NYSOSIA Italian Heritage & Culture Report

Robert Necci

WORTH REPEATING

“My father stopped speaking Italian because his father so badly wanted to be an American.”
~ Mario Batali

IN THE NEWS

September 25, 2006 – ANSA (Rome, Italy) - Italians Find Stroke ‘Switch’
Italian researchers have found a nerve site they says acts like a switch to allow strokes to damage brains. The nerve receptor, dubbed GPR17, clicks into gear after the brain suffers an ischemia, or sudden blockage of the blood supply. If left unstopped, GPR17 lets inflammation cause a stroke. A similar process causes heart attacks after coronary ischemias, the researchers say. Reseachers from Milan, Pisa and Urbino universities, working with the National Research Council’s Institute for Neuroscience (IN-CNR), say they found unusually high numbers of GPR17 in mice brains after an induced stroke. “The discovery of this receptor opens up a promising path for therapy,” the IN-CNR’s Claudia Verderio and Patrizia Rosa told the prestigious international science publication Embo Journal. They said it might be possible, with new drugs, to turn the ‘switch’ off “because the structure of the blocking agents on GPR17 are already partly known.” This should lead to promising new treatments for ischemia of the brain and heart, they said.
http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-09-25_1257100.html

September 25, 2006 – Boxing News - Boxing History: Primo Carnera - Born One Hundred Years Ago 26 October 1906
Former heavyweight champion of the world, Primo Carnera of Italy, was born exactly one hundred years ago this coming October. Born in Sequals, Italy on 26 October, 1906, the man known as “The Ambling Alp” remains one of the best known and most fascinating of all heavyweight kings. And not always due to reasons that could be called flattering. With many of his fights now pretty much accepted as having been set-ups, due to the huge influence the American mob had over the naive and unsuspecting Carnera, the huge Italian’s place in history is that of a curiosity, more so than as a great and legendary champion. This is not to suggest that Primo was without courage though, for he very definitely had guts.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.saddoboxing.com/3929-boxing-history-primo-carnera-born-one-hundred-years-ago-26-october-1906.html

September 27, 2006 – Associated Press - Scan Hints Mona Lisa Pregnant for Pose
Maybe they should call it the “Mama Lisa.” Researchers studying 3-D images of the “Mona Lisa” say she was probably either pregnant or had just given birth when she sat for Leonardo da Vinci’s 16^th-century masterpiece. The clue was something she wore. Scans turned up evidence of a fine, gauzy veil around Mona Lisa’s shoulders - a garment women of the Italian Renaissance wore when they were expecting. As the painting aged, the veil darkened. The thick, dark varnish on the work made it hard even to know what color her dress is - it has been described as everything from black to brown to green. A piece of fabric draped over Mona Lisa’s shoulder was sometimes interpreted as a shawl or a scarf. But images obtained from infrared reflectography tell a different story. The veil - called a guarnello - is transparent, and it looks similar to a gauzy garment in Sandro Botticelli’s “Portrait of a Lady,” depicting a pregnant woman with her hand over her stomach. Tradition holds that the “Mona Lisa” is a painting of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, and that Leonardo started painting it in 1503. In France, the painting, on display at the Louvre Museum, is referred to as La Joconde - the French version of her married name. The name Mona Lisa is the equivalent of “Madam Lisa.” The veil “would confirm art historians’ hypothesis that Giocondo asked for a painting of his wife to celebrate the birth of his second son,” said Menu, chief of research at the French Museums’ Center for Research and Restoration, which has offices in the Louvre.
For the complete story visit the following link: http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2006/09/27/ap3049960.html

September 27, 2006 – CWNews (Rome, Italy) - Exhibit to Mark 145^th Anniversary of L’Osservatore Romano
The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, will celebrate its 145^th anniversary in October, with an exhibit to be opened in the Valentini palace in Rome. The first edition of L’Osservatore Romano actually appeared in print on July 1, 1861. Arriving on the scene shortly after the proclamation of the Italian kingdom, the paper was dedicated at the outset to defending the papacy, and devoted a good deal of polemics to the cause of the papal states. The paper took advantage of the fact that many Catholic intellectuals had gathered in Rome to defend Pope Pius IX as the troops of the nascent Italian kingdom pressed their offensive. They joined in the effort to produce a daily newspaper proclaiming the Vatican’s cause. Several years later L’Osservatore Romano supplanted the Giornale di Roma, which had been the press organ of the Vatican, in carrying official notices. L’Osservatore itself became the official publication of the Vatican during the pontificate of Leo XIII (1878- 1903); since 1885 the paper has been the organ of the Holy See, with the Pontiff himself as proprietor. The anniversary exhibit, a retrospective look at the history of L’Osservatore Romano, will be opened on October 3 at a ceremony in Rome with Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican archivist, officiating alongside Mario Agnes, the current editor.
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46746

