2012 Winter IA

WINTER 2012 a ITALIAN AMERICA

ItalIan Curses, Cures & Charms

PARLIAMOITALIANO!

New York City’sSlave Children

WINTER 2012 b ITALIAN AMERICA

WINTER 2012 1 ITALIAN AMERICA

THE STORY OF VOTTO VINESOld World Values, New World VisionsBy Diane Crespy6

Italian AmericaWINTER 2012 VOL. XVII No. 1

Th e O f f i c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e O r d e r S o n s o f I t a l y i n A m e r i c a

FEaTuRES

D e p a r t m e n t s

ON THE COVER: The fine art of making wine began in southern Italy during the 5th century B.C. and continues to this day. See feature on the collaboration between Votto Vines and the Sons of Italy on page 6.

HIGH PROFILE

NATIONAL NEWS

OGGI IN ITALIA

PAGINA ITALIANA

BOOK CLUB

OUR STORY

IT’S “ONLY” A MOVIE

ON THE BULLETIN BOARD

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SPEAKERS BUREAU

GIOVINEZZA!

OSIA NATION

FOUNDATION FOCUS

YOUR NATIONAL OFFICE

FIGHTING STEREOTYPES (CSJ)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE LAST WORD16

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CuRSES, CuRES, & CHaRMSSuperstition – Italian StyleBy Karen Haid

THE SLaVE CHILDREN OF NEW YORKChild Abuse in 19th Century AmericaBy David McCormick

PaRLIaMO ITaLIaNO!Italian Americans Learn ItalianBy Suzanna Molino & Dona De Sanctis

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Italian America Magazine is a publication of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the nation’s biggest and oldest organization for people of Italian heritage. To subscribe, see www.osia.org or call 1-800-552-6742.

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THE SONS OF ITALY SHOPPERS GUIDE

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High Profile ITaLIaN amERIcaNs IN ThE NEWs

JOE ALONSO is the chief stone mason in charge of re-pairing the Washington National Cathedral, which suffered about $15 million in damages in the Aug. 23 quake. Now 50, Alonso has worked at the cathedral since 1985 and set its last stone in 1990.

THOMAS D’AGOSTINO, 52, is Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nu-clear Security Administration. He is charged with keeping the U.S. nuclear arsenal “safe but ready.” A Naval Academy graduate and former Navy officer, he was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2007, one of the few Bush appointees in the Obama administration.

ANNETTE FUNICELLO, the beloved Disney Mouse-keteer of the 1950s, turned 69 on October 22, 2011. She went on to become a popular teen actress. Her website, www.annetteconnection.com, commemorates her life and career. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1992, she es-tablished the non-profit Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Disorders. The Sons of Italy Foundation honored her in 1993. Tanti Auguri, Annette!

TONY LaRUSSA, 67, the legendary baseball manager who brought three of his teams to World Series victories during his 33 seasons, retired in October, following the 2011 series win by his St. Louis Cardinals. He is the first manager to retire immediately after a series victory. La-Russa, who has a law degree, has managed both American and National League teams, was voted Manager of the Year by both leagues and is up for consideration in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

GRACIA MARTORE, 60, granddaughter of Italian im-migrants, is the new chief executive of Gannett Co, the media giant that publishes 82 daily newspapers, including USA Today and owns 23 TV stations that reach 21 million households, among its many holdings. Born in Boston, she lost her father as a child and held down three jobs to put herself through Wellesley College. She has been with Gannett since 1985 and is one of the few women to reach the top of the company’s corporate ladder.

UBALDO VITALI, 67, a 4th generation silversmith, was one of 22 people in 2011 to receive a MacArthur Founda-tion Fellowship, the so-called $500,000 “genius” award for creativity “with no strings attached.” Vitali is a master restorer of silver works from the Middle Ages through colonial America as well as an original artist and scholar. Trained in Italy, he moved to the U.S. in 1967 to open his workshop in Maplewood, N.J.

AND “ADDIO” TO…

WALTER BONATTI, famed and respected mountain climber, died of cancer at age 81 in Rome last September. A purist, he preferred hemp ropes and wooden pitons to new technology and made many of his most dangerous ascents alone.

DOLORES DeFINA HOPE, wife of Bob Hope, died last September in Los Angeles at age 102. Married to the comedian for 69 years, until his death at age 100 in 2003; she helped establish the Eisenhower Medical Cen-ter in California, built on property the couple donated. A former singer from the Bronx, NY, Mrs. Hope raised four adopted children nearly single-handedly because her husband was often away.

GENO PAOLUCCI, the son of an Italian immigrant coal miner, who became a millionaire through developing Chun King canned chow mien and later a host of frozen dinners, died Nov. 24 at age 93 in Duluth, MN. He helped found the National Italian American Foundation and was also honored by the Sons of Italy Foundation.

PETE RUGOLO, the composer/producer, who helped shape Jazz in the 1940s and 1950s, died in California last October at age 95. He produced for Miles Davis, Patti Page and Nat “King” Cole, among others. Born in Sicily, he came to the U.S. at age 5.

Special Gift Ideas at Special OSIA Discounts!

Looking for special gift ideas with an Italian accent? Visit our SHOPPER’S GUIDE in this issue on page 31. Also, see www.osia.org at the “Market Place” section for discounts on Italian products and specialty items, including Murano glass, fine stationery, kitchenware, art posters, books and more!


National News ITaLIaN amERIcaN IssuEs aNd EVENTs

FDA Approves Drug to Treat Cooley’s Anemia

Italy’s Former Ambassador to U.S. Urges Italian Americans to Support Italian Studies, AP Italian

ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2012 3

Thalassemia patients Michelle Chieco and baby Gabriella Turchi

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug, Ferriprox that helps patients battling Cooley’s anemia (thalassemia), a genetic blood disorder affecting people of Italian descent.

The Cooley’s Anemia Foundation (CAF), the only national non-profit dedicated to fighting the disorder, ap-plauded the FDA decision of last October. “We are thrilled that our patients will have this drug, which has prolonged the lives of thousands of patients throughout the world,” says CAF National President Anthony J. Viola.

Administered orally, Ferriprox helps rid the body of excess iron, a serious and often fatal complication for thalassemia patients, who require lifelong blood trans-fusions as often as every two weeks. The transfusions overload the body with iron, which damages the heart, liver and other organs.

The CAF is a national charity of the Sons of Italy whose members have collected and donated to it nearly $2.3 million dollars since 1988.

In one of his last acts as Italy’s ambassador to the U.S., Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata asked Italian Americans to support his government’s promotion of Italian in U.S. schools and especially the newly restored Advanced Place-ment (AP) Italian program.

“We need you,” he wrote in a message released last November. “Tell your school’s principal, teachers and other parents about the opportunities that learning Ital-ian offers, and the advantages of the AP Italian Program.” He directed parents to the Italian embassy website’s new feature, Italy4Kids, for children ages 5 through 18.

Amb. Terzi also cited the website by Osservatorio of the Italian Language, www.usspeaksitalian.org. The site coordinates Italian language studies in the U.S. and has a Facebook feature for teens and college students. The site has a free brochure, prepared by the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C., “The U.S. Speaks Italian,” on the advantages of studying Italian. Parents can download it to lobby their schools.

Amb. Terzi was Italy’s chief diplomat to the U.S. from October 2009 until November, 2011 when he was sworn in as Italy’s minister for foreign affairs in Rome, becom-ing part of the new government under Premier Mario Monti.

“The Sons of Italy supports Italian studies,” says OSIA National President Joseph DiTrapani. “We gave $67,000 to help launch the AP Italian Program in 2004 and con-tributed another $100,000 in 2010 to help reinstate it.” The Sons of Italy’s foundation offers national scholarships for Italian studies while its local lodges give grants for both students and teachers. [See related story, page 21.]

For the free how-to kit, “Start Italian in Your School” see www.osia.org at “Culture and History” or send a large, (9 x 12) self-addressed envelope to: Italian Kit, Sons of Italy National Office; 219 E Street, NE; Washington, D.C. 20002. No phone orders please.


Anecdotal evidence points to job discrimination. In a case that made the news in July 2011, Ma-Vib, a family-owned Italian engineering firm near Milan, solved its financial problems with down-sizing, but fired only 13 employees, all women between the ages of 30 and 40. The official explanation? “We are firing the women so they can stay at home and look after the children. In any case, what they bring in is a second income.” Apparently, there are no single mothers in Lombardy. An Italian union called a strike in response to the sexist firings. But only one male Ma-Vib employee attended.

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ITaLy’s NEWs, pOLITIcs aNd cuLTuREOggi in Italia

Italian Women Face Joblessness, Reasons UnclearItaly has one of the lowest employment rates for women

in Europe, with mothers and younger women especially affected, according to Eurostat, the European Union (EU) statistics bureau.

Only 64 percent of Italian women between the ages of 25 and 54 works, compared to 79 percent in France and 82 percent in Germany. The more children women have, the lower their job rate. Those with one child have a 59 percent employment rate while the rate for women with three or more children stands at 41 percent. But 88 per-cent of the men with three or more children have jobs.

The unemployment rate among young Italian women 18 to 29 is 21 percent, despite the fact that they do better in school than men the same age whose unemployment rate is 18 percent. Italy’s overall unemployment rate is 8.6 percent, according to ISTAT, the Italian national statistics agency.

The reasons for the employment rate disparities, how-ever, are unclear. Are mothers discriminated against or do they opt to stay home with their children? Are Italian women pressured to give up their jobs when they become pregnant? One in five does not return to work after the birth of her first child.

Italian women protesting job discrimination near Milan earlier this year.


