L’ITALIA March/April 2018
NEWSLETTER OF THE ITALIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF INDIANA
Founded in 1993
Mission Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Italian Heritage Board / Committee members…..2 Society of Indiana President message………………… 3 (IHSI) seeks to pre- serve, promote and share Calendar of events…………………5 the Italian values and cul- Pasquetta…………………………….6 ture which its members in- herited from their ancestors: Cultural……………………………….8 Religion, family, history, 25th Anniversary………………...14 art, music, food and cama- raderie. It reaches out to Scholarship…………………………...17 everyone of Italian ancestry IHSI address/phone…………… 21 and welcomes others who Corporate Ads………………… 22 share our appreciation of the Italian culture.
www.italianheritage.org 2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Silvana Martini Schuster [email protected] 317-833-0994
V-PRESIDENT: Claudia Heck [email protected] 317-797-2320
SECRETARY: Susan Santore Lew [email protected] 317-691-0139
TREASURER: Louis Mestichelli [email protected] 317-679-3781 At Large Members
Mauvene Borton [email protected] 317-841-8442
Ray E. Brown [email protected] 317-
Mimi Sturiale Collins [email protected] 317-842-2156
Carol Faenzi [email protected] 317-403-6644
Mary Ann Hawkins [email protected] 317-416-2208
Matthews Iaria [email protected] 317-443-5335 Ginny Koss [email protected] 630-209-1362
Ashleigh Lazarus [email protected] 317-385-1067
David Page [email protected] 317-632-3809
Angelo & Rina Piga [email protected] 317-773-6442
Phillip “Skip” Kappes [email protected] Membership chairman 317-816-0516 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
SILVANA MARTINI SCHUSTER
Cari amici, dear friends, .
Primavera e’ finalmente arrivata e la Santa Pasqua sara’ il 1 Aprile/ Spring has finally arrived and Easter Sunday will be on April 1. We wish our members a Buona Pasqua, a Happy Easter with family and friends. Our annual Pasquetta (Little Easter) Picnic will then follow on Sunday, April 8. The information about that event follows in the newsletter and has the pertinent information about it.
We have just our St Joseph’s Table dinner this past Sunday and almost fifty members and guests enjoyed a delicious spaghetti and meatball din- ner with tiramisu’ dessert at Matteo’s Restaurant in Indianapolis amid pleasant camaraderie and allegria. Such dinners helps our members to connect with each other and these friendships helps to keep the bonds of our IHSI members strong. We hope that it encourages members to vol- unteer in the various planned events for the year. The names of our board members and their contact information is in front of the newslet- ter, so do call any of them and volunteer!
Our terrific and hard working board members and committee chairper- sons are planning interesting events and activities for us. Our cultural lectures series, book club, Cinema Sunday, bocce leagues, etc. are planned to attract and please as many of our members as we can and are described in our newsletter and our email blasts. Please let us know if there are other activities that would interest you.
The big event for our IHSI will be the 25th Anniversary Gala Banquet, which is set for Friday, August 10, so mark your calendar! It will be held at the Indiana Historical Society in the beautiful Lilly Hall. This will be a wonderful event and is being planned by co-chairs and past presidents, Ralph Tambasco and Mary Grace Pennella. It will be held in conjunction of the closing of the IHS exhibit, Italian Pow’s at Camp Atterbury. The Chapel in the Meadow was physically recreated at the IHS with actors portraying the soldiers, guards, and the chaplain and camp commander. Our IHSI has supported the project at IHS as we have long been associ- ated with the Chapel of the Meadow and have had an annual mass and
3 p icnic there for several decades. For our members, much information and history is found in the back issues of our newsletter found on our website. I also urge those who have not yet seen the exhibit at IHS to take time to see it as it is a wonderful exhibit as are the other exhibit at the IHS.
A more fun event will our IHSI participation in the Indianapolis 500 pa- rade on Saturday, May 26. Mauvene Borton is the organizer of this event. Be sure to cheer on our participants.
The other important event is the traditional Holy Rosary Italian Street . Festival, which is on Friday and Saturday evenings, June 8 and 9, chaired by Claudia Heck. We have our IHSI tent from where we sell Italian themed items and we need of volunteers for the two evening of the festival. We urge our members to come to this great event that celebrated all things Italian: good food and music is plentiful and the solemn religious procession and mass following it endows the festival with a special spiritual aspect. Following the Festival, the Scholarship Golf Tournament will be on Sunday, June 24. Matt Iaria is the chair- man of the event.
