IACN October 2015 - Italian American Community Center

“Sharing a Past to Build a Future”
Volume 23
I ACN
Number 10
Where to find it
The Italian American
Community News is the monthly
publication of the Italian American
Community Center
150 Frank DiMino Way,
Rochester, NY 14624-1128
Website: www.iaccrochester.org
Email: editor@iaccrochester.org
IACC Calendar
OCTOBER
7 Luncheon
7 Karaoke
14 Flu Shot Clinic 9am-12pm
14 Karaoke
15 Italian Cinema Night
16 An Evening with
International Tenor
Elio Scaccio
21 Luncheon/
21 IACC General
Membership Meeting
21 Karaoke
28 Karaoke
31 Halloween Party
NOVEMBER
1 Veterans/Volunteer
Appreciation
4 Luncheon
4 Karaoke
8 Gene Ferrari
11 Karaoke
18 Luncheon
18 IACC General
Membership Meeting
18 Karaoke
19 Italian Cinema Night
21 Christmas Gala
25 Karaoke
DECEMBER
2 Luncheon
2 Karaoke
9 Karaoke
11 St. Lucy TBT
16 Luncheon
16 IACC General
Membership Meeting
16 Karaoke
20 Brunch with Santa
31 New Year’s Eve Party
All events subject to change.
Italian American
Community Center
150 Frank DiMino Way
Rochester, New York 14624-1128
Community News
October 2015
Free
Happy
Columbus
Day!
For Your Information.............. 2
Membership News................. 3
Pagina Italiana...................... 4
Culture................................ 8
Feature Stories............ 5, 9, 10
Tel: (585) 594-8882
Fax: (585) 594-8506
ITALIAN
AMERICAN
24th Annual
Christmas Gala
http://www.history.com
Saturday, November 21, 2015
See order form on page 3
Origins of Columbus Day
A U.S. national holiday since 1937,
Columbus Day commemorates the arrival
of Christopher Columbus in the New
World on October 12, 1492. The Italianborn explorer had set sail two months
earlier, backed by the Spanish monarchs
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. He
intended to chart a western sea route to
China, India and the fabled gold and spice
islands of Asia; instead, he landed in the
Bahamas, becoming the first European to
explore the Americas since the Vikings set
up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.
Did You Know?
Contrary to popular belief, most
educated Europeans in Columbus' day
understood that the world was round,
but they did not yet know that the Pacific
Ocean existed. As a result, Columbus and
his contemporaries assumed that only
the Atlantic lay between Europe and the
riches of the East Indies.
Later that month, Columbus sighted
Cuba and believed it was mainland China;
in December the expedition found Hispaniola, which he though might be Japan.
There, he established Spain’s first colony
An Evening with
International
Tenor
Elio Scaccio
Friday,
October 16, 2015
See page 11
(Continued on page 3)
Gene Ferrari Returns to the IACC
Deborah Ford
with input from
http://www.geneferrari.com
The Italian American Community Center will be hosting the return engagement
of Gene Ferrari on Sunday, November
8, 2015. Gene has a strong fan base in
the Rochester area, and due to popular
demand we are happy to have him back.
Along with the great music will be delicious food stations before the concert.
Please call the IACC for reservations at
585-594-8882.
Dark-haired and handsome, the mature
good looks, continental charm and supple
voice of this proud Italian-American have
made him a favorite, both as headliner and
opening act, in Las Vegas, Atlantic City
and a multitude of venues large and small
from coast to coast and beyond.
Gene’s classically elegant style, both
in performance and in attire, begs comparison to such great romantic singers as
Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck.
But, even though Humperdinck was a
mentor and early influence, Gene’s way of
delighting audiences with the music they
love, and some they are enjoying for the
first time, is distinctively his own.
He’s come a long way from Catania,
Sicily, the tiny town of
his birth. By the time
NON-PROFIT
he came to America in
US POSTAGE
Paid
1972, with $100 in his
Rochester, NY
pocket, not speaking
Permit #909
a word of English, he
had clocked thousands
of miles throughout
the Middle East and
Europe, singing for his
supper.
At the Top of the
Hilton in Rome, two
American promoters and their wives
caught the Gene Ferrari Show and offered
to bring Gene to the United States – for
60% of his earnings. Gene accepted and
made his debut in Rochester, New York.
A year later, Gene and company were
playing the lounge of the Executive Inn in
Buffalo, N.Y., at a time during the summer
when Engelbert Humperdinck was appearing at a local outdoor music fair. Humperdinck and his manager, Andy Anka
(Paul’s dad) were staying at the hotel.
“They came to the show once, then they
came back every night,” Gene remembers
fondly. “Then Englebert did something
very generous: he sent for me, sat me
down, and explained to me everything
I was doing wrong. He taught me how
to be polished, which I learned quickly
was not easy to accomplish. The idea is
to make it look easy. He said, ‘Our paths
will cross again, and when they do, you
are welcome backstage.’ Well, that was the
real education. To be back there and see
the ins and outs of the show. I think of it
as my graduate school in entertainment.”
By 1979, Gene, by then a solo act,
had worked his way to Las Vegas, as the
headliner in the Aladdin Hotel lounge.
Soon thereafter, he was opening for Don
Rickles, and had the amazing experience
of seeing his name under Rickles’ on the
classic glittering neon marquee of the
Stardust Hotel.
“I thank Rickles for that,” Gene says.