Le Tavole Di San Giuseppe

Le Tavole di San Giuseppe sono un’antica tradiz-ione le cui origini hanno radici nei grandi festeggiamenti religiosi medievali. Ogni anno a Marzo, in occasione della Festa di San Giuseppe, il 19 marzo, è ancora viva l’usanza di preparare le “Tavole” che sono lunghe tavolate coperte da candide tovaglie, ornate di fiori e ceri accesi, con al centro un grande quadro oppure una statua del Santo. Su di esse, grossi pani circolari e pietanze tradiz-ionali: della tradizione: pasta con ceci; verdura lessata, pesce fritto o stoccafisso in umido, e bottiglie di vino. Quando una famiglia decide di “fare la tavola”, invita i Santi, da un minimo di tre (San Giuseppe, Gesù Bambino, e la Madonna, che deve essere una ragazza nubile) ad un massimo di tredici ed in ogni caso sempre in numero dispari.

San Giuseppe, a capo tavola, dà inizio al pranzo batten-do un colpo di bastone sul pavimento; quindi con tutti gli altri assaggia ciascuna pietanza, segnandone la fine con dei colpettini di forchetta sul piatto, per recitare una preghiera. Per ultimo, la famiglia consegna i grossi pani ai rispettivi Santi, i quali rispondono con un ringraziamento.

Pagina Italiana pER chI sTudIa La NOsTRa LINgua


La Vita Di San Giuseppe

La Festa Del Papa’ Il 19 marzo si è sempre festeggiato inoltre la fine dell’inverno (la primavera è ormai nell’aria): durante i cosiddetti “riti di purificazione agraria” vengono accesi in molti paesi del meridione dei grandi falò, e preparate grosse quantità di frittelle.

dal 1968, il giorno di s.giuseppe è stato decretato festa del papà in Italia.

Giuseppe nacque probabilmente a Betlemme ma come adulto era falegname a Nazareth. All’età di circa 30 anni fu convocato dai sacerdoti al tempio, con altri scapoli per prendere moglie. I sacerdoti porsero a ciascuno dei pretendenti un ramo e comunicarono che la Vergine Maria di Nazareth avrebbe sposato colui il cui ramo avrebbe sviluppato un germoglio. Solamente il

Le Zeppole Di San Giuseppe La zeppola, detta

anche “bignè,” è una frittella tipica del gior-no di San Giuseppe che viene fritta oppure cotta al forno.

Nel settecento, il 19 marzo i friggitori, in omaggio a S.Giuseppe, loro santo patron, all-estivano dei banch-etti davanti alle loro botteghe, per friggere e servire le zeppole direttamente in strada, in tempo reale.

La prima zeppola di San Giuseppe che sia stata messa su carta risale comunque al 1837, ad opera del celebre gastronomo napoletano Ippolito Cavalcanti, Duca di Buonvicino.

“San Giuseppe col Bambino Gesu” di

Guido Reni (c.1635)

ramo di Giuseppe fiorì . Maria, all’età di 14 anni, fu data in sposa a Giuseppe.

Dopo la nascita di Gesù a Betlemme, andarono ad abitare a Nazareth. Passarono gli anni con Giuseppe sempre accanto alla sua sposa. Morì poco prima che Gesù iniziasse la predicazione. Non vide quindi la passione di Cristo sul Golgota.

Una Tavola di San Giuseppe

Le zeppole di San Giuseppe


Faenza’s signature carnation motif [photo: the International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza]

Old Wor ld Va lues , New Wor ld V is ions

By dIaNE cREspy

In 2008, in the middle of the nation’s greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, five young entrepreneurs in New Haven, Connecticut, ranging in age from 23 to 30, decided to launch a wine importing and distribution company that also featured agritourism.

Four years later, at a time when many small businesses are still struggling under the weight of a sluggish economy, Votto Vines Importing has posted back-to-back years of 150-200% growth. The company also has guided two luxury agriturismo wine estate tours in Italy and facilitated one of the largest private label wine programs in the world in collaboration with LiveNation Licensing and Warburn Estate.

the teamA key feature of Votto Vines is its family orienta-

tion. The five principals, CEO Michael and Sr. VP Nicholas Votto are brothers. Joining them are their cous-ins, COO Peter and CFO Stephen, who also are brothers. A brother-in-law, VP Jeremy Jerome, is in charge of sales and distribution; while another cousin, Leah Votto, is the company’s leading sales representative and contributes to its public relations efforts. All share a love of Italian food and wine, but bring to the company diverse professional training and experience in law, engineering, economics, management and tourism.

Michael has a law degree; Peter has expertise in wine-making and importing; Stephen, a trained economist, has extensive business experience while Nicholas has a degree in recreation and tourism and Jerome holds a business management degree.

The young team believes its shared Italian heritage and broad range of expertise will allow their company to create a niche in the international wine trade. Thus far, the combination of youth, energy and entrepreneurship has proven successful. “Our company motto, ‘Old World

The Tenuta La Marchese vineyard in Piedmont that produces the Leone d’Oro Gavi wine


WINTER 2012 7 ITALIAN AMERICAITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2012 7

Values, New World Vision’ captures our approach to this business,” says Nick Votto.

OLD WORLD VALUESThe Votto family’s history is familiar to most Italian

Americans. Their great-grandparents left Italy in the early part of the twentieth century. They came from the towns of San Salvatore Telesino, San Lupo and Vitulano in southern Italy’s Campania region. They worked hard, saved their money and insisted that their children and grandchildren receive a good education.

More than 100 years later, the family’s journey came full circle when the third generation of Vottos returned to their Italian roots by establishing a wine importing busi-ness that focuses on family wine producers in Italy whose values, work ethic and loyalty mirror the upbringing of the founders in Southern Connecticut.

“They’re a young firm with a great concept,” said Anthony Rescigno, president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, in a recent feature on Votto Vines in the New Haven Register. “We’re grateful we have busi-nesses that are starting up in these very difficult times,” he

The Votto Vines Team: [L. to R] Michael Votto, Peter Votto, Nicholas Votto, Stephen Votto, and Jeremy Jerome.

said. “This one has the potential to be very successful.”

NEW WORLD VISIONVotto Vines began as an importing company focused on

small, family producers in Italy whose wines had not been previously imported to the United States. One of its first steps forward came in 2009 when the firm signed a licens-ing agreement with the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), popularly known as the Sons of Italy.

“The Leone d’Oro wine program we launched three years ago with the Sons of Italy began slowly,” says CEO Michael Votto, “but thanks to OSIA’s national executive director, Dr. Philip Piccigallo and the Wine Spectator Magazine’s recent 92-point rating of the Leone d’Oro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, we are seeing renewed interest in the program and a concerted effort by all par-ties to create a successful and lasting wine brand in the U.S.”

Now Votto Vines has branched out into other estate and proprietary wine brands as well as other partnerships, including a wine brand connected to The Borgias television program with Showtime Networks and a line of wines with


Votto Vines has an exclusive partnership with the Sons of Italy, the nation’s biggest and oldest Italian American organization, as its sole U.S. wine importing partner. Together they are developing the Leone D’Oro line of fine Italian wines.

The Leone D’Oro, (Golden Lion), is the Sons of Italy’s official logo. For the first time in its century-plus history, the Sons of Italy has begun directly importing and marketing a select line of Italian wines it has personally chosen and entrusted with its own official logo. “The wines selected are of high quality and exceptional affordability,” says OSIA’s Dr. Piccigallo. “And include Prosecco, Gavi, Chianti and the aforementioned Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.” For more information about Leone D’Oro wines, see www.osia.org or call 202/547-2900.

A luncheon during one of Votto Vines agriturismo tours in Chianti, Tuscany.

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celebrated musician, BB King. They have also expanded their wine portfolio to include wines from Spain, Argen-tina, South Africa and Australia, while keeping Italy’s wines the focal point of their portfolio. Most of their wines are reasonably priced, ranging from $10.00 to $25.00.

“We’ve secured partnerships with organizations and wineries around the globe; had over a dozen wines rated 90+ points by Wine Spectator, Robert Parker’s Wine Advo-

cate, Wine Enthusiast and Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar over the past 12 to 18 months; and have the backing of a solid group of investors,” says COO Peter Votto. “Old World values; New World vision” seems to be working well for Votto Vines Importing. For more information about Votto Vines, see www.vottovines.com or email [email protected]. Diane Crespy is director of development at the Sons of Ita-ly’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C.