We thank all who have renewed their memberships. If you are unsure about when your renewal is due, please call/email our membership Chairman, Phili “Skip” Kappes, to ascertain your renewal date. Skip’s phone: 317-816-0515; email:[email protected]
Grazie,Continue thank from you, page for 7your support and I hope to soon meet with each one of you at one of our events.
Silvana
Silvana Martini Schuster IHSI President 2018
St. Joseph Table Sunday, March 18, 2018
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
APRIL
PASQUETTA Sunday, April 8, 2018 2:00 pm Picnic at Lacy Park
BOOK CLUB Wednesday, April 11, 2018 12:30 pm Capri Ristorante
ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL April, 20-28 IUPUI
Cinema Sunday CINEMA PARADISO Sunday, April 29, 2018 12:30 pm Matteo Ristorante
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JOIN THE ITALIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF INDIANA FOR
PASQUETTA
SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2018 2:00 p.m. Lacy Park Across the Holy Rosary Church 520 Stevens Street
In case of inclement weather at IHSI Board Room
Each person attending is to bring a dish to share with other members. Beverage will be provided by the Society.
Bring lawn chairs, bocce, there is a playground for the children.
The traditional after Easter outing enjoyed by the Italians, is the perfect way to meet the Society’s newest members and catch up with old friends. New members are especially invited to take this opportunity to meet the existing members at the picnic style event.
BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
HAPPY EASTER BUONA PASQUA
For information call Rina Piga 317-773-6442 or e-mail [email protected]
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IHSI NEWS
day called Pasquetta which is cele- . brated with family and friends pic-
nic style in the countryside. .
BUONA PASQUA ITALIAN EASTER BREAD Natale con I tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi” as the Italian proverb Ingredients:
3 cups flour goes: Christmas with your relative, 1/4 cup sugar Easter with whomever you want.” 1 pkg active dry yeast
2/3 warm milk Traditions and ritual play a strong 2 tbs butter softened role in Italian culture, especially during celebration before Easter 7 eggs and at Easter. On Venerdi Santo 1/2 cups raisings (Good Friday) there are procession 1/2 cup blanched almond chopped through the center of the Italian Vegetable oil cities to commemorate la Via della In a mixing bowl combine 1 cup Croce, Christ’s carrying of the Cross. After the pause of Sabato flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add Santo (Holy Saturday) where you milk and butter, beat for 2 min- take the Easter food to church to utes. Add 2 eggs and the rest of be blessed. The celebration begins flour. Stir in raisins, almond, mix con la Domenica di Pasqua (Easter well to form a soft dough. On the Sunday) includes Mass with every- floured table knead until smooth. Let rise in the bowl, cover with a one dressed in the best dresses, cloth, for 1 hour. Dye remaining bonnets, suit and ties, a visit to eggs (leave uncooked) light rub the cemetery and traditional day- long banquet. Food plays a key with oil. Divide the dough in part in the celebrations, lamb, ropes, place on a greased sheet and form into a ring. Punch to- eggs are found on the tables around the country along with sea- gether and tuck the eggs. Cover and let rise until double about 30 sonal vegetables and salads, and followed by the traditional dolci, la minutes. Bake at 350 degrees un-
Colomba di Pasqua (a dove shaped til golden brown, remove from sweet bread), and Easter sweet pan, cool on wire rack. bread braided in a shaped of wreath and hard boiled eggs baked in the center. A special treat for the children is the Uova di Pasqua a large decorative chocolate egg wrapped with colorful paper that comes with a surprise inside. The day after Easter is the official holi-
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La Bellezza d’Italia………..January 2018
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The Cultural Page of the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana
Submitted by Susan Santore Lew and Carol Faenzi BOOK CLUB
We welcome anyone who is interested in Italian and Italian American literature, from Dante and the Renaissance artists to more recently published books, both novels and books on history. Our book club has read a wide variety of such books that deepens our understand- ing of what has made Italy and the Italians. We read the books in the English translations and discuss them in English. So join us and enjoy the relaxed camaraderie of the meetings with your fellow IHSI members. Our next selection is:
What: Reeds in the Wind by Grazia Deledda (Author) Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature; 1926 When: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 12:30 pm Where: Capri Ristorante, 2602 Ruth Dr. Indianapolis Let us know you are coming, email: [email protected]
Grazia Deledda’s novel, Reeds in the . Wind, is set in her native Sardinia like most of her books, The novel presents the story of the Pintor sis- ters who are from a family of noble land- owners, now in decline, their nephew Gia- cinto, and their servant Efix, who is trying to make up for a mysterious sin commit- ted many years before. A novel of crime, guilt and retribution, it is set amid the jagged mountains, murmuring forests, gushing springs of the island and the rag- ing Mediterranean storms, which all form a Greek chorus of witnesses to the tragic human drama of this unforgiving land. Reasonably priced copies are available through Amazon and other book sites.