“He didn’t have to allow my name up
there. The main act always has the right
of approval of such things.”
In the 80s, Gene’s stature grew as a
well-known and well-loved opening act.
“It’s an art unto itself,” he says. “The
people are there to see the star, and you
never, ever try to upstage him or her. You
get 22 minutes, though Rickles, Jack
Mason and Joan Rivers all generously
gave me 35. You come out and you have
no more than three minutes to grab them.
Three minutes, max.
“I like to surprise people. I open with a
ballad, not the usual up-tempo number. I’ll
joke around in a self-effacing way: ‘They
needed somebody to kill some time before
the big spenders get here.’ Then I proceed
to show them how well I can sing."
Gene says his show is “a musical conversation between me and the audience.
I don’t insult their taste by giving them
(Continued on page 10)
For Your Information
IACC General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, October 21, 7:30 pm
Paul V. Ciminelli,Esquire
Phyllis Bianchi Glover
Food & Beverage Manager
Serving individuals, families and business
in the Rochester Community since 1987.
Gerry Pellegrino
Facilities Manager
Our trusted attorneys are committed to providing the
highest level of professionalism in representing you.
◆ Probate, Wills, Estate Planning & Trusts
◆ Real Estate – Purchase & Sale
◆ Civil & Criminal Litigation & Appeals
◆ Personal Injury / Medical Malpractice
◆ Business Representation
◆ Powers of Attorney / Healthcare Proxies
◆ Life Care & Special Needs Planning
Deborah Ford
Graphic Artist/Office Assistant
Laurie Wilson - Bookkeeper
Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 5:00pm
421 PENBROOKE DRIVE, SUITE 2 • PENFIELD, NEW YORK 14526-2045
www.CiminelliLaw.com
Member
GIA Alumni Assn.
WATCH & JEWELRY REPAIR
“Si Parla Italiano”
Sylvia Paglia
Anthony Paglia
Adriana Paglia
RESETTING • DIAMONDS • GOLD • WATCHES • APPRAISALS
Mt. Read / Lyell Plaza
1326 Lyell Avenue
Rochester, NY 14606
IACN Staff
Publisher
Joe Sirianni
Pagina Italiana Editor
Joseph Capogreco
Graphic Artist/Sales
Deborah Ford
Volunteer Writers
Angelo Coniglio
Deborah Ford
Jeannine Guilyard
Kristen Hess
Giovanna Bellia La Marca
Edward Albert Maruggi
Mike Mollica
Jennifer Niejadlik
John Ninfo
Mary Amabile Palmer
Joe Sirianni
*Articles by our contributing writers are published on a rotating basis.
Volunteer Distributors
Ezio Bonanni
Antonio DiMarco
Deborah Ford
Joseph Galante
Frank Gasbarre
Alex Massa
Gerry Pellegrino
IACC OFFICE
Printed By Messenger
Post Media
IACN NEWS is published monthly by the Italian American Community Center,
Inc. No articles and/or copy contained herein may be reproduced or reprinted in
whole or part without express written permission of the publisher. IACN News
does not assume responsibility for errors in advertisements, but will reprint
without charge that part of an advertisement where an error occurs.
Tel: 585-594-8882
Fax: 585-594-8506
2015 IACC OFFICERS
Joseph Sirianni - President
Frank Ciardi - Vice President
Richard Santo - Assistant Treasurer
Mary Joyce D’Aurizio Recording Secretary
Quintino DiCesare - Board Liaison
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Membership
Edward Merante, Jerry Bartholomew,
Quintino DiCesare
Finance
Richard Santo, Frank Ciardi
Ways and Means
Edward Merante,
Dr. Anthony Ragusa
House Rules & Grievance
Radio Italiana
Italian Carousel, WROC 950 AM
Host Joseph Capogreco
Sunday, 8:00am - 10:00am
La Dolce Vita, WRUR 88.5 FM
Host John Sebaste
Saturday, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Sunday Music Festa,
WGMC 90.1 FM, Host Otto Bruno
12:00pm - 2:00pm
ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY NEWS
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News and Features for Upstate New York’s Italian American Communities.
Published monthly by the Italian American Community Center of Rochester.
Complete the form below and mail today.
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October 2015
as needed
Building & Grounds
Gerry Pellegrino
Cultural
Jerry Bartholomew
By-laws
Quintino DiCesare
Publicity and Marketing
Mary Joyce D’Aurizio
Volunteer
Gerry Pellegrino,
Edward Merante
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jerome Bartholomew
Jack Battaglia
Frank Ciardi
Mary Joyce D’Aurizio
Quintino DiCesare
Edward Merante
Gerry Pellegrino
Dr. Anthony Ragusa
Richard Santo
Editorial Policy
and Deadlines
Press Releases: Press releases should be
mailed, please do not fax, To: Publisher/
Editor, Italian American Community
News, 150 Frank DiMino Way., Rochester,
New York 14624.
News: The IACN is pleased to accept unsolicited articles for review and possible
publication. Articles are reviewed based on
literary quality, appropriateness and timeliness of the subject matter. All items will be
edited for length, content, and style. Send
dated items by the 10th of the month prior
to publication. Type if possible; include a
day phone number.
Opinions: The IACN will provide space
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reserves the right to edit for space reasons.
Mail letters to Publisher/Editor, Italian
American Community News, 150 Frank
DiMino Way, Rochester, New York 14624.
