pulaski
1676 N. Van Buren
924 W. Lloyd
1619 S. 31st St.
1534 N. Cass
2602 W. Legion
930 E. Lyon
2236 N. 5th St.
511 N. 26th St.
201 N. 32nd St.
Name
Micheli, Elvio
Milella, Phil
Minessale, Sam
Milella, Joe J.
Milella, Pat
Millela, Pasquale
Millonzi, Larry
Millonzi, Sigmund
Millunzi, John
Millunzi, Paul
Milone, Bartolomeo
Minessale, Anthony
Minessale, Joe
Minessale, Joe
Minessale, Frank
Minessale, Sam
Mecurio, Peter
Mirenda, Anthony
Mirenda, Sam
Misia, Angelo
Mollica, Sal
Mollica, Santo
Monfre, Anthony
Monfre, Frank
Montana, Jim
Morano, Nick
Morella, Charlie
Moresco, Rudy
Moresco, Bill
Morreolle, Dave
Mucci, Mike
Mucci, Mike
Muccio, Carlo
Muccio, Vito
Mussomeli, Andy
Mussomeli, Sal
Mussomeli, Santa
Branch
Navy
Navy
Navy
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Army
USA
USA
USA
USA
Navy
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Army
Navy
Marines
Address
2958 N. Palmer
6625 W. St. Paul
324 E. Ogden
2363 N. Booth
935 N. Cass
1526 N. Van Buren
3029 S. Wentworth
3029 S. Wentworth
2154 N. 6th St.
920 E. Locust
1934 N. Buffum
324 E. Ogden
324 E. Ogden
1005 W. Garfield
8503 W. Adler
324 E. Ogden
1619 S. 31st St.
929 E. Pearson
1554 S. 2nd St.
1641 N. Arlington
161 N. Jefferson
720 E. Michigan
1668 N. Franklin
1666 N. Franklin
1536 N. Jefferson
2030 N. Holton
107 E. Green Tree
2777 N. 50th St.
1504 W. Vine
1945 N. 2nd St.
3701 N. Morris Blvd.
530 E. Wright
705 E. Clybourn
705 E. Clybourn
630 N. Van Buren
1504 N. Warren
1504 N. Warren
Source: Wright’s Milwaukee City Directory, 1941, Wright
Directory Co., Milwaukee.
Continued in the next issue
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Experience fast-paced
futsal at Festa
from page 1B
fast-paced action,” Palmisano said.
“With the bleacher-style seating
around the court, everyone can see
everything that is going on.”
A traveling championship trophy will be awarded to the team
that wins the tournament. Medals
will be given to the players on the
top three teams.
There will be three officials for
each match.
“This year’s tournament will
truly be an international competition as there will be players coming
from all over world,” Palmisano
said. “The level of play is First
Division or higher, so we will have
some very exceptional players
here.”
FC Palermo is proving it is one tough team to defeat at Festa Italiana. In
2013, the team won the Festa soccer tournament championship. The last
two years, it won the Festa futsal title. The team is coached by Salvatore
Carini. FC Palermo won the 2015 championship on penalty kicks. The
champs are seen here with their trophy. Front row: Dominic Zizzo, Choko
Alvarado, Lorenzo Vicini, Tenzin Rampa, Tony Patterson and Matthew
Eisold. Back row: Coach Carini, Mario Carini, Alex Rivera, Scott
Raymonds, Elliot Dunn and Andrew Wiedebach. (Times photo by Tom
Hemman)
Festa’s Children’s
Stage offers something
for kids of all ages
from page 4B
the whole family. Rick’s performance includes skillful magic tricks
like levitation, having light bulbs
seemingly penetrate a person’s
body, and a re-enactment of one of
Houdini’s escape stunts. His performance is full of audience participation, which provides unexpected
and hysterical results for everyone.
Rick Allen concludes the days’ performances at 7 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday.
Also returning for Festa 2016 is
Doug the Jug with his unique juggling performances. Doug’s first
performance will be at 1:30 p.m. on
Saturday, July 23, with and an
additional performance the same
day at 5:30 p.m. He will fill the
same time slots on Sunday as well.