8 Our next selection will be:
Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King
When: TBA Where: TBA
In 1508, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little ex-perience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David), Michel-angelo was reluctant to begin the massive project. The book recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal rivalries that abounded in Rome swirled around him. Battling against ill health, financial difficul-ties, domestic problems, the pope’s impatience, and bitter rivalry with the brilliant young painter Raphael, Michelangelo created scenes so beautiful that they are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. Again, reasonably copies are available through Amazon and other book sites.
SUNDAY CINEMA SERIES
The Italian film series will resume on Sunday, April 29th at Matteo Restaurant near 86th and Ditch at 12:30 pm. The movie Cinema Paradiso directed by Giuseppe Tornatore follows the life and loves of a fictious filmmaker from war torn Sicily to modern day Rome. Winning the Academy Award in 1990, the film is both a pain to the movies and to the struggles of the human heart. Admission which includes dinner is $18 for members and $25 for non-members. A brief discussion will follow the showing.
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Cinema Sunday March 11, 2018
SAVE THE DATE SAVE THE DATE SAVE THE DATE
IHSI will celebrate its 25th Anniversary on
Friday, August 10, 2018 at the Indiana Historical Society. Make plans to join us!!
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IHSI NEWS
Italian Heritage Society Lecture Series
We have some exciting topics lined up during 2018 at our con- tinuing lecture series. Save the dates on your calendar. Enjoy fellowship with you fellow members and come away with more knowledge and appreciation for our Italian Heritage! Always free, open to the public and refreshments served.
Sunday, May 20th Singing for Caruso: The Life of Opera Diva, Rosa Ponselle Nora Library, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Born in 1897, the daughter of humble immigrants, plain looking Rosa loved to sing while washing dishes. While scratching out a living work- ing in New York City Music Halls, she is discovered by none other than Enrico Caruso. Her rise to fame is legendary. Her rise to fame is legen- dary. Her personal story is like a movie script. Fellow IHSI member, Cynthia Starks is Rosa’s descendant. Cynthia will not only share with us the glamorous tale of her maternal ancestor, but also images and rare recordings. This is not to be missed!
Coming Up in August
Obtaining Italian citizenship: What You Need to Know Sunday, August 12, 2018 Nora Library 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Join Marlende Adami as she shares her personal journey in obtaining her dual citizenship. This very informative session will also include a ques- tion and answer segment, with the answers being provided by Paul “Jerry” Roland, former Vice-Consul of Italy for the State of Indiana. If you have ever contemplated obtaining your dual citizenship, you will not want to miss this lecture.
Please contact Susan Santore Lew if you have suggestions for a speaker at 317-691-0139 or email her [email protected]. Speakers are paid an honorarium.
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Preserving Your Family Stories: Where to begin.
June (Date to be announced soon) At the Propylaeum, 1410 N. Delaware
Are you the torchbearer, the repository for family photographs, docu- ment and memories? Do you have a desire to pass these on to your children and grandchildren but don’t know where to start? Would you like a little help? We invite you to spend a few hours with IHSI Board Member Carol Faenzi, on a journey of discovery. Carol will share the techniques she used to preserve her family stories based on ge- nealogical research, which resulted to the publication of her book, The Stonecutter’s Aria. Learn how to interview, how to organize what you have, how to create a vehicle for preservation, how to read clues in photographs, the art of storytelling. This class is limited to ten persons. The fee is $160.00 per person. For IHSI members $140.00. Lunch off the menu is served at the Propylaeum and not included in the fee. Contact Carol at [email protected] to get on the list.
SAVE THE DATE November 18, 2018
Roman Architecture by James Glass, PhD Nora Library 2:00 pm Further detail will follow
BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN WORD OF THE MONTH
MOZZAFIATO Means breathtaking
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Volunteer for the 500 Festival Parade!