Advertising: All ad material must be
received by the 10th of the month prior to
publication. The editorial board reserves
the right to reject ads that use stereotypical
images in text and pictures that compromise
the positive depiction of Italian Americans
and other ethnic groups.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Italian American
Community News is to publish a monthly
newspaper that supports and promotes a
positive image of Italian Americans, and
provides information, news and activities
of the Italian American Community.
Italian American Community News
150 Frank DiMino Way,
Rochester, NY 14624
Tel: 585-594-8882 • Fax: 585-594-8506
Website: www.iaccrochester.org
Email: editor@iaccrochester.org
2
Membership News
Message from the President
As we reflect on the daily life responsibilities that are
required of us we learn to recognize the skills and actions
that are necessary to solve problems and meet those respon-
Attention All Members
The Italian American Community Center
bylaws are available in the office upon request
Joe Sirianni
sibilities head on.
As the day starts we all have the opportunity to look at ourselves in the mirror
as we get ready for the day. We pay attention to our facial expressions, we notice
our teeth, hair, and the clothes we choose to wear; how they fit, look, and if they
are color coordinated. We put so much importance on the superficial things that
the outside world sees when they look at us, and yet, what do we really see if we
look deeper inside? Who are we being? Can we look into our eyes in the mirror
without having to turn away, and are we proud of who we see looking back at us?
We need to pause and take the time to truly see ourselves to determine our
true identities. We may "think" we know who we are but do we simply talk the
talk or do we walk the walk? Are we good Christians and good people? Are we
good to one another and are we truly the people who we profess ourselves to
be? It's important to stop and take note of our actions. Actions are hard to deny
and speak louder than words spoken to others or even to ourselves. If we notice
our actions do not match who we think we are, or want to be, then it is time to
take the necessary steps to correct this and grow.
We at the IACC are blessed with members who serve the community well and
believe in God and the church's teachings. Our members are full of compassion
for those who are less fortunate than us and help the IACC by spreading the good
word. We are a family and as such we need to speak well of one another, help
each other, and preserve our commitment to live our lives with the guidance of
the Lord and our heritage close to our hearts.
Welcome
New Member
Welcome New Members
Simone Brunello & Melina Mangiola
Alfio Coco
Elizabeth Konar
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Sinclair
IACC Special Thank You for Donation
...to IACC Members Pat and Joe Galante for punch bowl set.
Columbus Day (Continued from page 1)
in the Americas with 39 of his men. In
March 1493, the explorer returned to
Spain in triumph, bearing gold, spices and
“Indian” captives. He crossed the Atlantic
several more times before his death in
1506; by his third journey, he realized
that he hadn’t reached Asia but instead
had stumbled upon a continent previously
unknown to Europeans.
Columbus Day in the United States
The first Columbus Day celebration
took place in 1792, when New York’s
Columbian Order–better known as Tammany Hall–held an event to commemorate
the historic landing’s 300th anniversary.
Taking pride in Columbus’ birthplace and
faith, Italian and Catholic communities in
various parts of the country began organizing annual religious ceremonies and
parades in his honor. In 1892, President
Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation
encouraging Americans to mark the 400th
anniversary of Columbus’ voyage with
patriotic festivities, writing, “On that day
let the people, so far as possible, cease
from toil and devote themselves to such
exercises as may best express honor to the
discoverer and their appreciation of the
great achievements of the four completed
centuries of American life.”
In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday, largely as a result of intense
lobbying by the Knights of Columbus,
an influential Catholic fraternal benefits
organization. Originally observed every
October 12, it was fixed to the second
Monday in October in 1971.
Columbus Day Traditions
In many parts of the United States,
Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of Italian-American heritage. Local
groups host parades and street fairs featuring colorful costumes, music and Italian
food. In cities and towns that use the day
to honor indigenous peoples, activities
include pow-wows, traditional dance and
lessons about Native American culture.
75th Annual Columbus Day Luncheon
This year's luncheon to honor the great
Italian navigator, Cristoforo Columbo,
will be held, Monday, October 12, 2015,
at the Diplomat Party House.
There will be a flag raising at 11:15am,
followed by the luncheon. Please plan on
October 2015
101 Despatch Dr.
(corner of Washington)
in East Rochester
attending this worthy celebration of Italian heritage.
Donations $20 per person. For tickets
call President Quintino Di Cesare at
247- 6601.
585-249-1000
LeosBakeryAndDeli.com
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3
Feature Stories
Pagina
Italiana
"In Vino Veritas": Vini Italiani
E' anche verita'
che i vini
Joseph Capogreco
italiani si sono
imposti nel mondo e che anche negli Stati
Uniti l'importazione del vino e' superiore
a quella di altri paesi. E' anche superiore a
quella dei francesi. Ma in questo primo articolo sui vini italiani, dove sono prodotti,
quali sono le marche a DOC, vogliamo
partire dal Sud per arrivare fino ai vini
prodotti al Nord d'Italia. Parleremo prima
dei vini prodotti nelle regioni insulari;
Sicilia e Sardegna e poi delle altre quattro regioni del Sud Calabria, Campania,
Basilicata e Puglia. Dice un proverbio:
"Bevi il vino e lascia l'acqua al molino".