A Year In The Village of EternityBy Tracey Lawson

Many people in Campodimele, a mountain village in central Italy, live to age 95. They have low blood pressure and cholesterol and stay ac-tive and healthy to the end. What is it about these villagers that allows them to enjoy such long, healthy lives? British journalist Lawson spent three years among them, chronicling their eating habits, work, exercise, friend-ships and traditions. Here she offers colorful anecdotes, photographs and more than 100 recipes that the villagers shared with her. [$30.00; hardcover; 374 pages; Bloomsbury]

The Pursuit of Italy A History of a Land, Its Re-gions, and Their PeoplesBy david gilmour

Was the unification of Italy in 1861 a huge mistake? British historian Gilmour seems to think so as he examines Italian history; its most famous citizens from Dante, Garib-aldi and Verdi to Berlusconi; and its many paradoxes. Essentially, he attributes the source of Italy’s glory to its 20 regions with their vastly different cultures, dialects and even cuisines rather than “its miscon-ceived, mishandled notion of a united nation.” [$32.50; hardcover; 480 pages; Farrar, Straus and Giroux]

Also Worth Reading

Book Club WINTER 2012 sELEcTIONs

The Day Before HappinessBy Erri de Luca [Translated by michael F. moore]From the most widely read Italian author alive today comes a novel about growing up in Naples after WW II. The narrator, an orphan, is “adopted” by Don Gaetano, a door-man, who tells him stories about city’s resistance during the war. They fish, work, and play together, but Don Gaetano has a secret: he can read minds. His life lessons help the young man years later when he falls in love with an engaged woman, the same young girl he’d fallen in love with after spotting her through a window in his youth. [$16.95; hard-cover; 192 pages; Other Press, LLC]

DANTE IN LOVEBy a.N. WilsonIn this biography of Dante Alighieri, Wilson, a British novelist, ponders why the great Florentine poet is largely unread by many non-Italians. To help readers, he clears up misconceptions about this medieval genius, including Dante’s politics, his arranged marriage, and his obsession with Beatrice, a woman he barely knew. The book includes 24 full-color illustrations. [$35.00; hardcover; 400 pages; Farrar, Straus and Giroux]

ITALIAN FOLK Vernacular Culture in Italian-American LivesEdited by Joseph sciorraThis collection of 12 essays and articles takes an in-depth look at Italian American culture. Tradi-tions such as basement kitchens, city garden fig trees, street festivals, Sicilian poetry written in Brooklyn, and the folklore of Italian witchcraft demonstrate the unique hybrid nature of trans-planted Italians and their descendants. [$28.00; paperback; 288 pages; Fordham University Press]

Reviewed by Carol Cummings

The Sons of Italy



ITaLIaN amERIcaN hIsTORy aNd cuLTuREOur Story

NEW YORK The Italian Heritage & Cul-ture Committee of New York held a flag-raising ceremony Oct. 7 in New York City. Participants included Astronaut Michael Massimino and the committee’s presi-dent and chair, Joseph Sciame, a former OSIA national president.

The Grand Lodge of New York’s float in the city’s 2011 parade.

Italian americans around the u.s. celebrated columbus day 2011. The federal holiday salutes the great navigator and recognizes the contributions of the nation’s estimated 26 million Italian americans. The biggest parade is in New york city.

VIRGINIA The Knights of Columbus, the Grand Lodge of Vir-ginia and the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge #315 held a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Richmond Oct. 9. Pres-ent were descendants of its sculptor, Ferruccio Legnaioli. It was donated to the city in 1927 by Richmond’s Italian American community.

OHIO One of the three Ferraris that participated in the Columbus Italian Festival Parade Oct. 9, reports Chris-tina Bittoni, 17, whose father, Giorgio, is seen here driving his 355 F1 Spider. After the parade, the Ferraris were on display for the rest of the festival.

COLORADO Dedicated in 1905, the Columbus monument in Pueblo is on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to the Southern Colo-rado Lodge #2738, which held a wreath-laying ceremony there Oct. 10th.

NEW JERSEY The Frank Sinatra Lodge #2621 in Freehold, par-ticipated in Columbus Day ceremonies Oct. 9 in Hamilton Township along with the mayor, local officials, and high school students from OSIA member Frank Campione’s Italian class

CONNECTICUT The Ella T. Grasso Lodge #2538 in Hartford marched in the city’s annual Columbus Day parade, part of a week-long series of events that raised $7,000 for scholarships.


ITaLIaN amERIcaN hIsTORy aNd cuLTuREOur Story

Protesting Congress’s snubs are Joe N. Grano, second from left, and supporters.


Dignitaries inaugurate the Alberti street sign in New York City [photo: John Caporale]

By maRIa BOLOgNa WEINgaRT

In 1635, Pietro Cesare Alberti, a 27-year-old Venetian aristocrat, got off a Dutch ship in the New World and became its first Italian immigrant. The only Italian in

Italian Americans demonstrated in Washington, D.C. November 16, 2011 to protest the House of Representa-tives’ failure to honor Constantino Brumidi or recognize the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Targeted was House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), who would not schedule the ceremony awarding the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Brumidi, the artist of the Capitol, despite efforts by Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH).

“This medal was approved more than three years ago,” says Joseph N. Grano, president of the Rhodes Tavern-DC Heritage Society in Washington, D.C., who organized the demonstration. “Meanwhile, three groups whose medal legislation was signed into law more than a year after Brumidi’s, have had their ceremonies,” he says.

The protestors also criticized House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), who banned voting on ceremonial resolutions in 2011, which would have included a salute to Italy’s 150th anniversary of nationhood. “However, a Senate resolution honoring Slovenia on its 20th anniversary passed in two days,” says Grano.

Italian Americans Protest Congress Snubs

Remembering First Italian in America, Pietro Cesare Alberti

WHAT YOU CAN DO: To pressure the House of Rep-resentatives, Grano has set up two online petitions that go directly to Congressional leaders. To sign them online, go to http://www.change.org/petitions#search/brumidi and to http://www.change.org/petitions/congress-honor-italy-with-a-resolution-for-the-150th-anniv-ersary-of-its-birth-2. For printed petitions, call Joe N. Grano at (202) 364-2526.

the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (later New York), he married Judith Jans Manje, the daughter of influential Dutch settlers.

The Dutch altered his name from Alberti to Alburtis, Burtis and finally, Albertis. But no matter what he was called, he prospered, acquiring a tobacco plantation in Brooklyn. He and his wife were killed in a 1655 Indian raid, but six of their seven children survived to adult-hood.

In the early 1900s, what is now 104th Street in Corona, Queens was named Alburtis Avenue, but the name was changed when Queens numbered its streets around 1927. In 2011, however, thanks to the Italian American Cul-tural Roundtable, and its president Frances Bologna, a local board co-named Corona Avenue and 104th Street in his honor on November 6, 2011. Now ethnically diverse, Corona had been a thriving Italian American community during the first half of the twentieth century.


Italian Americans

Take Back Their Heritage

PARLIAMO

ITALIANO!

A WW II poster illustrates how speaking Italian was discouraged


By suzaNNa mOLINO & dONa dE saNcTIs


Are we ever too old to learn Ital-ian? Not according to Frank Verdi, 78, who studies the language at the Rev. Oreste Pandola Adult Learn-ing Center in Baltimore’s Little Italy so he can speak to relatives when he visits his great-grandfather’s village in Italy.

In 1996, Father Pandola, then-pastor of St. Leo the Great, decided to establish a cultural learning center in the church’s former parochial school that would offer Italian lan-guage and culture to children and adults. Today, the Pandola Center has nearly 200 students and 25 cer-tified teachers of Italian, according to Rosalie Ranieri, the Center’s principal. Students can take cooking classes where they learn to make wine, sausage, biscotti and even limoncello liqueur. Bocce and Italian card games are also offered along with Italian for Children, (ages 10-12) on Saturdays. [See www.littleitalymd.com]

A LosT HerITAge Why don’t most Italian Ameri-

cans speak Italian? The reasons are historical, social and cultural, says Ranieri. “When the wave of Italian

immigrants hit America’s shores at the turn of the last century, the melting pot was at full boil. Today’s ‘multi-culturalism’ encourages immigrants to retain their native languages, but 100 years ago, there was a push to turn the children of Italian immigrants into Americans.”

Consequently, Italian was not taught in schools. Neither did im-migrant children learn anything about Italy, its culture or contributions. In-stead, students were steeped in U.S. history and in many cases, made to be ashamed of their foreign roots.

Italian immigrant parents sup-ported society’s efforts at assimilation. They quickly realized that speaking unaccented English was key to their children’s success in school, the work-place and society. In addition, most Italian immigrants spoke only their local dialects and were unable to teach their children standard Italian.

Italy’s tragic history under Fas-cism and World War II furthered the demise of Italian studies in American schools. Instead, first and second generation Italian American students learned French or Spanish. It was only in the 1960s, when Italy made its remarkable recovery from the war’s devastation and American tourists began visiting Italy, that interest in things Italian – including the language – flourished.

Today, Italian ranks among the top three languages that most American

Washington, D.C.’s Casa Italiana has a varied program for adults and children.

Rosalie Ranieri, principal of the Rev. Oreste Pandola Center in Baltimore

The Pandola Center in Baltimore’s Little Italy [Photo: Linda Ports]


students want to learn, with nearly 78,000 students studying it in 2008, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

THe rIse oF ITALIANMany Italian American commu-

nities around the country support efforts to teach Italian to both adults and children. St. John School in Boston’s North End (Little Italy), for example, offers Italian as part of the curriculum from kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Teacher Rachele Giangregorio starts by teaching numbers, colors, songs, the alphabet, days of the week, and parts of the body to her young stu-dents. “Though many Italian families in the North End have moved to the suburbs, some come back to bring their kids to this school,” says Giangregorio, who was born in Benevento.