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The Itali an Heritage Society of Indiana is looking for volun- teers to represent the Society in the Indianapolis 500 Fes- tival Parade on Saturday May 26, 2018. The participants walk the 2-2.5 mile route which takes approximately 1.5 hours. Please contact Mauvene Borton at [email protected] or at 317-841-8442 for fur- ther information and to volunteer.
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Websites can provide information about Italy, both current and historical. You can sign up for these sites and they will send you interesting articles several times a month. italian Notebook…[email protected] L’Italo Americano..italoamericano.org National Italian American Foundation, NIAF..niaf.org Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy, OSIA..osi.org
Of course, there is always Google and Wikipedia!
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BOCCE LEAGU E COORDINATOR, Paid Position The Italian Heritage Society of Indiana is seeking a coordinator for the 2018 (and beyond) Bocce League, Established in 2003, the bocce leagued has run concurrently in the spring, summer and fall with play at Lacy Park, near the Holy Rosary Church at East Stevens and Greer Streets. The league has consisted of play Monday through Thursday nights, 16 teams per night, with play from 6-8:00 p.m. Teams consist of a minimum of two players, with many teams having more than two players for a total of over 150 participants.
The coordinator position will work with the IHSI Board for design, rules, and all facets of organizing and running a sports league. Duties include but not limited to: pre-season tasks, nightly league play over-sight, post season duties and other bocce events as requested by IHSI and other event sources.
A full description of the Bocce Coordinator duties is available for re-view and will be sent to interested parties by email. Additionally, for-mer bocce coordinators are available for questions and mentoring. A full participant database is available.
To express interest in this position please contact:
Kevin Pastore [email protected]
Please provide your phone and email information.
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The collaboration between IHSI and Indy Italian continues. Members of the IHSI will receive 10% discount on all Indy Italian classes.
Below you will find the Elementary classes planned in April and May. If you are an intermedi- ate or an advance student, call IndyItalian and we will find the right class for you.
Introductory Italian 1 Will be offered on Wednesday evening at Indy Italian (12865 Limberlost Dr. Carmel, IN 46 033). This class is designed for students with no previous knowledge of Italian, who wish to learn basic conversational skills with a minimum of grammar. Emphasis is placed on communica- tion, pronunciation and listening in a friendly and interactive atmosphere. Cost $220 (Textbook included). Dates: Six Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm: April 11, 18, 25 and May 2, 9, 16.
Introductory Italian 2 Will be offered on Saturday morning at Diavola Pizza (1134 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220). This class is for students that had about 20/30 hours of previous Italian study or an ability to greet, order a drink, introduce themselves and use the present tense. Cost: $200 (without textbook) Dates: Six Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm: April 7, 14, 21, 28, and May 5, 12. Let's go to Italy Will be offered on Saturday afternoon at Diavola Pizza (1134 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220). Planning to go to Italy but don’t have time to study the language? We have the class for you: in just six hours you will learn everything about Italian culture and many helpful tips to make your trip to the boot a fantastic experience. We will compare cultural habits between the U.S. and Italy, practice pronunciation of basic expressions, discuss food, public transportation, packing, shopping, lodging alternatives, the money exchange process and important day to day functions to make the best use of your time while in Italy. Cost: $120 (Includes a 50 page booklet) Dates: Two Saturdays from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: May 5 and 12.
Instructor: Cristiana Mora Thielmann M.A. Italian instructor at DePauw University. To enroll send a check to Indy Italian: 12865 Limberlost Dr., Carmel, IN 46033. For further information contact [email protected] or call (317) 581-1340, (317) 989- 2810.
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ITALIAN-AMERICAN GOLF OUTING
Hosted By: The Italian Heritage Society
Procee ds benefit the Italian Heritage Society Scholarship Fund
DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018
LOCATION: SARA H SHANK GOLF COURSE 2601 S. KEYSTONE AVE.—784-0631
TIME: 8:00 AM-SHARP. SHOTGUN START-FOUR MEN/WOMEN FLORIDA SCRAMBLE
COST: $75.00 PER PERSON, FEE INCLUDES GOLF, CAR, PRIZES, DINNER & DRINKS Immediately following the outing.
Catered dinner at Primo Banquet Hall afterwards
For information contact: David Page 788-4140/632-3809 or Matthew Iaria 317-786-9511 [email protected]
Please join me in welcoming the following new members to IHSI!