Un buon bicchiere di vino fa bene alla
salute, mentre l'acqua viene lasciata al
mulino per far girare la ruota. Lasciamo
quindi l'acqua al mulino e godiamoci un
buon bicchiere. Ci domandiamo intanto:
e' vero che chi dice uva dice vino?. Non
necessariamente perche' c'e' l'uva da vino
ma anche l'uva passa, cioe' uva fatta appassire per essere consumata come cibo o
nella composizione di dolci, poi c'e' l'uva
da tavola. Quindi , non tutte le uve sono
adatte al vino. L'uva e' il frutto della vite.
Un appezzamento di terreno coltivato a
viti si chiama vigna, mentre un terreno per
lo piu' di notevole estensione coltivato a
viti si chiama vigneto. C'e' quindi questa
differenza tra vigna e vigneto. Il vino
puo' essere rosso, bianco o rose'. A questo
punto ci domandiamo perche' il vino rosso
e' rosso e il vino bianco e' bianco?. Dopo
tutto il vino si fa dall'uva. Bene: per il vino
rosso, l'intero frutto macinato e' usato durante la prima fermentazione. In contrasto,
solo il succo dell'uva e' usato per fare il
vino bianco. Vi sono tante qualita' di vino:
frizzante, brusco, abboccato, pastoso,
asciutto, dolce ecc. ecc.. Ma attenzione
perche' il vino puro e' chiamato generoso
(cioe' ricco di alcool) perche' quando e'
annacquato o manipolato, cioe' non fatto
Let’s
Build
Your
Project
Professional Search Notice
Consular Associate
Assistente Consolato Italiano
(Left to right) • Valerie Gautieri Tidwell • Vito J. Gautieri, Jr. and
son Vance • Vito J. Gautieri, Sr. • Michael A. Fasano
• Victor J. Gautieri and son Nicholas
Together!
Construction completed in 2008.
It was an honor for
our company to
build the Chapel
for Olindo & Filomena
DiFrancesco
Offices of V. J. Gautieri Constructors, Inc. with office space
donated to the Boy Scouts and the Paolo Busti Cultural
Foundation.
V.J. Gautieri Constructors, Inc.
45 Liberty Street · P.O. Box 322 · Batavia, NY 14021-0322
Phone: 585-343-0852 · Fax: 585-343-4601 · Web Site: www.gautieri.com · e-mail: info@gautieri.com
(585) 343-0852
Building Success Since 1954
Vito & Marjorie Gautieri are IACC Members
October 2015
da pura uva, e' alterato con altre sostanze.
Un buon intenditore di vini conosce subito
se il vino e' puro o e' annacquato.
Ogni regione italiana produce un
certo tipo di vino. Puo' essere Chianti,
Barolo, Valpolicella tanto per fare dei
nomi. II vino si conosce da dove proviene
perche' sulla bottiglia, quasi sempre, c'e'
il nome del paese d'origine. Tante volte
ci possono scappare degli imbrogli sulla
originalita' del vino. Il governo italiano,
per autenticare la provenienza del vino,
ha introdotto nel 1963 una legge per
controllare e proteggere la provenienza
e la bonta' della produzione. Questa
legge si chiama "DOC" che significa:
denominazione di origine controllata.
Una commissione sotto gli auspici del
Ministero dell'Agricoltura ha il compito di
controllo affinche' il vino in questione sia
veramente della localita' indicata, come
produttrice di una certa qualita' di vino, e
che il vino che sara' nominato a DOC sia
prodotto con determinate qualita' di uve;
che le vigne vengano sorvegliate affinche
la produzione non ecceda quella stabilita;
che l'anno della produzione sia accurato
e scritto sulle bottiglie. Una volta stabilita la soddisfazione della commissione
governativa sul sapore, colore e aroma,
questa commissione da' il beneplacito di
affiggere sulla bottiglia l'etichetta DOC.
Questa etichetta garantisce la bonta' e la
sicurezza del prodotto. E' chiaro che non
tutti i vini possono essere DOC ma solo
L’ufficio del Vice Console Onorario
di Rochester, NY ha aperto la ricerca di
una persona competente per amministrare le varie
funzioni amministrative del nostro
ufficio locale. La
persona competente, dovrebbe possedere la massima
riservatezza, professionalita’ e cortesia,
parlare e scrivere l’italiano molto bene,
conoscere metodi italiani dei servizi
(esempio INPS, A.I.R.E, etc.). Oltre,
sara’ necessaria esperienza e buona tattica nel trattamento del publico sia per
telefone che in persona, sapere traducere
fra italiano e inglese, lavorare con la
massima efficacia, specialmente sapere
come organizzare le priorita’ del lavoro
in corso, sapere bene come usare il PC e
software: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel
and Outlook. Per la persona adatta, questo
lavoro potrebbe svolgersi o a tempo pieno
oppure part-time).
Se volete essere considerati per questa
posizione, dovrete allegare I seguenti
documenti via email indirizzati: talentsearchzone@gmail.com
Subject: Professional Talent Search for
Vice Consolato di Roc
- Curriculum
- Lettera che descrive il vostro interesse
- Vostre aspettative di compenso
quei vini approvati dalla Commissione.
Oggigiorno, in ogni regione d'Italia, dalle
Alpi alla Sicilia, si producono moltissimi
vini. Basta pensare che quantitativamente
nel 1975 l'italia produsse 2 bilioni o
miliardo di galloni di vino, (in USA un
miliardo equivale a mille milioni), di
cui esporto' 284 milioni di galloni. Nello
stesso anno, 1975, solo 170 milioni di galloni ricevettero la denominazione legale
chiamata DOC. Si deve notare inoltre che
che piu' di 170 varieta' di vino sono riconosciute come denominazione controllata.