In Washington, D.C., Holy Ro-sary, the city’s Italian Catholic parish, established an Italian cultural center next to the church in 1981. For three decades, the Casa Italiana has offered adults and children affordable Italian language and culture classes taught by native speakers. Today, the Casa’s program includes all levels of Italian grammar and conversation, along with Italian for Travelers, cook-

ing classes, ceramics and literature. [See www.casaitalianaschool.org]

In Chicago, Sentieri Italiani (Ital-ian Paths) has been teaching adults Italian for the past 20 years. “The best way to learn,” says President and founder Daniela Cavallero, is “take a class at least once a week and then spend time at home learning and practicing. With the existing modern technologies, you can do a lot: listen to conversations, watch videos, prac-tice speaking – all available on the Web.” [See www.sentieri.com]

According to Ranieri of the Pan-dola Center, although there are numerous programs available via the Internet and on a computer, “the best method is to be in a small class in a nurturing environment with an excellent teacher,” she says. “You need interaction with other students, the support of the teacher and above all, the practice.”

geTTINg sTArTeDRanieri offers these tips to Italian

American communities interested in establishing an Italian language program:

•Before developing a curriculum,conduct a needs assessment: What are people interested in and why? (i.e., travel, conversation, fluency);

•Securesufficientfundstocovertheprogram; perhaps other community groups are willing to donate partial startup costs;

•Bemindfulofoverhead:rent,utili-ties, teachers’ payroll, advertising, supplies, textbooks;

•Savemoneybyrecruitingvolunteersfor tasks such as Web site design, graphic artist, promoter;

•Considerlocation:churchbuilding,community hall, school;

•Offer a nurturing, comfortable,sense-of-community environment;

•Beconsiderateofstudents’needs;progress at the rate in which they master the material;

•Keepclasssizessmall,andincludebreaks; adults may be tired after working all day;

•Keep class fees reasonable (Pan-dola’s eight-week fee is $70);

•Hire dedicated certified teachers; allow them to supplement materi-als;

•UseexcellenttextbooksthatincludeEnglish and Italian;

•Offerfreeparking;•Offer satellite locations for addi-

tional convenience.

“A program will be successful only if you take into consideration the rate at which students learn,” says Ranieri. “That must be the focus – not just finishing the text book or the cur-riculum. Our Center has an organized curriculum in place and goals to meet, but our primary goal is to make learn-ing Italian pleasant and fun.”

Suzanna Molino is a freelance writer and editor, pro bono director of the Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore, and editor of Neighbor-hood News from Little Italy. Contact her at [email protected]. Dona De Sanctis is editor-in-chief of Italian America magazine. Contact her at [email protected]

Learning Italian at Chicago’s Sentieri Italiani Center [photo: Sentieri, Inc.]


IT’S “ONLY” A MOVIE…How stereotyping shapes the public image of today’s Italian Americans.

• BECKELBIGOTRY Co-host of Fox News’s political talk show, “The Five,” Bob Beckel often refers to Italian Americans as “grease balls,” and “guidos.” Responding to a comment that all Italians are not in the Mafia, he said, “Yes they are.” A recover-ing alcoholic and drug addict, Beckel has apologized for slurs aimed at “rednecks,” but not to Italian Americans. Contact him at [email protected] (Manny Alfano, NJ)

• JERSEYBOYS&GIRLS To viewers headed for the beach last summer, Daniel Sieberg, a co-anchor on ABC’s “World News Now,” suggested meeting “all the guidos and guidettes” in New Jersey. He refused to apologize even after a co-anchor warned that failure to apologize would trigger complaints. Contact him at [email protected]. (John W. Del Russo, Sr., Virginia)

• CARFELLLAS=CARWRECK The Discovery Chan-nel’s “Carfellas” is a reality show star-ring convicted felon Mike De Lucia (aka “Mickey D.”) and his pals, Tom-mie and Mario, who run a used car lot in on NY’s Long Island. Grossly over-

weight, ignorant and foul-mouthed, the three middle-aged, cigar-smoking bozos fight, curse, and play pranks on each other as they push “previously owned” autos. The program is produced by Leftfield Pictures’s Brent Montgomery and David George. (John DiBattista, Maryland CSJ President)

• MIAMIMAFIA? “A degree from Miami gives you amazing career connections,” boasts the Ohio university in its promotional brochure. Offensively (and illogically), the school refers to its national network as “the Miami Mafia,” because “we have so many interns and graduates working in Washington, D.C.” (Bob Giusto, Ohio)

• SELLINGTHESTEREOTYPE “Tired of Wise Guys and Bad Deals?” asks Jack Daniels Motors in New Jersey. To promote themselves, the multi-branch deal-erships air TV commercials, featuring Italian American gangster puppets that intimidate prospective customers and even hit one with a two-by-four. “Could you see any other racial, ethnic or religious negative stereotypes…used in such a way?,” asked NY Post’s Phil Mushnick in a July 2011 column. Complain to [email protected] (Vito Sciancalepore, New Jersey)

• MISSISSIPPIMUD Billing itself as an “Italian family restaurant,” in Natchez, MS, “Lil Dagos” offers “good home-cooked Italian meals,” such as “Dago” meatballs, sausages, and cheese toast (?). “We hope our name does not offend anyone, especially those who share our Italian ancestry,” the café’s home page states. “…our Scottish/Irish mother always referred to the six of us as ‘lil dagos.’ She meant no harm and we assure you we mean no harm now.” So change the name!

Contributors’ names, when known, are in parenthesis.

SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO: “It’s Only a Movie”, Italian America Magazine, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, dc 20002. E-mail: [email protected]. Include name and daytime telephone number. No telephone calls please. submissions cannot be acknowledged.


WhaT’s NEW: dIscOuNTs, sERVIcEs aNd EVENTsBulletin Board

He grew up in Canada and now lives in the U.S., but for Michéal Castaldo, “all roads lead back to Calabria... where I learned everything I love.” He was only three when his family left Italy for Toronto, but Castaldo’s Italian heritage has shaped him both as a musician and entrepreneur.

His love of music has led him to become an award-winning songwriter, producer, arranger, and singer. Trained in opera’s bel canto and schooled in jazz arranging, he is now a classical crossover artist, who has recorded five albums and a number of singles so far.

His latest CD album, “Olive You – Clas-sic Italian Songs to Feed the Heart and Soul” will be released at the end of January in time for St. Valentine’s Day. [For details, see ad on page 33.] It features his hit single, “Pray’r.”

The title, a play on words for “I love you,” reveals Castaldo’s second passion. Since 2004, he has imported olive oil, pro-duced on his family’s 20,000 olive orchards in Calabria. An earlier album, “Aceto,” (Vinegar) is a collection of popular American songs which he sings in Italian and has dedicated to his late father. He chose the title because he also imports aged balsamic vinegar.

Now living in New York City, he juggles a very busy schedule, which includes concerts, recording dates, and the day-to-day demands of a growing number of business ventures in addition to importing. Still, Castaldo makes time to help underprivileged children as well as adults in

Michéal Castaldo: Feeding Body and Soul

a unique way, through his La Dolce Vita Foundation.

Weather permitting, he takes them on “scenic joy rides” in his customized Mazda Miata convertible. They tour the New York City area for one to four hours and then go to brunch or lunch at a local restaurant. The passengers receive DVDs and photographs as souvenirs.

The spelling of his first name reflects his Italian and American personalities. “It’s a hybrid of the Italian “Mi-chele” and the American Michael,” Castaldo says. “To-gether they equal Michéal.”


Sons of Italy Speakers Bureau

Sons of Italy Expands Popular Travel Program

need a speaker for your club meeting or a special event? Contact these speakers directly. some may require travel expenses and/or honorariums. more speakers are listed on the osia website: www.osia.org at “studies in Culture.” to apply as a speaker, contact Dona De sanctis at [email protected].

**ANYWHERE, USA •HistorianMaria Falco, PhD, presents unique per-

sonalities and events from Italian history, especially in Renaissance politics and art. Contact: 504/454-2508 (LA). Email: [email protected]; Web: www.falcosaerie.me

•NovelistFrank Pennisi speaks on growing up Italian in New York City and his latest book, “Sciatu Mio” that follows three generations of Sicilians from Italy to America. Will do book-signings. Contact: 843/272-9997 (SC). Email: [email protected]

•ProfessorLaura Ruberto, PhD, explores her immigrant grandmother’s poignant memoir, “Such Is Life” (a Sons of Italy Book Club selection), and other topics related to Italian Americans and their history. Contact: 510/981-2922 (CA); Email: [email protected].

CALIFORNIA Memoirist Vito Lepore describes his “bumpy” trip from a village in Italy to California. Will do sign his book, “Vito’s Journey.” Contact: 949/305-4567 (CA). Email: [email protected]

FLORIDA/TAMPA BAY AREA Singer/Author Philip Tropea speaks on great Italian tenors from Enrico Caruso to Mario Lanza. Will do book-signings of his novel, “Marco”. Contact: 727/488 6160 (FL). Email: [email protected]

ILLINOIS/WISCONSIN Lawyer/author Theodore Grippo brings new evidence to the fore, exonerating Sacco & Vanzetti. Will sign his book, “With Malice Aforethought,” a Sons of Italy Book Club selection. Contact: www.tedgrippo.com

NEWENGLAND/NY&NJ Author John Lanza talks about his uncle’s WW II experiences as described in his book, “Shot Down Over Italy,” a Sons of Italy Book Club selection. Will do book-signings. Contact: 973/226-8602 (NJ). Email: [email protected]. Web: www.shotdownoveritaly.com

NY/NJ/CONNECTICUT Actor/singer Lou Del Bi-anco, grandson of Luigi Del Bianco, chief carver of Mt. Rushmore, presents his one-man show about his famous ancestor. Contact: 914/937-0897 (NY). Email: [email protected]. Web: www.luigimountrushmore.com

PENNSYLVANIA/DELAWARE Historian Paul Enea discusses Renaissance geniuses Da Vinci & Michelan-gelo; Roman art & engineering; modern Italian history from unification through today. Contact: 610/696-4945 (PA). Email: [email protected]

WhaT’s NEW: dIscOuNTs, sERVIcEs aNd EVENTsBulletin Board


The Sons of Italy’s popular travel program, Passport to Italy, now includes four tour packages that cover Italy from north to south.

Beginning March, 2012, travelers can choose to visit the Italian Riviera in northern Liguria; Umbria and Tuscany in central Italy; and Campania, or Sicily in the south.