September 28, 2006 – The Stamford Times (Norwalk, CT) - Historical Society’s Little Italy Exhibit
The Stamford Historical Society is developing a series of traveling exhibits that detail the history of various ethnic groups in Stamford. The second in the series, “Stamford’s Little Italy,” will be on view in the front lobby of the Stamford Government Center. The money was used to convert the society-based “Immigrants' Stamford” exhibit into the first two portable exhibits in the series. The first traveling exhibit focused on the Irish community in Stamford. Both exhibits are available to schools and community organizations. “A primary goal of the society is to reach out and be of service to the community,” Thomas Zoubek, society executive director, said. “Our traveling exhibit initiative is one that has been well-received.” “Stamford’s Little Italy” tells the human story of the city’s Italian immigrants. It spotlights community institutions and organizations as well as founding families and contributions of other Italian families. The exhibit was produced with the cooperation of Stamford’s Minturnese Social Club. For more information on CHC and its programs, visit www.ctheritage.org or call [860] 685-2260.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/306905028861288.php

September 28, 2006 – Associated Press (Rome, Italy) - MFA Returns 13 Disputed Artifacts to Italy
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts returned 13 disputed ancient artifacts to Italy on Thursday, including a statue and a bas-relief believed to have decorated Hadrian’s Villa, in a deal that Italian authorities hope will pave the way for others to return antiquities they say were smuggled out of the country. The agreement promises loans of other Italian treasures to the MFA, and marks the latest victory for Italy in its quest to regain antiquities that were dug up illegally and sold to museums worldwide. “We determined that the proper home for these objects was Italy,” said MFA director Malcolm Rogers. “We are proud to be doing the decent thing.” Speaking after a signing ceremony at the Culture Ministry in Rome, Rogers contended that the museum was not aware of the artifacts’ illegal origin before Italian authorities presented them with new evidence during the yearlong negotiations. “They were bought in absolute good faith, but some new evidence has come to light and we’ve responded,” he said. “We in Boston are committed, alongside the Italian government, to seeing the end of illegal trade and illegal excavation of antiquities,” Rogers said.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=159724

September 28, 2006 – ANSA (Rome, Italy) – Troy Comes to Colosseum
The Trojan War has come to the Colosseum with a major new show on Homer’s legendary account of the conflict. Achilles, Ulysses, Hector, Paris, Agamemnon and Priam are just some of the figures depicted in mosaics, frescos, sculptures and vases showing scenes from the Iliad, brought to the Roman amphitheatre from Italy’s leading museums. The poet Homer - now believed to be a mythical composite of Ancient Greek bards - is shown in three marble heads, a IV century AD portrait and a two later Hellenistic paintings. Verses from the epic poem are posted around the monument under the figures they refer to, including the gods who took Greece's side, Mars and Minerva, and those protecting Troy, Venus and Apollo. Among the gems included in the show is a wall painting from Pompeii showing The Rape of Iphigenia, the daughter of Greek leader Agamemnon who was sacrificed to appease the gods. Another is what curator Mario Torelli of Perugia University called “an extraordinary micro-sculpture,” the Tabula Iliaca, a bas-relief from Rome’s Capitoline Museums which shows the most dramatic events in the war. “For other cultures, war was normal. Only Ancient Greece produced such a momentous account of its drama, destruction and sorrows,” Torelli added. The exhibit - the latest in a series at the Colosseum including a sell-out show on gladiators - has been geared to the general public and not the specialist, co-curator Angelo Bottini of Rome’s archaeological superintendency said. “We aimed to show the importance of the Homeric epic in ancient times, how it ran through various civilizations and still has lessons for us today,” he said.
http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-09-28_1289423.html

September 29, 2006 – Providence Journal (Providence, RI) - How the Italians Found a Home in R.I.’s Capital
With the documentary Italian Americans and Federal Hill, filmmaker Jonathan D. Raben has composed a Valentine to the immigrants who created Providence’s own Little Italy early in the last century in what had been an Irish enclave. Raben presents the rich and fascinating history of the Italians who came, mostly from the impoverished south of Italy, arriving in ships that sailed from Naples and Genoa and Marseilles right into the Port of Providence, filled with dreams of finding a better life in America. There are archival photos to re-create the past -- people riding donkeys in the Old Country; new arrivals to Providence with their pushcarts; factory workers at their benches; religious processions down Atwells Avenue -- to show us the way it was, contrasted to the vibrant scenes of Federal Hill today with its crowded restaurants and shops filled with fancy foods. But it is the interviews, with the children of those who came from Italy long ago, that bring to vibrant life in anecdotes that recreate the colorful past. Sometimes philosophical, but more often amusing, their stories give a tremendous feel for the richness of Federal Hill and the people who lived there.
For the complete story visit the following link:
http://www.projo.com/movies/content/projo_092906_italo.2bb349c4.html

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

For a listing of many Italian and Italian American programs, updated regularly, visit the John D Calandra Italian American Institute’s Community Events Calendar at the following link:
http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/calandra/community/commcal.html