E' da precisare anche, ed e' importante,
che ogni vino DOC ha un suo speciale
sapore e profumo. Il tutto dipende da dove
si produce il vino. Ogni regione italiana,
(la regione cosi' chiamata). e' equivalente
allo "Stato" americano. La regione italiana
ha anche le sue provincie,(contee), e in
queste provincie si producono vini che
sono differenti gli uni dagli altri. Il tutto
dipende dalle condizioni climatiche e dal
terreno oltre alla speciale coltivazione
ed innesto. Dopo questa importante e
generale informazione sull'argomento
ritorneremo la prossima volta sulle regioni
italiane produttrici di vino DOC e di vini
non DOC ma anche buoni.
Parleremo sui e quali vini producono
la Sicilia, la Calabria, la Sardegna, la
Basilicata, la Campania e la Puglia, per
passare poi ai vini del centro e nord Italia.
( CONTINUA )
Riceverete una risposta via email
entro una settimana. Non acceteremo
telefonate, si prega scriverci via email
e allegare I documenti indicati se volete
essere considerati.
The office of the Honorary Vice Consul
of Rochester, NY has opened a search
to add administrative staff supporting
various activities in our local office. The
appropriate talent, would bring excellent
ability and interpersonal skills dealing
with the public both on the telephone and
in person. Required skills include, strong
professionalism, efficient and organized
ability including prioritizing workload
effectively, ability to read and write Italian, translate between Italian and English,
strong skills utilizing office tools such as
PC, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel,
Outlook) internet and mail programs as
well as copier, scanner, fax. This position
could be adapted to either a full time or
part time schedule, for the right talent.
If you want to be considered for this
opening, please send the following documents via email to: talentsearchzone@
gmail.com
Subject: Professional Talent Search for
Vice Consulate Office in Roc
- Resume
- Cover letter outlining your interest
- Your desired compensation (history)
You will receive a response on your
application via email within a week from
our Talent Search team. No calls will be
accepted regarding this position. In order
to be considered, send your documents
outlined above via email.
4
Feature Stories
Feature
Stories
The Italian Bad Boyz Return!
On Saturday, October 24, 2015, what
has became one of Rochester favorite
shows is returning to the Kodak Center.
for the Performing Arts. Enjoy an evening
of laughter with the wiseguys of comedy
featuring "The Italian Bad Boyz."
Comedians Mike Marino, Michael
"Wheels" Parise, Frank Spadone and Luca
Palanca will poke fun at their heritage in
a way that will make you laugh whether
you are of Italian descent or not. Some of
the comedians have been on shows such
as Jay Leno's Tonight Show and others.
Many have regular comedy shows in
Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
Mike Marino - affectionately known to
October 2015
thousands of his fans as New Jersey’s 'Bad
Boyz' is one of the most unique comics
of our time. Mike, who has worked with
some of the biggest names in the business,
can be seen nightly as a top headliner at
both the world famous Laugh Factory and
The Comedy Store in Hollywood.
Michael "wheels" Parise fresh from
his Showtime special The Blue Show has
been the opening act for Andrew Dice
Clay for over 20 years stemming from
their Brooklyn days back at Pips Comedy
Club on Emmons Ave. in Sheepheads
Bay as well as numerous appearances on
HBO, and late night talk shows. Wheels
has starred in movies such as Meet Wally
Sparks with Rodney Dangerfield and A
Low Down Dirty Shame with Keenan
Ivory Wayans and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Wheels also co-starred in a VH-1 Reality
Show called Dice Undisputed with Andrew Dice Clay in 2008. After spending
20 years in Hollywood California at the
World Famous Comedy Store as a house
favorite, he decided to make Las Vegas his
new home with his family. Still having a
passion for comedy and acting he decided
to bring his act to Vegas and can be seen
headlining Las Vegas clubs as well as all
over the country.
Canada's own Frank Spadone is a
well-known comedian from Toronto. He
has performed extensively in is native
Canada and now brings his talent on tour
with the other Italian Bad Boyz. As a first
generation Italian-Canadian, he knows
what it was like to grow up Italian. Luca
Palanca is a Brooklyn born actor. With
his natural charm and affinity for making
people laugh, Luca discovered his love for
the stage early on in life, he has appeared
in various film and reality shows with
his wife, famous stand up comic Tammy
Pescatelli. If you love comedy this is a
show you don't want to miss!
For more information visit www.kodakcenter.org.
5
SARKIS FullPageADFINALOL copy.pdf
1
12/18/14
11:10 AM
DORAN
for
Supreme Court
www.JudgeCraigDoran.com
October 2015
6
WORLD PREMIERE NEW SHOW
Experienced
Dedicated
Respected
October 8 - November 1
Created by Jay Falzone, Dan Lavender, and Stephen Smith
The Calamari Sisters are back in Rochester! When Delphine and Carmela
are hired to cater an event at a Jewish funeral home, there’s no telling
what they’ll whip up in the kitchen. From matzah balls to meatballs and
gefilte fish to baccala, the girls try desperately to bridge the cultural gap in
the only way they know how — by singing, dancing, and cooking with
memorable songs and hilarious audience interaction.