Tours begin at $2,650.00 per person and all packages include round-trip airfare on Alitalia; four-star hotel ac-commodations; all breakfasts and dinners and escorted tours with English-speaking guides.

Each tour has multiple departure dates between March, 2012 and June, 2013. Clubs, lodges and groups can reserve “Members-Only” tours, but all tours require a minimum of 25 people.

For brochures and application forms, see www.osia.org or call 1-800-777-7432. Email Marianna Pisano at [email protected].

Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera


The New York Times article that helped expose the trafficking of Italian children.

“Wandering Minstrels,” painted by August Edwin Mulready in 1883, depicts the plight of street musician-slaves

By daVId mccORmIck

Dressed in rags, his dirty hair in tangles, the little boy tinkled a melody on a brass triangle; the cap at his feet, catching coins tossed by passersby. Only six years old, Francesco already was a veteran of the tough streets of 19th century New York City. He was one of thousands of Italian street urchins, playing musical instruments and begging for pennies in America during the winter of 1873.

The mass migration of Italians to America had not yet started. The 1870 U.S. Census lists only 17,000 Ital-ian nationals in the entire country, most of them in New York City. It is even more astonishing then that during that same period, between 7,000 and 8,000 children were kidnapped from Italy and kept as slaves in America’s big-gest cities, according to an 1873 article in The New York Times.



Most were from small towns in Italy, snatched from their beds or given freely by their parents to Italian agents called padroni (bosses), who assured them that their chil-dren would have a better life in America. In reality, once in the U.S., the children were sold at private auctions for $100 to $300 for boys; and $100 to $500 for girls. Enslaved by their masters, they were given rudimentary lessons on the triangle, violin or harp and then sent out daily as street musicians.

This travesty gripped the headlines of The New York Times in 1873 when a reporter, who spoke Italian, discov-ered three boys, gathered around a garbage can in a rear alley. The youngest was the aforementioned Francesco, who was gnawing on a desiccated beef bone. The reporter approached the three, hailing them in Italian. They ner-vously passed glances among themselves. He later learned the cause for their timidity —the waifs were instructed to flee from anyone who spoke to them in Italian. Francesco was the first to open up. He and eight-year-old Pietrovito had been kidnapped and put aboard a steamer bound for America. The oldest, Rocco, 12 years old, offered little information, only his place of birth, Lorenzana.


Once in America, the pirated children were installed in dreary quarters, under the rule of their padroni, who banded together in the poorest neighborhoods of Brook-lyn and Manhattan, where they would take over dilapidated houses close to each other. Rising early from their flea-infested beds of straw, the children were given a small piece of black bread or some pasta; sent out into the streets and ordered not to return home until their quota of fifty to eighty cents was met—or they would be beaten

The slave trafficking in Italian children reached a peak in the 1870’s. On May 20, 1873, Il Movimento, a newspaper published in Genoa, ran an article about three children who had been stolen that morning in Milan. The paper printed their names and descriptions, and noted, “….It is likely the three children are in New York….”

Driven by grief, some parents made their way to the United States to search for their children. A mother from the region of Basilicata in southern Italy crossed the At-lantic with her two young children; her other four had been kidnapped. On July 10, 1873 a Good Samaritan, a German gentleman, found her sitting, penniless, on steps to the entrance of a warehouse on Fulton Street that had

A padrone punishes his child slave for not earning enough with his violin. [ Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, March 8, 1873.]


ing the United States passing similar legislation, the Hon. Ferdinand de Luca, Consul General of Italy in the United States, submitted a five-point plan to the New York City Police Commissioners. It called for the apprehension of any Italian children found begging or playing musical in-struments in the streets. This action afforded the children some protection from their padroni and facilitated return to their families in Italy.

In New York City, Italian schools were set-up by the aforementioned New York Children’s Aid Society to help keep the children off the streets. One, the Italian Evening School, was established in the heart of one padrone colony on Crosby Street, near some of the tenements that housed the kidnapped children. It carried between 50 and 100 children on its attendance rolls.

Finally, on June 23, 1874, the U.S. Congress passed the Act to Protect Persons of Foreign Birth against Forc-ible Constraints or Involuntary Servitude, a federal law that carried with it, fines up to five-year-prison sentences and deportation. According to the New York Times, this legislation commonly known as the “Padrone Act” was “applied with vigor.” This effort combined with a similar law in New York State that passed in 1876 forbade using children under 16 in public entertainments. The laws greatly diminished this slave trade. By the late 1880’s the Italian street musicians had all but disappeared from the sidewalks of New York City.

David McCormick is a free-lance writer in Springfield Massachusetts. Contact him at [email protected]

closed for the day. He offered her help, but fearful that someone would take her two remaining children, she re-fused him. According to the New York Times, the fate of this anonymous woman, who was too afraid to give her name, is unknown.

The New York Times had played a pivotal role in un-masking the plight of the young Italian street musicians. C. L. Brace, secretary of the New York Children’s Aid Society, commented on the value of the paper’s involve-ment in a letter to the editor in which he wrote, “We rejoice to secure your powerful voice in the reform of this abuse of the Italian children.”

The media stories in Italy and the United States drew attention to this atrocious practice, but it took the com-bined efforts of the biggest Italian American fraternal organizations, the Italian government and finally the U.S. Congress to end it.

In June, 1873, the Associazione Donnarumma, New York’s most powerful Italian fraternal society, proposed that their members join forces with such other fraternal orders as the Unione Fratellanza and the Unione Italiana, to protect the young urchin-minstrels.

Six months later, in December, 1873, the Italian parlia-ment passed legislation making the selling or employing of abducted children a felony. In April 1874, while anticipat-

An illustration showing Italian urchins warming them-selves at a New York steam grate ran in Harper’s Weekly on February 12, 1876.



NEWs FOR yOuNg ITaLIaN amERIcaNsGiovinezza!

Studying in Italysara Frondoni received the 2010 sons of Italy Foundation/sorrento Lingue scholarship to study in Italy. a student at the university of southern california in Los angeles, sara is an honor student, majoring in vocal performance with minors in Italian and communications. she wrote this essay last November as she was completing five months of study at the sant’anna Institute-sorrento Lingue school in sorrento, near Naples.

Receiving the Sant’Anna Institute-Sorrento Lingue (SASL) Scholarship from the Sons of Italy Foundation was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. I would never have had the chance to study abroad without this scholarship.

I arrived in Sorrento in August, 2011. It is hard to be-lieve that I am almost at the end of my adventure. Looking back, when I arrived, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know what the people were like; who my host family was; how the school worked; whom I would meet; and what I would experience.

The scholarship has given me the opportunity to master the Italian language. In fact, I will take the CELI 2 at the end of November. It is an Italian language exam that will show my language skills are proficient enough to study at an Italian university. Studying at Sorrento Lingue has been an enriching experience. I respect the instructors, and the staff has become like my second family. I have learned so much from them and they have made me feel right at home.

In Sorrento I found ways to continue singing. I am a vocal performance major at the University of Southern California. Singing in a choir has always been a huge part of my life, so I joined a local church choir. There I made friends with other singers, who invited me into their homes for dinner. I have never felt so welcomed!

Living in Italy also has helped me define my identity as an Italian American. In Italy, people call me “l’americana.” In the United States, people think of me as “the Italian girl.” This fascinates me because I have citizenship in both countries.

The other day, a Sorrentino asked me which culture I identify more with. Before I had this experience, I consid-ered myself more Italian than American, but after living here for almost 5 months now, I can say with complete confidence that I am neither one nor the other- I am both

Italian and American. I am fortunate that I grew up with the values of both cultures. I am very proud of them both. They help make up who I am.

My study abroad experience in Sorrento will always stay with me. I have been able to explore my deepest passions of singing and Italian. At the same time, I have discovered completely new layers of identity as an Italian American. These months have helped me grow and connect with people who will remain close to my heart for the rest of my life. I cannot wait to return to the U.S. and share my experiences with other Italian Americans. Thank you so much, Sant’Anna Institute and the Sons of Italy!

The Sant’Anna Institute-Sorrento Lingue (SASL) organizes academic study abroad programs for under-graduate students, language and cultural programs in Sorrento, Italy. Visit www.sorrentolingue.com for more information. Also see www.osia.org to apply for the Sons of Italy 2012 Sorrento Lingue Scholarship.

Sons of Italy Study Abroad scholarship recipient Sara Frondoni in Sorrento, Italy


CHECK IT OUT!Visit your OSIA web site

WWW.OSIA.ORG for updates on the latest OSIA news, reports & issues.


By kaREN haId

Italians have a healthy respect for black cats, evil eyes, ladders, and anyone or anything that knowingly or unknowingly could possibly cause, bring, carry, direct or impose misfor-tune on them.

To ward off any such inflictions, a myriad of precautions have been devised, with the victim often making use of more than one charm to com-bat the presumed malevolence.

Most superstitious individuals come by their beliefs honestly, having had struggling ancestors for whom a little good luck would have been joyously welcomed, whereas a bit of bad luck may have been all that was needed to lead an entire family to ruin. After one villager got hit on the head while passing under a ladder, giving such precarious equipment wide berth just avoided a potentially catastrophic situation and the ladder itself came to be considered bad luck.

Better not to take any chances, with tried and tested preemptive be-havior stacking the odds in one’s favor.

Who can be blamed for wanting to bring a little fortuna (luck) their way, or at least keep sfortuna (misfortune) at arm’s length?