ANNUAL COLUMBUS DAY PARADE CELEBRATES ITALIAN HERITAGE AND ENCOURAGES SUPPORT FOR VETERANS
Order Sons of Italy in America Sponsors the 2006 Parade
HUNTINGTON, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 28, 2006 -- Oyster Bay Town

Supervisor John Venditto and Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone have been named Grand Marshals of the annual Columbus Day Parade, sponsored by Order Sons of Italy in America. The Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 8 at 12:30 p.m. in Huntington. Rain date is Sunday, October 15th.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Support Our Veterans.” More than 25 Lodges of the Order Sons of Italy in America from Nassau and Suffolk will participate. This year, the Lodges celebrate the 101^stanniversary of the founding of the Order by Dr. Vincent Sellaro in Little Italy in 1905. The Order has nearly 750 Lodges across the U.S.
“We are excited to be bringing the Columbus Day Parade to Huntington,” said Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone. “As an Italian-American myself, I think this is a great way to celebrate our heritage and to include a message of support for all our veterans is very special. In fact, I invite all residents and the entire community to become honorary Italians for the day and join us for fun, festivities and celebration,” he continued.
The Parade will follow Main Street (Route 25A). The 2006 Columbus Day Parade Queens are Jennifer Rheel from Suffolk and Mary Aliana-Jeffrey from Nassau. In recognition of our Veterans, the Huntington and Huntington Manor Fire Departments will be hanging a 20’x 40’ flag across Main Street between two ladder trucks.
The Columbus Day Parade festivities will kick-off with a ceremonial wreath laying at the Columbus Statue on Main Street on Thursday, October 5th at 5 p.m.
The Parade will add a zesty Italian-American pride and presence to downtown Huntington during its annual Fall Festival celebration weekend, which runs from Friday evening, October 6, to Monday, October 9 at Heckscher Park.
The Order Sons of Italy in America promotes the heritage and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group. It is the oldest and largest organization of Italian Americans in the U.S. and Canada. The Order Sons of Italy in America raises funds to provide scholarships, donate to various charities and to promote a positive image of Italian Americans by fighting bias and discrimination.
For information, contact Angelo Grande, Loggia Glen Cove, (516) 676-7436
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=167752http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=167752

NY NATIVE SON GENERAL PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF 62ND ANNUAL COLUMBUS DAY PARADE

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2006 Columbus Day Parade in New York City, announced Louis Tallarini, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation.
General Pace will join members of the U.S. Marine Corps Band and 35,000 entertainers, dignitaries and civil servants for the largest celebration of Italian-American culture and heritage in the world. Music groups, flag dancers, marching bands and colorful floats will showcase Italian and Italian American tradition and innovation on the walk up Fifth Avenue. This year’s parade will also feature major contingents from the Italian regions of Lombardy and Campania, which will present exhibitions in VanderbiltHall, Grand Central Terminal during the week before the parade.
To be held on October 9, the parade kicks off at 11:45 A.M. at 44^th Street and Fifth Avenue and is broadcast live on NBC affiliates and by RAI Italian television.
“We are thrilled that General Pace will be Grand Marshal of this year’s parade,” said Mr. Tallarini. “General Pace is a great leader and a great Italian American who has risen to prominence by dedicating his career to the service of our country. We could not be prouder of his achievements or of his commitment to the United States and its Italian American community.”
“It is a distinct honor and pleasure for me to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day parade in New York City. Columbus Day honors more than an Italian admiral who sailed west to discover a New World – it honors the spirit that ventured into unknown waters in pursuit of a better tomorrow. I am especially honored to represent the 2.4 million incredible young men and women in uniform who serve this nation every day with that same spirit.”
“My dad was born in Italy in 1914. He came here to New York, became an electrician, worked very hard all of his life so that he and my mom could raise four children. There is no other nation on the planet that would allow an immigrant’s son to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I’m very proud of my Italian heritage, and proud of this great country that offers opportunity for all.”
General Pace, 59, has held command at virtually every level of the military, and in September 2005 was named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, becoming the first Marine to hold the position. His father is from the Province of Noci in the Region of Puglia in southeast Italy. General Pace and his wife of 35 years, Lynn, have two children. The word “pace” in Italian means peace.
General Pace's bio may be found at:
http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/biographies/D6D82116E5BD7F8C8525705A00714D7D?opendocument
The Parade is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving students through various scholarship and grant programs. During the 2006-2007 academic year, the Foundation is supporting the education of 749 students. For more information, visit http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-28-2006/0004441633&EDATE=

WEDDING TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
ABC News – September 27, 2006