1200 Edgewood Ave.
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 461-2000
JccCenterStage.org
Reserved seats: $27 - $40
Thank you to
President Joe Sirianni
and the members of the IACC for
your support over the years!
www.JudgePiampiano.com
Mark Cassara Band with Guest Artists
August 28, 2015
October 2015
7
Feature
Stories
Culture
Mayor Warren and ROC City
Singers to celebrate 50 Years of
Friendship with Caltanissetta,
Italy
(Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015) – For
some Rochester area residents,
Caltanissetta, Italy, is the ancestral
home of more local Italian-American families than any other Italian
city. For others, it’s the source of the
authentic Sicilian recipes at Rochester’s Gruttadauria’s Bakery. For all
of us in Rochester, however, Caltanissetta
has been our sister city for half a century,
one of Rochester’s 12 sister cities around
the world. At 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11, join
Mayor Lovely Warren for a Gala evening
of music and gourmet food at the Italian
American Community Center, 150 Frank
Dimino Way, to welcome Caltanissetta
Mayor Giovanni Ruvolo and the official
delegation visiting from Caltanissetta to
celebrate the golden anniversary.
“From the Sicilian families living on
Jay Street in the 1920’s to the students
we exchange every year, Caltanissetta is
an important piece of our city’s cultural
landscape,” said Mayor Warren. “I’m delighted to have this opportunity to recognize Rochester’s diversity and invite you
all to do the same.”
The Gala will feature “A Night of
Broadway & Pop” by the ROC City
Singers of the Rochester Association of
Performing Arts (RAPA) led by director
Judith A. Ranaletta. The banquet will also
be an occasion to honor former Caltanissetta Sister Cities committee chair, Louis
Gallo, Esq. for his commitment to the
sister city relationship and his contributions to the Rochester community.
A special guest from Caltanissetta will
be Maestro Salvatore Amorelli, the famous designer of the celebrated Amorelli
Pipes. Maestro Amorelli will introduce a
new line of pipes designed for this special
DiPonzio Funeral
Home, Inc.
Family Owned Since 1931
Casual Italian Cuisine
at its Finest!
Medicaid and Pre-Need Counseling
Members of the IACC
Dominic A. DiPonzio
Christopher B. DiPonzio Joseph D. DiPonzio
219 Spencerport Road 429-6700
(Across from St. Theodore’s Church)
The Fedele Family
October 2015
50th Anniversary occasion and they
will be showcased the evening of the
Gala. His works can be found on www.
amorelli-pipe.com
The centerfold of the Gala program
book will feature the Heritage Tree to
honor the Nisseni who have come to
Rochester over the years. If you wish to
list yourself or any ancestors from the
Caltanissetta Province, please send the
name/s and the year. The cost is $25.00
per space.
Tickets for the dinner and the performance are $50 and must be purchased by
Oct. 5th. Purchase online with Paypal at
www.RochesterSisterCities.org/Caltanissetta or by sending a check, payable
to “ISCOR/Caltanissetta/50”, to Caltanissetta-Rochester Sister Cities Committee, 21 Marc-Mar Circle, Rochester,
NY 14606.
International Sister Cities of Rochester,
NY, Inc, established in 1958, is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that
manages educational, economic, humanitarian and cultural exchanges between
Rochester and its 12 sister cities.
News Media: For more information,
contact Caltanissetta-Rochester Committee Chair, Rosalba Farace Pisaturo, (585)
259-1405, email rjpgsl@rit.edu
The Brook House
Supports
Italian Culture
and the
Italian
American
Community
Center
8
Feature
Stories
Culture
October Festivals and Food
Fairs in Italy
October is a
wonderful month
to visit Italy. The
weather is cooler,
Edward Albert
temperatures are
Maruggi, Ph.D.
more moderate
than in the hot, humid summer months.
The cost of renting a villa for a week or
more is sometimes as much as half the
amount one would pay during the high
season. If you’d like to visit Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Marche, Veneto, Piemonte,
Amalfi or the Chianti region, for example,
visit website Tuscanenterprieses.com
located in Castellina in Chianti. We have
rented villas from them seven times. Their
on-line catalog is authentic and photos are
accurate. And, because the euro is more
favorable to the American dollar, now, the
cost of a total trip could be less expensive
than in the recent past.
October is a great month for Italian
food festivals, especially for mushrooms,
chestnuts, chocolate, and truffles. On
October weekends, you'll find fall food
festivals and wine harvest celebrations all
over Italy. Slow Food's big International
Food Event is in October and World Pasta
Day is the fourth Sunday in October.
Here are a few of Italy's lesser known,
except the Rome Film Fest, but popular
events with Italians:
Boccaccesca - A gastronomic fair the
first two weekends of October is held in
red brick town of Certaldo Alto, Tuscany.
Potato Festival is held the first week
in Bologna, a top culinary city. Bologna's
potatoes are considered to be among the
best in Italy.
Maschera di Ferro, is a festival that
celebrates the legend of the “man in the
iron mask,” and takes place in the Piedmont region the first weekend of October.
Barcolana Regattta, in Trieste is the
largest gathering of boats in the Mediterranean Sea. All class of boats will be
racing and there are illuminated night
races. There's music, food, and wine, too.
Usually the second weekend in October.
Palio dei Rioni, an iron horse race,
takes place in Lodi, south of Milan, the
October 2015
Sagra del Tordo
first Sunday in October. Lodi's 5 neighborhoods and 3 nearby villages compete in
this race pulling iron horses on wheels to
win the trophy “El Baston de S. Bassan.”
Rome Film Fest, in late October, includes international movie premiers, a
competition, and lots of events. For ten
days, it will be the center of attraction
for professionals, journalists, and film
buffs, hosting screenings, exhibitions and
conferences.