THE CURSESOften, the sfortuna or iella is

conveyed by a neighbor or passerby, with the malocchio (evil eye) being one of its most popular forms. These malignant looks can be intentional or not, with consequences ranging from simple headaches, vomiting, minor car trouble or feeling out of sorts to more serious issues regarding family, work or health. To determine whether a TOP: Il corno wards off misfortune

but must be given not bought.

particular suffering was really trig-gered by a curse, a straightforward experiment can be carried out. These tests have regional differences, but usually include an old woman from the village. An example would be to put three drops of oil in a bowl of water balanced on the victim’s head while chanting and making the sign of the cross. If the oil floats, there hasn’t been any malocchio, but if it mixes with the water, sinister forces have been at work.

JINXESKey to protecting oneself is being

aware of who gives off the bad luck. Called iettatore (or iettatrice, for a woman), these jinxes emanate negative vibes and bring about misfortune.

The classic iettatore is solitary, cynical, egoistical, pale and thin with dark glasses and clothing. Judiciously avoided along with his colleague, schiattamorto (a plain-clothed Grim Reaper), these alleged evil-doers have been a modern source of laughter

Touching a gobbo’s hunch brings good luck


for many a filmgoer, but have also inspired thought-provoking works such as Luigi Pirandello’s La patente (The License) in which the absurdity associated with such superstition as well as the ingenuity and resilience in combating such adversities are il-lustrated.

Brilliantly brought to the big screen by the legendary Neapolitan comic actor, Totò in the 1954 film, Questa è la vita, the tragi-comedy recounts the struggle of an accused iettatore who has lost his job due to the prevailing ignorance and supersti-

Italy begins with “occhio, malocchio, prezzemolo e finocchio” (eye, evil eye, parsley and fennel), due to the use of minced parsley and fennel in this ancient magic rite.

Superstitious behavior can be found across all strata of society. Called scaramanzia, the avoidance of bad luck is practiced in many ways. A baser sort may spit, swear or make an anti-curse gesture such as rapidly sticking the point of the tongue out three times.

As the malocchio is often inspired by jealousy and envy, the rich and fa-mous aren’t immune to these practices and may also be seen muttering some sort of conciliatory formula when confronted with a demonic stare. A lady may touch her hair to ward off the malocchio. For men, touching one’s private parts is a standard protective maneuver.

THE CHARMSPerhaps the most common scon-

giuro or charm to ward off evil is the hand gesture of horns, directing the index and pinky fingers towards the malocchio. Called fare le corna, this scongiuro is often combined with oth-ers, such as touching iron or carrying a portafortuna or good-luck charm. The Neapolitans, in particular, are never left unprepared to defend them-selves from a threat of evil, making sure to have at least one portafortuna with them at all times.

One of the most popular charms is il corno (the horn), preferably red and made of coral. To function, the horn must be received as a gift; however, it can also be stolen, just as long as the user isn’t the purchaser. Il gobbo (the hunchback) also brings good luck, whether in the form of an amulet or in person. The superstitious will always be able to find an appropriate excuse

for touching a stranger’s hump such as flicking off an insect or graciously ushering him into a room. A horse-shoe can be carried in one’s pocket or hung over a door. Some believe a specific plant (regional variations apply), visibly placed in front of the house, is beneficial, and of course wearing religious jewelry is a good preventative measure.

AND FINALLY….For further security, oil must not

be spilled on the ground and salt must not be knocked over onto the table (although throwing a few large grains over one’s shoulder in the wake of a iettatore is recommended). Don’t tempt fate by walking down a street that a black cat has just crossed; or put a hat or coins on the bed; break a mirror; open an umbrella in the house; dine in thirteen; or ever leave the house on Friday the 17th of any month. Foolishness? Well, as Eduardo De Filippo, another famous Neapolitan comic actor and writer, is purported to have said, “Being superstitious is for the ignorant, but not being so brings bad luck.”Not giving the impression of being su-perstitious, Karen Haid was forced to write this article with her toes crossed as she waited for someone to present her with a red horn. Contact her in Las Vegas at [email protected]

tion in his community. At wits end, this innocently persecuted individual eventually takes on the mantle of a jinx and seeks retribution in court, not through an affirmation of his innocence but by means of a license whereby he would be able to earn a living. Legally recognized as a ietta-tore, he could then collect a tax from those who wanted him to go away, and in so doing reinforce and confirm societal fears and superstitions.

THE CURESTo counteract hexes attributable to

iettatori and the malocchio, antidotal ceremonies can be performed. These neutralizing rituals are usually led by women with self-professed special powers, who chant and use spell-breaking gestures and talismans. A popular incantation from southern

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi warding off the evil

eye with his left hand

The legendary Totò, playing an ac-cused jinx in “Questa è la vita” (1954).


OSIA® Nation makINg a dIFFERENcE

SOUTH CAROLINANEBRASKA

National First Vice President Anthony Baratta (R) presents the lodge char-

ter to its new officer and guests.

SONS OF ITALY SUPPORTS ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

(L. to R.) OSIA National President JOSEPH DiTRAPANI; PRINCESS YAS-MIN AGA KHAN; HARRY JOHNS, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association (AA); and OSIA/SIF CEO PHILIP R. PICCIGALLO at the AA’s annual Rita Hayworth Gala in New York City October 25, 2011. The Sons of Italy presented a check for $90,000, raised by its members. OSIA/SIF has already given $1 million to the AA and has pledged another million dollars over the next 10 years.

A fund-raising gala last November kicked off a campaign to raise money for a documentary about the city’s Italian immigrants. The initiative is headed by a committee of members from the city’s three leading Italian American organizations: the Santa Lucia Festival Committee, the Sons of Italy; and the American Italian Heritage Society. All proceeds go to the Nebraska Independent Film Project, a non-profit organization that is making the film. They need $40,000 to finish the film this spring and then will sell it on DVDs, accord-ing to committee member Jeremy Caniglia of the Colombo Lodge #1419.

In the 19th century, about 6,000 southern Italians immigrated to

Benvenuti to our newest lodge in Surfside Beach. Founded by Paul Ju-liano, Jr., Fred Nesta, and Charlotte Ciappetta, the Grand Strand Lodge #2868 was formally launched Sep-tember 24, 2011when OSIA National First Vice President Anthony Baratta installed its first officers and presented them with its charter. The lodge has 63 members, bringing to six the lodges in S.C. National 3rd Vice President Dan Longo, 4th National Vice President Tony Spaziani and Mr. and Mrs. Nick Ameli travelled to South Caro-lina to attend the ceremony.

Omaha to work for the Union Pacific Railroad and in the stockyards. Today, the city has 35,000 Italian Americans that still celebrate the Santa Lucia Festival, now in its 88th year.

Working on the documentary are (L. to R.) Oscar-winning cinematog-

rapher Mauro Fiore; Jeremy Caniglia, and writer/producer/vid-

eographer Mike DiGiacomo

NEW YORK

In memory of his father, a long-time lodge member, actor Paul Borghese of the Rockland Lodge #2176 in Blau-velt, has built and donated a bocce court near the lodge building. The Nunzio L. Borgese Bocce Ball Park hosts leagues, playoffs and championship games. Paul’s father died in 2009 at age 95.

Tournament bocce players debate a point at the Borgese Park behind the

lodge’s meeting house.


OSIA® Nation OsIa LOdgEs aT WORk


SPECIAL RECOGNITION

UMBERTO ABRONZINO, a long-time OSIA member who died at age 85 in 2006, was honored by San Jose, CA, along with A.P. Giannini and 23 other Italian Americans for his contributions to the city, which also has named a soccer field in his honor. He is in the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame for his lifelong dedication to the sport.LAWRENCE BRANCHETTI, an At-Large member in Miami, re-ceived the 2011 U.S. Commerce Association Award in Entertainment and Production. He sings the classics of George Gershwin, Cole Por-ter and Henry Mancini in the style of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. See www.branchetti.com.TOM FIGLIUZZI, an At-Large member in Moorhead, MN, received the city’s Human Rights Award in September, 2011 for his work with U.S. military veterans.RICHARD FURIA, Esq. of the Ivy Ridge Lodge #251 in Philadelphia, died September 16 of lung cancer at age 66. He held various offices with OSIA, including national orator; was honored by his lodge; helped establish the Justinian Foundation, which gives scholarships to Italian American law students; and with his family, was a generous philanthropist.THEODORE GRIPPO, Esq., an At-Large member in Chicago, has been invited to join the advisory board of Northwestern University Law School’s “Center on Wrongful Convictions,” which works to release wrong-fully convicted people. He is the author of With Malice Aforethought” on the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and once sued “The Sopranos” for defaming Italian Americans. JOHN MURRO, 93, of the John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 in Port Washington, NY, is the oldest living sandminer in the city, who helped dig over 140 million cubic yards of sand used for 90% of the concrete in New York City’s skyscrapers, subways, roads and bridges during the 1930s. He was one of hundreds of Italian Americans, many from Sardinia, who were paid 90 cents an hour for the dangerous work. Murro was present at the re-dedication of the Sandminers Monument in Port Washington last summer. JOSEPH SOPRANI, of the Benvenuto Lodge #2572 in Havertown, PA, is a world-class accordionist, arranger and teacher, who performed last October at a benefit that unveiled a portrait of Pavarotti at the Union League in Philadelphia. He performed five times with the great tenor and is the only featured solo accordionist ever to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy. See www.joesoprani.com for details. ALBERT D. ROSELLINI, the former Democratic governor of Washington State, died in Seattle from pneumonia at age 101 last October. The son of Italian immigrants, who put himself through law school, he governed from 1957 to 1965. Rosellini improved prisons, hospitals and juvenile homes and helped establish a floating bridge across Lake Washington that bears his name. He was a long-time member of the Seattle Fedele Sons of Italy Lodge #1390.