The toasts. The bouquet toss. The dreaded Chicken Dance. These are rituals that, for better or worse, brides in the U.S. can expect on their wedding day. But have you ever wondered what your wedding would be like if you weren’t American? Trust us, it would be just as wonderful. Whether you want to learn about wedding customs from other countries, or you’d like to personalize your own with a little international flair, we’ve pulled together some of the best traditions from abroad.
IN ITALY...
When: In Italy, wedding festivities usually kick off in the morning, ideally on a Sunday. According to regional Italian folklore, you should never marry (or leave for your honeymoon) on a Friday or Tuesday, or you're bound to have loads of bad luck, while Saturdays are reserved for widows getting hitched to husband number two (or three, or four...).
Attire: Don’t bother with makeup since in addition to a white gown, you’ll wear a veil -- a symbol of virginity (don’t worry, it’s just for show). Tearing the veil, however, is considered good luck (Why? Just use your imagination). Meanwhile, the groom can lug a piece of iron (preferably a small one) in his pocket to ward off evil spirits.
Activities: Traditional Italian brides and grooms forgo the limo and make it to the chapel on foot. In certain villages, residents throw symbolic obstacles in your path to suss out your future as man and wife: If a broom lands at your feet and you pick it up, for example, you’ll be one helluva housecleaner. After the wedding ceremony, the couple shatters a glass or vase -- and does their best to pulverize it, since the number of pieces represents the amount of years they'll stay happily married. If someone hands you a double-handed saw, you and the groom must cut a log in half to prove you can work together without driving each other insane.
The Food: A roasted baby pig or lamb accompanied by wanda, bow ties of fried dough dipped in powdered sugar. Women sip Marsala wine, men guzzle the much stronger grappa (go ahead and guess who’s in store for a hangover). Confetti -- sugar-covered almonds (or Jordan almonds, as we know them) representing the bitter and sweet of life -- serves as snacks or, yes, projectiles thrown at the newlyweds as they make their exit.
The Music: Possibly a jaunty jig called the tarantella. Legend has it that a woman who was once bitten by a poisonous tarantula cured herself by shakin’ her booty better than anyone on a very good day. The least it can do for you is to keep you from passing out due to too much Marsala.
Added Perk: Money -- lots of it. Forget toasters and towels: Guests place cold, hard cash in a white satin bag called la borsa.
http://ww2.7online.com/Global/story.asp?S=5464723

‘NOTTE BIANCA’ TO CELEBRATE NAPLES’ CULTURE
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes - September 28, 2006

The much anticipated “Notte Bianca a Napoli” descends on the southern Italian city Saturday, transforming the metropolis into a cultural hub of music, art and festivities.
Notte Bianca, or White Night, is a concept sweeping through various Italian cities, drawing spectators to city squares for a variety of celebrations.
Through its theme, “The Mediterranean: A sea of culture,” organizers will exploit the beauty and uniqueness of Naples, from its palaces and city squares, to the beachfront and the tiny streets synonymous with the aged city, according to Dino Di Palma, the provincial president.
“Unique and extraordinarily open to all forms of culture, here the music, the theaters, fashion, the foods all feature colors, smells and tastes that elsewhere don’t exist,” Di Palma said in a statement.
The city has been plagued with a rash of muggings and picked pockets lately, some of which have been violent and deadly. But organizers are putting a positive spin on this year’s event, promising that the second annual White Night celebration will be bigger and better, according to Naples’ current mayor, Rosa Iervolino Russo.
Last year’s event gave visitors an opportunity to shop and enjoy entertainment until dawn.
The festivities will take on an international flare, as organizers emphasize the positive aspects of other cultures, the region’s president, Antonio Bassolino, who once served as Naples’ mayor, wrote in a statement.
“I still have visions of the crowded public squares of people coming from all of Italy, the streets illuminated during the festival, music and voices, the enthusiasm that you could breathe a year ago in the streets of Naples,” he recalled.
There are several “pre-events” planned for Thursday and Friday, but the main festivities begin at 10 p.m. Saturday in the main city square, Piazza del Plebiscito. The popular radio station Radio Kiss Kiss is celebrating its 30^thanniversary, and performances by famed Italian musicians Pino Daniele, Francesco de Gregori and Ivano Fossati are planned.
Lebanese artist Rabih Abou Khalil will perform at Galleria Umberto.
A 60-page brochure detailing the schedule of events for the various sections of town is available, in Italian, on the Internet at: http://www.nottebiancanapoli.com/pdf/progamma2006.pdf
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=40383

ODE TO THE UNSUNG IMMIGRANT
by Silvia Montemurro

                Uprooted into odyssey from shore to shore,
                            bidding somber farewell to your birthplace;
                Ignited by the luster of jubilant desire,
                            sailing toward a golden unknown;
                Voyaged on the mercy of the turbulent seas,
                            overcoming fear with glistening visions of success;
                Infused with pulsating passion and heightened ambition,
                            persevering against the reality of melancholy defeat;
                                                You came courageously into the gateway of the harbor!
                Sheltered by the splendor of her soothing glory,
                            signaling freedom through her majestic torch;
                Savored moments as she beckoned hope to all,
                            enticing vibes of promise in a new life;
                Downgraded at registration with official rejection,
                            lamenting tears of pitiful anguish within each eye;
                Sojourned for return unrequited and unfulfilled,
                            bequeathing honor and pride without legacy;
                                                You are forever refuged within our heartfelt memory!