Doug is a talented 20-year veteran
juggler who juggles everything
from flaming torches, to balls, to
scarves and everything in between
often adding a touch of magic. He
often says he even “juggles children”! His performance is fun for
all members of the family.
Audience participation is a big part
of his act.
All performances at The
Children’s Stage, conveniently
located next to a nice children’s
playground, always fill the bleachers with toddlers to adults.
La Grande Parata
della Festa Italiana
from page 4B
watchers.”
She added, “The parade will be
colorful, entertaining and will fill
the air with Italian music.”
Persons who are willing to make
a donation of any amount to help
make sure this event is as fabulous
as years past are asked to contact
Gina Jorgensen via email at
[email protected] or call her
at 414-380-0808. Grazie mille!
The Blue Whale that swallowed Pinocchio is an entry in the Festa parade.
This Blue Whale was designed by parade manager Gina Jorgensen. (Times
photo by Joe Spasiano)
Calling all children
by Gina Jorgensen
Festa Parade Manager
Not only do we invite all children to march in La Grande Parata
della Festa Italiana wearing either
an Italian costume or clown costume, but we are presenting new,
really fun opportunities for children to participate. Parents, you
provide your kids, we provide the
masks. We are looking for 20 children to walk the parade wearing
feathered Carnevale masks.
Festa Italiana is just around the
corner, so there is no better time to
get ready than now. Search online
for a colorful clown costume or an
Italian costume. Search the shops.
Have nonna make an Italian costume, her labor of love that will
surely result in an amazing costume.
Otherwise, allow the Festa
parade committee volunteers to
feature your children in beautiful
Carnevale masks supplied by the
Italian Community Center.
We want to have as many children as possible march in the
parade both days, Saturday, July
23 and Sunday, July 24. Imagine
how happy, festive, and touching
our parade will be with sweet faces
of children throughout.
That is our dream. Help us realize it.
by Gina Jorgensen
Festa Parade Manager
Do you own a beautiful convertible that you would like to show in
La Grande Parata della Festa
Italiana? We would love to present
our Carnevale Royalty, riding in
style.
We hope to have our Re and
Regina, Nonno and Nonna, and
Principe and Principessa sitting on
the back of convertibles. We believe
this will beautifully showcase our
Carnevale Royalty.
If you are interested in helping
us,
please
contact
Susie
Christiansen at 414-217-0174 or
me,
Gina
Jorgensen,
at
[email protected] or 414380-0808.
Searching for convertibles
for Festa parade
Casino Night set for
Friday, Sept. 19
Magician and Festa Children’s Stage Manager Rick Allen is seen here.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
from page 6B
mote a great opportunity for both
tion regulations.
individual and corporate gaming
Lastly, consider this article as a
table sponsorships. Sponsorship
call for any and all donations
costs have been established on a
whether in money or raffle prizes.
sliding scale, making them suitable
Money is the preferred option and
for the variable donation budgets
will be used to purchase prizes. All
that each may have. The amounts
sponsors and raffle donors will be
are $110, $250 and $500. We
acknowledged on posters placed in
encourage participation in these
the ballroom.
sponsorships especially if seeking a
Any questions? Please contact
tax benefit for donations made. The
Karen or Bill Dickinson at
ICC is a 501.c.3 corporation as
[email protected] or call 414defined by the federal tax exemp744-0937.
Festa brings Italy to Milwaukee’s
lakefront through its replicas of
famous tourist attractions
Several of Italy’s most famous
tourist attractions can be seen at
Festa Italiana, July 22-24, in replica form. These replicas include the
Trevi Fountain, the Rome
Coliseum, the St. Mark’s Bell
Tower, the David statue and the
Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The history of “La Fontana di
Trevi” in Rome dates back to the 19
B.C. and is a magnificent example
of Baroque art. Its name, Trevi,
comes from its location at the junction of three “ways” (tre vie in
Italian) of aqueduct system. It is
also at the end point of an ancient
Roman viaduct. Earlier richly decorated fountains were built at the
site, but the present one was begun
in 1732 after Pope Clement XII had
organized a contest for its builder,
won eventually by architect Nicola
Salvi who died before its completion. The fountain was finished in
1762 by Giuseppe Pannini with the
central niche housing Oceanus (god
of water) sculpted by Pietro Bracci.