COLORADO

Robert Cancellieri of the Southern Colorado Lodge #2738 in Pueblo is a descendant of a decorated Garibaldi Red Shirt, who fought for the unifica-tion of Italy 150 years ago. At age 19, his great-grandfather, Carmelo Can-cellieri, of Santa Caterina Villarmosa in Sicily, earned five medals. His son, Gaetano, immigrated to America in 1907; and his son, Carmelo fought in WW II. Robert continued his family’s tradition of service. He is a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel. The lodge displayed the medals at the state convention last spring, reports lodge member Sam Pisciotta.

Carmelo Cancellieri with his medals

have you or your lodge done some-thing remarkable that makes a differ-ence to your community or promotes our heritage? send details with your lodge’s name and number (photo optional) to: ITaLIaN amERIca magazine, 219 E street NE, Washington, dc 20002 or E-mail [email protected]. Include daytime phone no. Entries not acknowledged and photos not returned unless requested.

GOT A GOODSTORY?


The Sons of Italy Foundation®

Foundation FocusBy VINcENT saRNO, pREsIdENTThE sONs OF ITaLy FOuNdaTION

Despite years of publicizing this important fact, some of our members are still unaware that the Sons of Italy Foundation owns the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, one of only two ethnic museums in America with landmark status. It was built on Staten Island, N.Y. in the early 19th century and was once the home of Antonio Meucci, inventor of the telephone, who lived there from 1850 to his death in 1889.

The great Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi also lived there as Meucci’s guest from 1850 to 1854. After Meucci died, his home was vandalized and nearly burnt to the ground. Fortunately, in 1919, the Sons of Italy rescued the building and gradually restored it.

In 1956, the Sons of Italy Foundation took over the house, re-dedicating it as the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Artifacts from all over the world were collected, including two of Garibaldi’s red shirts; a lock of his hair; prototypes of Meucci’s telephone; a rocking chair and a carved piano that Meucci made and played.

In 2000, John Dabbene became its chairman, trans-forming the museum into a thriving center of Italian cul-ture and heritage, less than an hour from New York City. Today, it hosts lecture, mounts exhibits and teaches Italian to children and adults. Tragically, John died suddenly last year, following surgery. We will always miss him.

hELpINg ThOsE IN NEEd

To keep John’s legacy alive and the museum’s programs growing, there is a constant need for fund-ing. The museum’s latest campaign is the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Com-memorative Brick Walkway in front of the historic home. The initiative was conceived and launched by the current director, Michela Traetto and launched in March, 2011 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The project allows people to purchase and dedicate bricks to their friends and family. To date, more than 250 engraved bricks have been installed and were dedicated November 5, 2011. [See below.]

The goal is to install 1,089 bricks—representing the 1,089 Red Shirt volunteers, who fought with Garibaldi to unify Italy. Bricks are $100, $250 and $1,000 each, depending on size, and can be personalized with a name, special date or brief message for posterity. I urge you to support this landmark and its heritage. For more infor-mation, call 718/442-1608 or see www.garibaldimeuc-cimuseum.org.

Italian American Museum Dedication Ceremony

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum and its monument to Meucci on Staten Island, are only one hour from New York City.

Among the officials dedicating the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum walkway November 5, 2011 were National Past OSIA President Joseph Sciame (R) and current National

President Joseph DiTrapani, 4th from right.


News from National WhaT NaTIONaL dOEs FOR yOu

Computer Peace of Mind

OSIA Establishes New Fund-Raiser to Benefit Local Lodges

By dIaNE cREspy

Emmunize, an anti-virus software program that is also a fund-raiser, benefitting OSIA Grand Lodges and the National Sons of Italy, was approved by delegates at the Order’s 2011 convention in Florida last August. The program blocks all suspicious or unidentified programs from running on a computer.

An independent study has shown that Emmunize stopped 100% of viruses 1-14 days old and 100% of viruses created the same day. It protects any information kept on a computer, such as identity, banking and personal informa-tion. Subscriptions cost $6.99 per month ($8.99 for up to three computers) and no contract is required.

All OSIA Grand Lodge have received a dedicated Grand Lodge-Emmunize website. For every monthly subscrip-tion purchased in its site, a Grand Lodge and the National Sons of Italy each receives a matching donation from All At Home, the company that provides Emmunize.


The program is open to OSIA members, families and friends. Lodge members, please contact your Grand Lodge for the website address. Sons of Italy At-Large members, Italian America subscribers and anyone else interested may subscribe to Emmunize through the Na-tional Sons of Italy site: www.osia.allathome.com. Ques-tions? Contact All At Home at [email protected] or call 678/831-4559.

of sales for Entertainment Fundraising. “They report sales of 5 to 10 books per member and, at $10 profit for each book sold, they are quickly raising the money they need!”

LOCAL LODGE LEADERS: For more information about the Official OSIA Coupon Booklet fund-raiser or to get your lodge started, call 855-554-3234 or request information at www.entertainment.com/osia.

TO PURCHASE BOOKLETS: Booklets will be sold through lodges only. Please do not attempt to pur-chase a booklet through the number or website above. Contact your local lodge to see if it is participating in the program. To find a lodge near you, see www.osia.org/about/lodges. — DC

The Sons of Italy national headquarters in Washington, D.C. has established a partnership with Entertainment Fundraising to help local lodges with fund-raising through selling a discount coupon booklet for restaurants, shop-ping, sporting events, travel and more.

Created by the publishers of the popular Entertain-ment Book, the Sons of Italy-branded coupon booklets are customized with each participating lodge’s photo, name and logo. The booklets have 40 coupons from the popular Entertainment Book database of national and local offers. The program includes online access to hundreds of additional printable coupons. Each booklet sells for $20.00 with lodges making up to $10.00 profit for each booklet sold.

“Our nonprofit organizations are having tremendous success with this fund-raiser,” says Rich Shipley, director


By saNTINa haEmmERLE, csJ NaTIONaL pREsIdENT

Does stereotyping hurt Italian Americans? “Yes,” says Richard Gambino, the noted scholar, who established the nation’s first college-level Italian American Studies program in 1973.

He presents evidence in “The Curse of Italian Ameri-can Exceptionalism,” an article that ran in The Sag Harbor Express [April 13, 2011.] In it, Professor Gambino notes that today “when even the …slightest stereotypes of other groups are…condemned,” Italian Americans are the excep-tion. The two most damaging “slurs” date from the late 19th century, but are stronger and more prevalent today.

The first is “the incessant Mafia slur” that presents Italian American culture as inherently criminal. A recent offender is the series, “The Sopranos” that critics have praised for its “well-written scripts and great acting,” which, Gambino points out, “would not … justify or excuse slurs against other groups.”

Even more damaging is the second slur of Italian Americans as “laughable…stupid and culturally deficient buffoons.” He cites the TV reality show, “Jersey Shore,” and its crude young people, who lead dead-end lives. The series is the most watched show among people ages 12 to 34 – “years critical to personality formation,” he notes.

The worldwide media helps present a “slanderous virtual reality” of Italian Americans and their culture as more authentic than the reality Italian Americans have experienced in their own lives, families and neighborhoods. When Italian Americans object to such slander, they are

accused of being “in denial or defensive.”

These virulent ste-reotypes produce psy-chological and financial rewards, according to Gambino. Psychologi-cally, they provide millions of non-Italian Americans with “a comforting sense of pseudo-superiority.” The psychological benefit brings considerable financial reward. “Millions of people, as well as corporations pay for films, TV shows, ‘journalistic’ stories, books, etc. capitalizing on one or both of these slurs on Italian Americans,” says Gambino.

And the damage these stereotypes inflict on us? Gambino concludes that “these false and toxic cultural mythologies…bear on the formation of Italian Americans’ personalities” from childhood to old age. “The confu-sion born of experiencing two conflicting realties at once produces in Italian Americans behavior associated with anxiety, shame, anger, resignation, and depression…that differ in degree from individual to individual. “

The pervasive defamation of Italian Americans can lead to shame and even rejection of our heritage. The Sons of Italy CSJ combats these slurs while publicizing all that is worthy in our culture, contributions and history. But as you see from Professor Gambino’s disturbing essay, there remains much to do. Can we count on you?

The CSJ Perspective

Christie Cuts Funding for “Jersey Shore”

FIghTINg dEFamaTIONThe Commission for Social Justice®

New Jersey governor Chris Christie vetoed a proposed $420,000 film tax credit to the company producing the MTV reality series “Jersey Shore” last September. In an-nouncing his decision, he said “…as chief executive I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuates misconceptions about the state and its citizens.”

The series, now in its fifth season, follows eight “guidos and guidettes,” who live to-gether during the summer. It is seen in dozens of countries worldwide. The Sons of Italy CSJ has held meetings with MTV executives to protest the series.

CSJ National President Santina Haem-merle contacted Gov. Christie’s office to

object to the proposed tax credit and later thanked him by letter “for joining with us in fighting one of the most vile series on television today.”

The cast of “Jersey Shore”


The Perfect Gift Please give this gift subscription to:

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send your check for $20.00 payable to OsIa supREmE LOdgE to:

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONItalian America Magazine219 E Street, NEWashington, DC 20002

Looking for a unique present for family or friends? give the gift of your rich Italian american heritage with a one-year subscription to italian america magazine, the most widely read publication in the u.s. for people of Italian descent. We will contact your gift recipient telling him or her (or them) of your present. Fill out the form below and return to us asap. please allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing. italian america magazine is issued four times a year.