DIMENSIONS OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Saturday, October 14th. 2006 - St. John’s University – 9 AM-4 PM - Council Hall
Speakers:
Angela Belli, Ph. D. - “Reconstructing New Identities: Ethnicity As Dramatic Conflict:
Discussion of plays written for the modern theater that explore the experience of Italian immigrants and their families in America and the ways in which ethnicity creates conflict as the individuals struggle to define themselves within the larger culture of urban America. Included in the study are Clifford Odets Golden Boy, Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge, and Michael Gazzo’s A Hatful of Rain. Confronting a new life in alien territory is a challenging experience. How the dramatic heroes meet this challenge is the subject of the plays and this talk.
Michael Capobianco, Ph. D. - “Neapolitan Dialect Poetry.” Readings, with translations, of the poetry of Nino Del Duca.
Raymond DiGiuseppe, Ph.D., Sc.D. - Research has shown that most immigrant groups use education as a way to achieve upward mobility. The group for which this is not true is Italian-Americans. This talk will address the implications for this when Italian Americans enter the academe or the professions.
Dawn Esposito, Ph. D. - The Italian Mother: The Wild Woman Within, explores the representation of the Italian mother in the American cinema and the impact of these representations on the woman spectator's sense of identity. Since these images are intended to marginalize the Italian woman and mark her as other, strategies of resistance, offered as strategies for empowerment, will be explored.
Joseph Giacalone, Ph. D. - “From Sicily to Williamsburg and Beyond: the Educational and Geographical Diaspora of a Family.” The story of how one family spread, both educationally and residentially, beyond their Williamsburg, Brooklyn roots.
Santina Aspromonte Haemmerle, NY Past President of the Commission for Social Justice, OSIA. - Addresses the COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE of the Order Sons (and Daughters) of Italy in America. The CSJ was founded to continue to thwart off bias, bigotry and defamation against Italian Americans, and provide a positive approach at such activity. Discussion of some of the issues that the CSJ has successfully over the years. Materials on the “positive image” program are provided.
Florentina Russo-Cipolla, Ph. D. - A discussion of the challenges of teaching Dante in an American or Italian-American classroom and the timely lessons that may be gleaned from reading Dante that are universal and timeless.
Special Guest: Poet Nino Del Duca
To register please mail $15 check to: Joan M. D’Andrea, St. Augustine Hall, Room 205,
St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439. Please respond by October 11. Contact: (718) 990-7541.

THE ITALIAN CLUB OF WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Calendar of Events for Italian Heritage and Culture Month, Oct. 2006