The fountain is not free standing as
it has the Poli Palazzo (palace) as
its backdrop.
The all-familiar coin tossing ritual was actually begun by, as
usual, the ancient Romans who
threw their coins in the water to
seek the help of the gods to protect
them on their journey or help them
get home safely. The correct tossing
method requires a right hand over
the left shoulder maneuver. The
first coin gets you back to Rome,
the second is for seeking love and
the third is to get married (the
fourth means the fountain cleaner
really found a live one). The fountain is emptied every day with an
average take of 3000 euros a day
which, in today’s exchange rates, is
almost $3,000. Now that’s a real
treasure “trevi”!
The Trevi replica coming to
Festa was created by Giovanni
Bucci, an internationally known
sculptor, artist, fabricator and
designer. It is a huge 50-foot creation, which makes it only 15 feet
smaller than the original in Rome.
Festa Italiana is pleased to have
The Bartolotta Restaurant Group
as the sponsor of the Trevi
Fountain replica.
by Jackie Vitucci Szabo and Frank
Vitucci, Jr. in memory of their
father, Frank, who loved Festa,
Frank Sinatra and being Italian.
See the article on the memorial for
more information.
David statue
Festa allows you to travel to the
Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence
to see a replica of Michelangelo’s
famous masterpiece, David. Festa’s
replica of the statue is 17-feet tall.
The replica matches the original
8.5-ton marble statue representing
David, the Biblical hero and
favored subject in the art of
Florence.
drop for photo opportunities, especially at night, when lights bounce
off of it.
The Coliseum is one of the
greatest works of architecture and
engineering in the world. Famous
for its ancient gladiatorial shows,
epic animal hunts and displays of
family power and prestige, the
Coliseum in Rome is the largest
amphitheater in the world.
Completed in 80 AD, the Coliseum
is the iconic symbol of imperial
Rome – and a Festa landmark.
St. Mark’s Bell Tower
A famous Venetian site at Festa
is the 43-foot tall replica of the
Campanile di San Marco, the bell
tower of St. Mark’s Basilica.
ICC member Cosmo Carini was
chief designer and builder of the
Venetian landmark replica that has
appeared each year at Festa since
2008. Carini and his volunteer crew
meticulously erect the tower in sections with the help of a crane
donated by Giuffre Brothers Cranes
of Oak Creek and a professional
electrician, who places and secures
the lighting for the archangel
Gabriel on the top of the tower.
The actual bell tower is located
in Venice’s Piazza and is a welcoming beacon in Venice’s principal
public square, which is the social,
religious and political center of the
city.
This year, the Venetian bell
tower at Festa is being sponsored
Leaning Tower of Pisa
A new attraction in 2015 was a
replica of the Leaning Tower of
Pisa.
The campanile, or freestanding
bell tower, of the cathedral of the
Italian city of Pisa is known worldwide for its unintended tilt.
It is situated behind the
Cathedral and is the third oldest
structure in Pisa’s Cathedral
Square (Piazza del Duomo) after
the Cathedral and the Baptistery.
The tower’s tilt began during
construction, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft
on one side to properly support the
structure’s weight. The tilt
increased in the decades before the
structure was completed, and gradually increased until the structure
was stabilized (and the tilt partially corrected) by efforts in recent
years.
The Roman Coliseum
Festa’s large tarp painted replica of the famous Roman Coliseum
wraps itself around the back of the
bleacher sides at the T.J.
Bartolotta Sports Court. For Festa
visitors, it makes an excellent back-
Times photos by
Tom Hemman
and Joe Spasiano
THE ITALIAN TIMES

July/August 2016

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