John Seest Leslie Heron Andy Marino Leonora Abert Robert Barbato Riccardo Balistreri Michele Meregaglia Thomas and Mary Ellen Howard Isabella Velona and Giuseppe Firenze Michael Smith, Gigabyte Guys LLC (Corporate member)
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ITALIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF INDIANA PIETRO FERRI
SCHOLARSHIP
T he Italian Heritage Society of Indiana is a non-profit organization con- sisting of persons of Italian descent dedicated to promoting the values and traditions of their Italian Heritage. To encourage educational advancement and career development within its community, IHSI sponsors a scholarship program awarding up to $5,000 to assist students who wish to pursue higher education.
To be eligible for an IHSI scholarship, the applicant should:
1. Be a High School senior or a recent high school graduate. 2. Be of an Italian ancestry and be able to identify his/her Italian ances- tor (s) 3. Scholarships may be awarded only to candidates whose parents have been members for the previous year, and are the holders of a current “FULLY PAID FAMILY MEMBERSHIP” as of March 1st of the year in which the candidates makes application to be considered for an award. Provided, however a candidate whose parents are deceased but who did in any prior year hold a fully paid family membership may also be eligible and shall receive consideration. 4. Each applicant for an award shall submit with their application the name (s) of the IHSI member upon whom they base their eligibility. In the event a candidate is deemed ineligible, the Committee shall notify the candidate in writing. 5. The Committee shall be the sole judge of the eligibility for an award and for the making of awards. The amount of the award shall also be at the sole discretion of the Committee. 6. Any IHSI member who feels aggrieved by a declaration of ineligibility
shall, within no more than ten (10) days after the candidate is notified present in writing to the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee his request for consideration and shall receive a notice of the decision of the Committee. 7. Submit an essay to the scholarship commit entitled:
“Why should we have an Italian Heritage Society?”
Application forms are available on the website: www.italianheritage.org
The application and essay should be sent by to: April 19, 2018
Matthew Iaria, Chairman Scholarship Committee 4440 Ingleside Ln.
Indianapolis, In 46227
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This is a THANK YOU letter from the Monastery of San Benedetto of Nor cia Italy for the funds that we collected from members for the earthquake to re- st ore their church.
18 A letter from of our member, Frank Feracco, of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Frank is married to an aunt of Rina Piga, a founding member of our IHSI and editor of our newsletter.
To whom it may concern,
I am 87 years old and I am a first generation Italian-American. I have spent 20 years in the army and have worked for the gov- ernment for 25 years, and am presently retired in Arizona. I became familiar with the IHSI through Rina Piga. I was stationed in Trieste, Italy, in 1954 and met my wife who is Rina’s aunt. So I have known her since she was a little child. My wife and me have been back to Indiana and have attended a few of your functions, which were very nice. We enjoy your newsletter very much and it reminds us of our tour of duty in Italy. I have spent time in Livorno and traveled south in Calabria to visit my grandmother. And I had an enjoyable tour of duty in Trieste for 2 years and 1 year in Livorno. Just a few words about my life.
Grazie and Saluti
Frank Feracco
Grazie a lei, Frank, per le vostre graziose parole. Vi mandiamo un caldo saluto a lei e la vostra “ragazza di Trieste!” Thank you Frank, for your gracious words. We send a warm greeting to you and to your “girl of Trieste!” (There is a popular song called The girls of Trieste)
We encourage our members to write to us to share memories of their life or of a trip to Italy, or to tell us what they would like to read in our news- letter.
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NEWSLETTER EDITOR Caterina “Rina” Piga
Share your news, award, birth, change of address or any ar- ticles that will be of interest to the members and also any comments you might have about the newsletter. The newsletter published by-monthly, email any articles in MS word format to: [email protected] or mail to:
Rina Piga 373 Woodview Dr. Noblesville, In 46060
Next deadline: May 18, 2018
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BUSINESS ADDRESS PHONE LINE
Italian Heritage Society of Indiana 520 Stevens St. Indianapolis 46202
The IHSI has a voice mail for members to call and leave any messages or questions that you might have about the Soci- ety. Let us hear from you! The phone number is:
(317)767-7686
21 THANK YOU TO OUR IHSI SUPPORTERS AND CORPORATE MEMBERS
22 23 Italian Heritage Society of Indiana Newsletter Committee 373 Woodview Drive Noblesville, Indiana 46060
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