In celebration of Italian Heritage and Culture Month, October 1-31, 2006, The Italian Club of Westchester Community College will present a variety of cultural activities which are open to the public, and many of them are free of charge.
LECTURE THE DIVA by Anna Mione, Novelist. This is a story about a musical family that is caught in a web of intrigue during the beginning of the Fascist regime. They emigrate to America. Anna Brescia grows up in a classical music and opera environment, and at nineteen years old she makes her debut at the Met. This is her story. Date: Wed., Sept. 27, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 100; Admission: FREE.
ITALY COMES TO AMERICA - ITALIAN FOLKLORE SHOW with The Italian Folklore Group from Montemarano (Avellino), Italy. The well-known folklore group Achille I Solisti di Montemarano will perform Italian folklore songs and dances of southern Italy. Date: Sat., September 30, 2006; Time: 8:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: $12 General Admission, $10 Students and Seniors.
ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL - THE MIRACLE WORKER OF PADUA: SAINT ANTHONY - Directed by Umberto Marino. This film tells the story of the life of St. Anthony of Padua from his youth to his death at a young age. It tells of his travels through Italy, his mission to Morocco, and his meeting with St. Francis. It beautifully portrays the power of his preaching, the holiness of his life given completely to Christ, his love for the poor, and the wonders of his miracles.
Date: Wed., October 4, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 100; Admission: FREE
COLUMBUS DAY PARADE in White Plains. Date: Sun., October 8, 2006; Time: 2:00 pm; Place: Meet in Pkg. Lot 1 at 1 pm; join the WCC Italian Club and march in the White Plains Columbus Day Parade. Call (914) 606-6790.
LECTURE: ITALIAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES. Speaker: Prof. Carlo Sclafani of WCC
Event is sponsored by Sophia and Joseph Abeles Endowed Chair for the Modern Languages Department- Italian. Soon after the United States gained its independence, Italian artists began arriving in the new country. They were called upon to paint and decorate the new government buildings and sculpt statues. With a slide lecture presentation, Prof. Sclafani will trace these Italian painters and sculptors from the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on works still visible today. Date: Sun., October 15, 2006, Time: 3:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: FREE
ITALIAN CULTURAL FILM - LEONARDO DA VINCI: RENAISSANCE MASTER
From the Mona Lisa to the Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces are among the most famous works of art ever created. Yet this remarkable genius was equally skilled as an architect, engineer, and scientist. Extensive use of da Vinci’s journals, notes and sketches, as well as interviews with biographers and art historians, provide a closer look at his life and legacy. Date: Wed., October 18, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: FREE
LECTURE: LEONARDO DA VINCI AND HIS PORTRAITS OF WOMEN
Guest Speaker: Prof. John Coppola of WCC. This slide lecture will study the major portraits that Leonardo da Vinci painted of women, including the Mona Lisa and The Madonna of the Rocks. The emphasis will be on the unique aesthetics of Leonardo’s work, his apparent perception of the female, and the mysterious quality of his work that makes it great. His interests in scientific observation and possible religious beliefs will also be discussed. Date: Thurs., October 19, 2006; Time: 8:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: FREE.
ACCORDION SPECTACULAR SHOW. A Parade of Champions featuring Mario Tacca, World Champion Accordionist, joined by other renowned accordionists, and special guest Mary Mancini, International Vocalist. Date: Sun., October 22, 2006; Time: 3:00 pm. Place: Academic Arts Theatre WCC; Admission: $20 General Admission; $17 Advance Tickets, Students and Seniors.
ITALIAN CULTURAL FILM - PAVAROTTI & THE ITALIAN TENOR
Filmed in his home town of Modena, Luciano Pavarotti reveals the heritage of Italian tenors who have directly influenced him and performs six songs himself. The narrative includes rarely seen footage of his early appearances and interviews with his accompanist and his teacher, as well as archival film extracts of Caruso, Schipa, Gigli and DiStefano.Date: Wed., October 25, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: FREE
ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL - YES, GIORGIO
Starring Luciano Pavarotti. Directed by Frank Schaffner (Patton, 1970). Luciano Pavarotti makes his film debut (1982) in this delightful movie set in the world of classical villas and fine hotels and filled with his golden voice. He stars as Giorgio Fini, an Italian tenor on a triumphant tour of the U.S., who is stricken with a sudden psychosomatic “crisis of the voice” and meets a beautiful doctor called in to treat him. The film is a feast for the eye as well as the ear. Date: Sun., October 29, 2006; Time: 3:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 100; Admission: FREE.
LECTURE - ITALIAN ART: GENIUS OF GIOTTO. Speaker: Prof. Lynne Mayocole of WCC. This painter, in part inspired by the art of antiquity, in turn inspired Renaissance artists of the next generation. The slide lecture will contrast his heroic style with that of his contemporaries as well as those influenced by him. Date: Wed., Nov. 1, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 100; Admission: FREE.
LECTURE - VERDI’S FATHER-DAUGHTER DUETS. Speaker: Bridget Paolucci
Each of Verdi’s father-daughter duets is a unique marvel of sensitivity and profound emotion. Bridget Paolucci analyzes the musical means Verdi used to depict the diverse father-daughter relationships in three popular operas: Rigoletto, Aida, and La Forza del Destino. Date: Wed., November 8, 2006; Time: 11:15 am; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: FREE
ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL - I VITELLONI. Directed by Federico Fellini. This is the story of five young men living in a post-adolescent limbo in a small town near Rome. They spend their time wasting their lives, spending their families’ money. Nominated for Best Foreign Film and recipient of Best Screenplay Award. Originally released in the US as “The Young and the Passionate.” Date: Fri., Nov. 10, 2006; Time: 8:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 100; Admission: FREE.
“BOMBSHELLS, GOOMBAHS, NONNAS & WISEGUYS: WILL THE OTHER ITALIAN AMERICANS PLEASE STAND UP?” A One-Woman Comedy Play by Kris DiLorenzo. Think you know Italian American culture because you’ve seen Godfather movies and watch Sopranos? Experience this one-woman play and discover REAL Italian Americans. Actress Kris Dean sets the record straight about sex symbols, morons, little old ladies in black, Mafiosi (not every family has them!) and more. Date: Sun., November 12, 2006; Time: 3:00 pm; Place: Classroom Bldg., Room 200; Admission: $12 General Admission; $10 Children/Students/Srs.