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Letters to the EditorNON CAPISCO! I studied Italian in school years ago, but when I try to translate the “Pagina Italiana” articles in our magazine, I have trouble understanding everything. could you publish a translation in the back of the magazine to help me and perhaps others like me? Albert Latini, At-Large Member in Southbridge, MA

We wish we had room for such a feature, Mr. Latini, but we are very tight on space. Our suggestion to you is NOT to translate the articles. Instead of spending time looking up words, which is tedious and no fun, you should read an article many times…preferably aloud. Eventually you will get a rough idea of what it means.

Think about it. When you were reading English as a child, you didn’t look up every single new word. Instead, you made educated guesses about what the words meant in their context. Try this with Italian. Using English as a crutch will never give you mastery of Italian.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? With reference to the answer you gave Tony deRosa in the fall 2011 issue about changing the name of the sons of Italy to “the sons and Daughters of Italy,” you were wrong when you said that another group had “copyrighted the name.” You cannot copyright or patent a name. you must register it as a trademark or, in this case, a service mark. The sons of Italy and Order sons of Italy in america have such service marks. The sons and daughters of Italy, that splinter group in pennsylvania, does not have one, but since they were the first to use the name back in 1920 or so, they would probably win if a lawsuit were filed. Joseph Scafetta, At-Large member and patent attorney, Falls Church, VA

send your letter to [email protected] or mail to Italian america magazine; sons of Italy; 219 E street, NE; Washington, dc 20002. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. mailed letters cannot be acknowledged.


Italian America is the official publication of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the largest and longest-established organization of American men and women of Italian heritage. Italian America pro-vides timely information about OSIA, while reporting on individuals, institutions, issues, and events of current or historical significance in the Italian-American community nationwide.Italian America (ISSN: 1089-5043, USPS: 015-735) is published quarterly in the winter, spring, summer and fall by OSIA, 219 E St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. © 2012 Order Sons of Italy in America. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any method without permission of the editor is prohibited. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily imply an opinion on the part of the officers, employees, or members of OSIA. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not mean that it has been tested, approved or endorsed by OSIA, the Commission for Social Justice, or the Sons of Italy Foundation. Italian America accepts query letters and letters to the editor. Please do not send un-solicited manuscripts. Italian America assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Annual subscriptions are $20, which are included in dues for OSIA members. Single copies are $4.98 each.OSIA MEMBERS: Please send address changes to your local lodge. Do not contact the OSIA National Office.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Italian America, 219 E St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Subscriptions are available through the OSIA National Office, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. OSIA membership information is available at (800) 552-OSIA or at www.osia.org. Archives are maintained at the Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.Printing by Printing Solutions Inc., Sterling, Va. To advertise: Call Pat Rosso at 215/206-4678 or email [email protected]. See www.osia.org for advertising rates, demographics, etc.

Italian AmericaThe Official Publication of

The Order Sons of Italy in America219 E Street N.E.

Washington, DC 20002

Tel: 202/547-2900Web: www.osia.org

OSIA National Executive DirectorPhilip R. Piccigallo, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief Dona De Sanctis, Ph.D.

[email protected]

Contributing EditorsCarol Cummings

Diane CrespyKaren Haid

David McCormickSuzanna Molino

Maria Bologna Weingart

Graphic DesignerDiane Vincent

By Joseph DiTrapani, osia naTional presiDenT

Having had the rare honor of being elected to a second term as national president of the Order Sons of Italy in America, by now all of you know my repeated emphases on OSIA as a national organization, with a national constituency and a national mission.

From its founding in 1905, OSIA has been a fraternal gathering of hundreds of thousands of individuals located throughout the United States, represented by hundreds (once thousands) of local filial and subordinate lodges, and now twenty Grand

or State Lodges. While our geographical origins vary, our commitment to shared values, causes and objectives remains unified. Truly, this is what separates us from other, merely similar, organizations.

Principal among our shared values are the belief that all Italian Americans should be united under a single banner, our steadfast loyalty to the United States of America, our love of Italy and its language, and our fraternal com-monality as evidenced in our charitable and cultural pursuits.

Words without deeds, however, ring empty. So that we may highlight, and indeed respect, OSIA’s national composition and representation, I am delighted to announce that we have successfully sought out, negotiated and contracted for OSIA’s next four organizational meetings with precisely that geographical representation in mind.

Our meetings schedule, dates and venues, for the ensuing biennial years of my second term are as follows:

•WinterPlenarySession,Baltimore,MD,February8-12,2012

•SummerExecutiveSession,Chicago,IL,July27-29,2012

•WinterPlenarySession,NewportBeach,CA,February20-24,2013

•53rd Biennial National Convention, Philadelphia, PA, August 12-18, 2013

Please note that, in the interests of fairness to OSIA officers and delegates, and in deference to our geographical composition, we have scheduled the meetings on the East Coast, Mid-West, West Coast, and East Coast. You will recall that the delegates to the 52nd Biennial National Convention, held this past August in Orlando, FL, voted to conduct our next convention in Philadelphia. This schedule reflects their wishes.

This scheduling, and requisite negotiation and ultimate contract con-summation were not easy to accomplish. But I am confident that it was the correct thing to do, and that we have negotiated the best and most affordable hotel and meal deals possible.

Equally important, it demonstrates once again the national character of OSIA. And it appropriately reflects an organization with a truly national membership, national interests and national influence.

Carol joins me in wishing you all a healthy, prosperous 2012. Buon Anno!


The Sons of Italy’s Shoppers Guide

Problems with Your Magazine?Italian America magazine is produced by the Sons of Italy’s national headquarters in Wash-

ington, D.C. Every month, the national office receives letters, phone calls and emails from readers who are not receiving their magazine. “The reasons are varied, but the solutions are simple,” says Editor-in-Chief Dona De Sanctis. “Simply follow the instructions below and the problem will be solved,” she says. So….if you are:

a LOdgE mEmBER: You can only verify, correct or change your address through your local lodge. Please do not contact the national office. It cannot accept address changes.

a LOdgE pREsIdENT: To ensure that all new and renewing members of your lodge get their magazines and that former or non-paying members do not get it for free, you must send updated member rosters to your Grand Lodge on a regular basis. Check with your Grand Lodge to find out its deadlines.

a gRaNd OR suBORdINaTE LOdgE REpREsENTaTIVE: Please update your rosters with ABR Services every three months according to the deadlines for 2011: Mar. 1, June 1, Sept. 1, and Dec. 1. Refer to the instructions sent to you in late October. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crespy at [email protected] or 202/547-2900.

a suBscRIBER OR NaTIONaL aT-LaRgE mEmBER onLY: Please send address changes to Julie Seymour at ABR Services, Inc. Email: [email protected] or by postal mail to Julie Seymour, ABR Services, 14849 Persistence Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22191.

SPRING 2010 a ITALIAN AMERICA

Ancient Greece in Modern Calabria

Sal Fasano:Baseball’s Unsung Hero

San Francisco’s Historic Little Italy

How To Get Published:Do’s and Don’ts

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A tribute to past and present Italian hits. La Dolce Vita with a modern pop twist!

Magazine Deadlines Got a good story for Italian America magazine? Send your story and/or photos to Dona De Sanctis at [email protected] or mail to: Italian America Magazine, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Due to heavy response rate, submissions may not be acknowledged and photos will only returned upon request. IMPORTANT! Clip and save these deadline dates:

Winter: November 1 Spring: February 1 Summer: May 1 Fall: August 1

SPRING 2010 a

ITALIAN AMERICA

Ancient Greece in Modern CalabriaSal Fasano:Baseball’s Unsung HeroSan Francisco’s Historic Little ItalyHow To Get Published:Do’s and Don’ts

YOUR AD HERE!REMEMBER! sons of Italy members receive a

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On The BookshelfBooks by and about Italian Americans


“Preserving Our Italian Heritage Cookbook” ** More than 100 authentic Italian recipes ** Easy-to-follow instructions to everyday meals ** Baking secrets to traditional holiday sweets ** How to plan and save on healthy Italian meals ** Discount on bulk orders of 24 or more books ** Now in its ninth printing!

Price: $18.45, including shipping. To order, send check paya-ble to SONS OF ITALY FLORIDA FOUNDATION, 14 South Jupiter Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755 - (PH: 727/447-6890) Or contact: [email protected]

“Sciatu mio, you arethe reason why I breathe.”

Sciatu Mio is a rich and multi-layered romantic novel spanning three generations of the Parisi family, from 1850-1985, featuring Michael from Red Hook, Brooklyn, his father Giuseppe, and his great grandfather, Barone Salvatore from Sicily. Based on the life of Frank J. Pennisi’s own father, Giuseppe, Sciatu Mio is the sequel to his debut, The Prince of Sackett Street. Historical events are interwoven with stories for control of the sulfur mines in Floristella, Sicily, and the brutal Mafia wars for control of the New York docks.

Available in all major book stores and on Amazon.com. Also available for purchase on Kindle.

Finding My Life Through Poems, Proverbs and Dreams second edition by Maria Ferris ($13.00). Read about her gift and the miracle of her dreams. Available on BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com. Just released as an ebook on BN.com and Amazon.com ($2.98).

REMINDEROrder your books through OsIa and amazon.com. Just go to www.osia.org, click on “sons of Italy Book Club” and choose either a Book club selection or another book. Or-ders are shipped within 24 hours.

as a special bonus, amazon.com will do-nate a percentage of book sales ordered on our site to OsIa.


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2012 Winter IA

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Transcript of 2012 Winter IA