International Accordion Festival is a
huge gathering of accordion players and
includes concerts and workshops. It's held
in mid October in Castelfidardo, known
as the city of accordions, in the Ancona
province of the Marche.
Sagra del Tordo, “Feast of the Thrush,”
is a medieval reenactment of an archery
tournament. The Festival takes place in
Montalcino in Tuscany the last weekend
of October and is a competition between
the four neighborhoods of Montalcino.
All Saints Eve or Halloween is becoming a popular time for costume parties
especially in larger cities. Urban Trekking
offers special All Saints Eve treks in several cities, too. Italy has several displays
of mummies and bones that make chilling
Halloween destinations.
Edward Albert Maruggi is a diverse
writer and researcher and has been
a monthly contributor to the IACN
newspaper for the past 10 years. He
has authored 12 books, 4 about Italians and is currently researching the
American life of Reverend Joseph Biggio, the Rochester area’s first known
Italian immigrant. Contact him at
Winston@winstonpublishing.com.
Benito Amilcare
Andrea Mussolini, Part 1
The past 108 essays I have contributed consisted of
outstanding Italians
and Italian Americans, all well admired and praised.
So you, dear readers, may not find
my choice of this
essay on Benito
Mussolini to your
Benito Mussolini liking. You may
only want to read about the “good guys
and dolls.”Assuredly, Benito Mussolini
was a tragic figure neither to be admired
nor praised. But he played a major role in
Italy’s history and from that standpoint,
his background and aggressive rise to
power are important and, I believe, of
interest.
I hope readers will find herein his motivations, influences, and ultimately, his
downfall. Siding with Germany during
World War II was considered a serious
blunder costing Italians millions of lives
and of lira.
Mussolini was born July 29, 1883 in
the small town of Predappio, in EmiliaRomagna. Eldest of his parent’s three
children, his father, Alessandro, was a
blacksmith. Mussolini’s political views
were those of his father’s—definitely not
liberal. His mother Rosa was a school
teacher. Mussolini might best be described as a macho type. One could detect
this by viewing photos of him: chin-up,
proud, and arrogant. He was a violent
child, a bully, who was expelled from
several schools. Nonetheless, he got good
grades and became a Catholic schoolmaster in 1900. He was sacked in 1902 and
emigrated to Switzerland, drifting from
job to job. He studied ideas of philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche and others some of
whom supported overthrowing democracy and capitalism by whatever means
necessary, including violence. In 1904
he returned to Italy, taught again briefly,
did army service and began socialist writing. He became Editor of Avanti Italy’s
official socialist periodical, doubling the
readership. Mussolini married twice.
First to Ida Daiser
and later to Rachele
Mary Amabile
Guidi.
In 1912 he was Palmer
leader of the National Directorate of the
Italian Socialist Party (PSI). After World
War I, social and political unrest was fertile ground for fascism’s growth. Many
middle-class Italians, tired of strikes and
riots, were responsive to the trappings of
fascism. Mussolini supported the Socialist
International which organized communist
revolutions and insurrections that sprang
up throughout Europe from 1917. However, Mussolini was expelled from PSI
because he opposed their neutrality stand
in World War I.
In 1919 Mussolini came onto the
national stage. He organized a nationalistic group called the “black shirts” and
promptly initiated his squad of terror in
Bologna; 11 died. Two years later he
was elected to Parliament and his fascists obtained 29 parliamentary seats. In
1921, he formed the “Partito Nazionalista
Fascista.”
Mussolini ruled as Prime Minister from
1922 to 1943, constitutionally until 1925
when he dropped all pretense of democracy and established what was called a
“legal” dictatorship. He also dissolved
Italian Parliament. In 1922, the Italian
government resigned under pressure
from the fascists and Mussolini himself.
Mussolini threatened to either give him
the government or he would seize it by
marching on Rome. Mussolini thus took
control of Italy’s government and became
the country’s youngest Prime Minister
in Italian history. Called “Il Duce”, the
leader, he held that post until his death
in 1945.
Mussolini destroyed all political opposition and outlawed labor strikes with
his secret police. Consolidation with his
Fascist followers ensued which ultimately
transformed the nation into a one-party
dictatorship. In 1924 an assassination
attempt on him failed. In 1926, a second
attempt also failed.
To be continued.
9
Feature Stories
Documentary about Italian Master Tailors to Premiere in Rochester
“Men of
the Cloth” is
a portrait of
three Italian
master tailors
who confront
the decline of
Jeannine Guilyard
the apprentice
system as they
navigate their challenging roles in the
twilight of their career. The film unravels
the mystery of their artistry.
Italians Nino Corvato, Joe Centofanti
and Checchino Fonticoli are master tailors who have spent a lifetime perfecting
the skills necessary to construct flawless
custom-made suits for their clients in
New York City, Philadelphia and Penne,
Italy. Now, they fear that their Old World
knowledge will vanish with them. Enter
Joe Genuardi, a tailoring apprentice who
reflects the resurgence of popular interest
in artisanal craftsmanship as an alternative
to corporate mass production, providing
hope for the future of this craft.
Producer/Director Vicki Vasilopoulos
will present “Men of the Cloth” at Rochester’s Dryden Theatre on October 9th.
We talked with her about her journey
from the idea of telling this story to the
impact she hopes the film will make on
the industry of tailoring.