PROVERBIO ITALIANO

Chi non si lascia governare dal timone, sarà governato dagli scogli.
Who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 1-31, 2006 — Italian Cultural Display at the Islip Public Library sponsored by the Guglielmo Marconi Lodge #2232. Contact: Joseph Bennardo, (631) 650-7084.
October 1-31, 2006 September 28, 2006 — Display of Italian Artifacts by the Galileo Galilei Lodge #2253 at the Hicksville Public Library.
October 1-31, 2006 — The Cellini Lodge #2206 will sponsor “The Legacy of Leonardo da Vinci” display of his life, work and contribution to mankind at the Shelter Rock Public Library, 165 Shelter Rock Road, Albertson. Mon, Tues, Thur,10 A.M.-9P.M.; Wed. 2 P.M. -9P.M.; Fri. 10A.M.-6 P.M.; Sat. 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.; and, Sun. 1 P.M.-5 P.M. Contact: Ignatius Alvich or Angelina Spero, (516) 437-0621.
October 1-31, 2006 — St. Francis of Assisi Lodge #2629 will hold a month-long display on Italian Heritage at Borders, 1820 South Road, Poughkeepsie.
October 1-31, 2006 — St. Francis of Assisi Lodge #2629 will hold a month-long display of Italian Items at the Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon.
October 1-31, 2006 — The Donatello Lodge #2559 will sponsor a display of Italian artifacts from their members at the Westbury Library. Contact Rae Lanzillotta, (516) 334-0830.
October 2-30, 2006 — The Medal of Honor Display will be available for viewing in the art gallery of the Smithtown Library. Sponsored by the Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge # 2319.
October 3, 2006 — The Le Amiche Lodge #2550 will hold an Italian Pot Luck Supper and Cultural Presentation by Anna Mione at the college, 885 Milford Avenue, Yonkers. 7:30 PM.
October 4, 2006 – The Donatello Lodge #2559 will sponsor an evening of Italian specialty foods originating from regions in Italy. Special pasta’s, vegetables, meats and dolci will complete the menu. Contact: Rae Lanzillotta, (516) 334-0830.
October 5, 12 and 19 — Italian Made Easy sponsored by the Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge # 2319. Learn simple Italian words and phrases that you can use on your next trip or when ordering in a restaurant. 7:30 PM. Smithtown Library.
October 6, 2006 — 21^st Annual Empire Lighting Ceremony at Giando-on-the-Water, Brooklyn. Contact: Sylvia Summa, (718) 384-7915 or Dan Colantone, (516) 799-6804.
October 6, 2006 — Centennial Lodge #2828 presents “OSIA: On Stage Italian Artists,” with 12 singer/songwriters of Italian descent. Cutting Room, 19 West 24^th Street, Manhattan. 8 PM. Contact: JoAnn Robertozzi, (347) 992-8338.
October 6, 2006 — The John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 presents “La Befana” at the Port Washington Public Library. 7:30 PM. Contact: Leo Cimini, (516) 883-3826.
October 6, 2006 — The Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319 will sponsor an Italian music and song concert with Don Meritt and Annette Moreau. 7:30 PM. Smithtown Library.
October 6-8, 2006 — The Christopher Columbus Lodge will be hosting an Italian Feast at Veterans Park, Narragansett Avenue, Ossining. There is free, live entertainment, great food, raffles, rides and games. Contact: Rosa Iamiceli, (914) 762-3380.
October 7, 2006 — A Columbus Day Celebration Wreath Laying Ceremony sponsored by District II will be held at the Mineola Supreme Court Building at 9 AM. Contact: Tony Sclafani, (516) 676-5900 or John Maura, (516) 767-2134.
October 8, 2006 — Long Island Columbus Day Parade, Huntington. 12:30 PM. Contact: Angelo Grande, (516) 676-7436.
October 8, 2006 — Rockland County Columbus Day Parade will commence at 2 PM in Haverstraw and finish in West Haverstraw. If there are OSIA members who wish to march in the Rockland County Parade, we welcome your participation and support. Contact Frank Viggiano, President, Filippo Mazzei Lodge #2207 at (845) 639-6153.
October 8, 2006 — The Antonio Meucci Lodge #213 will have a Columbus Statue Ceremony at 9:30 AM and Columbus Day Parade, White Plains. 2PM. Contact: Antonio Amato, (914) 761-9073.
October 8, 2006 — Centennial Lodge #2828 presents a staged reading of a new play written and directed by an Italian American. Helen’s Cabaret, 169 8^th Avenue, Manhattan. 3 PM. Contact: JoAnn Robertozzi, (347) 992-8338.
October 9, 2006 — Columbus Day Parade of Bands in Binghamton. Contact: Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge #443, (607) 785-2567.
October 11, 2006 — A film presentation of the Italian opera, Rigoletto, sponsored by the Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319. 6 PM. Smithtown Library.
October 12, 2006 — The John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 will sponsor Italian Holiday Songs at the Port Washington Library. 7:30 PM. Contact: Leo Cimini, (516) 883-3826.
October 14, 2006 — The Joe DiMaggio Lodge #2248 will hold an Open House and wine tasting event at their Lodge. 7:30 PM. For additional information: www.joedimaggiolodge.org
October 14, 2006 — Italian Children Program sponsored by the Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319. Children will learn how to say colors and numbers in Italian and learn to dance and receive a coloring book and crayons. 12 PM. Smithtown Library.
October 15, 2006 — Antoinette Silicato, Italian/American jazz singer performs with her trio. She sings from the Great American Songbook, just like other Italian/American greats who came before her (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Morgana King, Dean Martin, Louie Prima, etc.). Special guest artist, Saxophone Great — George Coleman. 6 PM. Smoke Jazz Club & Lounge, 2751 Broadway (105^th St.) Manhattan. Reservations: (212) 864-6662, www.smokejazz.com
October 16, 2006 — The Michael Valente Lodge #2667 will host an Italian Heritage and Culture Event at the Long Beach Library. 7 PM. Contact: Mary Ann Rispoli, (516) 623-5208.
October 16, 2006 — From Wiseguys to Wise Men: Masculinities and the Italian American Gangster sponsored by the Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge # 2319. Professor/Author, Fred Gadarphe will give a talk on his book. 7 PM. Smithtown Library.
October 19, 2006 — The Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge #443 will host the Life of Leonardo (Celebrating Italian Genius) in two parts on their new 60” HDTV. Contact: Joseph Pastore, (607)785-2567.
October 20, 2006 — The Ann Bambino Lodge #2353 will host Dr. Linda Ardito, Provost of Dowling College, who will speak on Italian culture and heritage. Contact: Mary Abbey, (516) 541-1607 or Georgina DeVoy, (516) 799-0165.
October 23, 2006 — The film, Rocky Marciano: A Life Story, to be shown at the Smithtown Library. 6 PM. Filmmaker and Smithtown resident Marino Amoruso will be present. Sponsored by the Dr. Vincent Sellaro Lodge # 2319.
· October 25, 2006 — The St. Francis of Assisi Lodge #2629 will hold an Open House. Italian music and repast. 6 PM. Contact: Rosemarie Romanelli, (845) 831-5168.
· October 26, 2006 — The Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319 will sponsor an afternoon at the movies with My House in Umbria. 1 PM. Smithtown Library.
· October 26, 2006 — The Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge #443 will host the Life of Leonardo (Celebrating Italian Genius) part two on their new 60” HDTV. Contact: Joseph Pastore, (607)785-2567.
October 27, 2006 — The John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 will sponsor Opera with Vincent LaSelva at the Port Washington Library. 7:30 PM. Contact: Leo Cimini, (516) 883-3826.
October 28, 2006 — Fall Plenary Session hosted by Antonio Meucci Lodge #213, White Plains. Contact: Marianne Principe O’Neil, (516) 785-4623.
October 29, 2006 — “The Giglio Feast of Brooklyn” by Prof. Salvatore Primeggio for the Loggia Glen Cove #1016. Held at the Glen Cove Library, Glen Cove. 2:30 PM. Contact: Kathryn Grande, (516) 676-7436.
November 5, 2006 — Gift of Sight Annual Luncheon at Immaculate Conception Center, 7200 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston, 1-5 p.m. More information to follow.
November 9, 2006 — The America Lodge #2245 will sponsor an Opera to the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center. More info to follow. Contact: Jo Falabella, (516) 354-2989.
November 11, 2006 — The Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211 will hold an Italian Serenade & Concert by Giada Valenti. Contact: John Vigiano, (631) 242-7479.
December 9, 2006 — Gino Di Napoli will be singing the best Neapolitan/Italian American Music. 1 - 4:30 PM. Christmas luncheon/dance, Bavarian Inn, Lake Ronkonkoma. For tickets and info call (631) 242-5808.

2007

January 26, 2007 — 14^th Annual Winter Charity Ball at the Chateau Briand, Carle Place. More information to follow. Contact: Annette Lankewish, (516) 933-7393 or Madeline Matteucci, (631) 654-2578.
January 27, 2007 — Winter Plenary Session. More information to follow. Contact: Marianne Principe O’Neil, (516) 785-4623.
February 25, 2007 — CSJ’s 27^th Annual Dinner Dance at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach. Contact: Josephine Cohen, (631) 345-6586.
April 27, 2007 — 25^th Anniversary Golden Lion Awards Dinner at the Garden City Hotel. Contact: Marianne Principe O’Neil, (516) 785-4623.
April 28, 2007 — Spring Plenary Session. More information to follow. Contact: Marianne Principe O’Neil, (516) 785-4623.
May 20, 2007 — NYS/CSJ – B’nai B’rith Solidarity Breakfast at the Coral House, Baldwin. Contact: Richard Haemmerle, (516) 731-1811 or Marjorie Moschella, (516) 249-2879.
June 7-10, 2007 — 101^st Annual NYSOSIA State Convention at the Holiday Inn, Albany. More info to follow. Contact: Rae Lanzilotta, (516) 334-0830.

Nota del Redattore:

To OPEN a link in Microsoft Word, right click the link and then click OPEN HYPERLINK.

The Italian Heritage & Culture Committee Chair will send out a weekly news synopsis of articles and announcements of interest which compliment the Italian and Italian American Experience in America. Our sister and brother members are urged to submit items of interest.
This report is available online at: http://www.nysosia.org/heritage.asp

Respectfully submitted:
Robert Necci
Coordinator - Italian Education, Culture & Language Committee
Chair – Italian Heritage & Culture Committee
2101 Bellmore Avenue
Bellmore, NY 11710-5605
HeritageandCultureReport@nysosia.org

STATE PRESIDENT CARLO MATTEUCCI
Goals & Objectives: 2005-2007 Administration
ITALIAN CULTURE, HERITAGE and EDUCATION

To promote, preserve, and support our Italian culture, heritage, and language by implementing this element of the Order in our parades, functions, meetings, and conventions.