IACN: Tell us about
your journey in making
“Men of the Cloth”
from the beginning up
until now. Did the film
meet your expectations?
Vicki Vasilopoulos: I
first met Checchino on
a reporting trip to Italy
when I was writing
a piece on the luxury
market for DNR, the
men’s fashion newsmagazine (now a part of
Women’s Wear Daily).
He gave me a tour of
the Brioni factory and
school in the town of
Penne, in Abruzzo. He
was so charismatic and
passionate about his craft, it left an indelible impression, and I was mesmerized by
the environment there and couldn’t help
thinking that craftsmen of his stature and
experience were a vanishing breed. That
planted a seed that would take eleven
years to come to fruition.
“Benvenuti a Tutti!”
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Downtown Cultural Events
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Private Parking in the Back
October 2015
Nino was fascinating because he had
worked at Brooks Brothers prior to opening his own custom tailoring business in New
York, so his career went
in the opposite direction from what you’d
expect: from a large
concern to a throwback
from another era! And
Joe in the Philadelphia area was the elder
statesman. He was born
in the U.S. but grew up
in Italy and worked in
Africa. He ultimately
took on the challenge
of training a young apprentice, which is a
critical turning point in
“Men of the Cloth.”
Nino and Joe both
represent aspects of the
immigrant experience, and I also liked
the fact that Checchino, although he was
based in Italy, subverts our expectations
and represents the opposite end of the
spectrum from these two independent
tailors in the U.S. I see “Men of the Cloth”
as akin to the Slow Food of clothing, and
these gentlemen’s personal stories were
my true inspiration for the film. They’re
unsung heroes, and I wanted to celebrate
their craft.
IACN: What was the reaction from the
tailors upon seeing their story on the big
screen?
VV: I think that master tailor Nino
Corvato in New York has been very happy
to have his life portrayed in an authentic
way, and audiences have been treating
him like a rock start when we do the
Q&A’s at screening events and premieres.
I don’t think that Checchino Fonticoli in
Italy has seen the film yet; I hope to have
my Italy premiere in the near future. As
for Joe Centofanti, sadly, he passed away
before the film was completed, but his
daughter Helen (who continues to run
the shop that he founded) is thrilled that
the film can carry on her father’s legacy.
IACN: What has the reaction been like
from audiences? What are some of the
memorable comments you've received?
VV: MEN OF THE CLOTH had a
sold-out world premiere at DOC NYC,
the largest documentary film festival in
America. It was the opening night film at
the Craft in Focus Festival in Amsterdam,
The Netherlands, and was voted an Audience Favorite at the Three Rivers Film
Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It
has also screened at the Italian Film Fest
Vancouver, the Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival in New York, the
Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia,
the Montclair Film Festival in New
Jersey, and the La Femme Film Festival
for women directors in Los Angeles. It
has premiered theatrically in New York,
Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and Toronto. Upcoming premieres
include, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, San
Francisco, and London.
Making the film was a real odyssey, and
I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to finish it,
given the commitment and sacrifices that
it necessitated. But the audience reaction
has been so gratifying! I never get tired
of hearing people tell me how the film
touched them or made them nostalgic or
more appreciative of this glorious craft.
At a film festival in Indiana in August
two audience members called the film
“exquisite,” and I was humbled by such
an intense reaction.
IACN: Do you think this film will encourage younger generations to pursue a
career in tailoring?
VV: I’d like today’s generation to value
the intrinsic beauty and integrity of a
custom-made/bespoke suit and all that it
represents – it’s the sum total of a master
tailor’s entire life experience – and it’s
imbued with his very essence.
I often hear from both young and
middle-aged audience members that want
to pursue a career in this venerable craft,
and I find that very encouraging. When
my theatrical screening tour concludes
this fall, I’ll be doing additional screenings at both art museums and colleges
with Fashion Design and Italian Studies
programs in an effort to continue this
inter-generational dialogue.
IACN: What is your dream for this film
and its legacy or long-term effect on the
tailoring industry?
My dream is that “Men of the Cloth”
will continue to build on its grassroots
following around the world. I hope to
have a PBS broadcast, and I’m looking
forward to the release of the Director’s
Cut DVD (with extra features) as well as
the digital release on streaming platforms
like iTunes, Amazon and Vimeo. Fans can
sign up for the newsletter at MenOfTheClothFilm.com to receive updates and I
encourage them to email queries to info@
menoftheclothfilm.com.
“Men of the Cloth” will have its Rochester premiere at the Dryden Theatre as
part of the Labor Film Series on Friday,
October 9 at 8 pm. Filmmaker VickiVasilopoulos will present the film and answer
audience questions afterwards.
Ferrari (Continued from page 1)
clichés. You’ll never hear me sing ‘Feelings.’ Ten songs doesn’t make it a show. You
have to establish rapport, a mutual liking of each other, and sustain it."
His repertoire is vast – when he is the headliner, he does two hours easily – and
highly eclectic. He has a two and a half octave range and, thanks to his world travels,
is fluent in several languages. On any given night, he might range from Bon Jovi to
Nat ‘King’ Cole. Or he might segue from an Italian standard like “Il Mondo” to a less
familiar song from a Broadway show.
Musical mastery coupled with European charisma and old-fashioned dignity have
earned Gene a loyal following and a reputation for excellence that endures into his
third decade as an American singer.
10
Photo by Nino
Cusanno
October 2015
11
Feature Stories
October 2015
12