A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear members and friends:
As we slosh out of winter and step into spring, it is natural to feel a little excitement. Even those who love the cold weather appreciate a return to greener grass, leaves on the trees, blooms on the flowers, and days that stretch longer. Many of us may also be excited about something else: the prospect of a vaccination to counter the Coronavirus that has ravaged much of the world, and which may well mark the beginning of a return to normalcy. It has been over a year since our Society has been able to hold an in-person event. During that time, our program committee and executive committee have done a great job of trying to maintain some semblance of community by organizing “get-togethers” in a safe and socially distant way, that is, virtually.
The virtual format falls short of the real thing, but it has actually made possible the active participation of speakers and guests who otherwise would not have been able to join us due to physical distance, including some speakers and participants in Italy. I know that many of you took part in our fifth film discussion of 2020. On December 19th of last year, AMHS members and friends joined actor Ray Abruzzo, Director Robert Tinnell and producer Jim Toscano for an enlightening discussion of the 2019 film “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” The film, set in a small Pennsylvania town with a large population of Italian-Americans, takes a look at an Italian-American family as it prepares its dinner for Christmas Eve.
The film reminded us of what Italian-American Christmas celebrations looked like before the pandemic and the discussion shed some light on several themes that would be familiar to many of our families. Our program of events for 2021 began with another film discussion. Many of you, as well as quite a few AMHS friends, discussed “From the Vine” on January 30. The film recounts the story of a stressed-out business executive (played by Joe Pantoliano) who abandons his corporate, valueless world in order to re-locate to Italy, where he re-establishes his grandfather’s vineyard. Film producer and director Jim Toscano led our discussion, which featured the participation of the film’s principal actor and protagonist — Emmy Award winning Joe Pantoliano.
Mr. Pantoliano talked about various aspects of the film, including the development of the script, the casting, and the shooting, as well as his personal experience in playing the lead role. He also shared interesting details about his life growing up and his professional work in film. Ray Abruzzo made a special guest appearance and added his perspective on the career and life of a successful Italian-American actor and on the impact of the pandemic on the film industry. By the time you read this message, our organization will have held its first general meeting of 2021: a virtual presentation on February 21 by Abruzzese author Michele Antonelli. The topic was to be some samples of wisdom from his latest book — “My Land Was Wise: Over 2000 Proverbs from the Abruzzese-Sabine Apennines”.
We hope you had a chance to take part. Those of you who are members of Holy Rosary Church in Washington, D.C., know that the pastor, Father Ezio Marchetto, has taken a new assignment. He was appointed Provincial Bursar for his religious order. Such a position is clearly a recognition of his many accomplishments as well as of his personal and spiritual attributes. His departure for New York leaves us with mixed emotions because he was a very good friend of our organization and made us feel at home at the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center. We wish him good health, much success, and personal and professional satisfaction in his new position.
At the same time, we welcome his successors — Father Peter Paul Polo and Father Andrei Zanon — and look forward to sharing community events with them. Please stay tuned for upcoming programs which, at least for the near to medium-term, will have to be in the virtual format. While there will not be hugs or food to go with the programs, their core will remain the same — good speakers, interesting presentations, and much to be learned about our shared culture. We will keep you posted about the calendar of events going forward. Please stay safe and enjoy the spring.
Regards,
Ray LaVerghetta
AMHS NOTIZIARIO
is published bi-monthly from January through November. The deadline for the submission of articles is the 15th of the month preceding publication of the issue. Please send submissions via e-mail to Carmine James Spellane, cjsn@verizon.net.
All submissions may be edited for clarity and become the property of AMHS. Publication of submissions is at the discretion of the Editor, however content of articles that are published is the sole responsibility of the author.
The AMHS NOTIZIARIO is an official publication of the Grant and Scholarship Fund Inc. of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of the Washington, D.C. area, doing business as The Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of the Washington, D.C. area, a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian society legally incorporated in the District of Columbia.
OFFICERS
Raymond LaVerghetta,President,
president@abruzzomoliseheritagesociety.org
, (410) 992-6885 Nancy DeSanti, 1st Vice President-Programs, vpprograms@abruzzomoliseheritagesociety.org,
(703) 967-2169 Lynn Sorbara, 2nd Vice President-Membership, membership@abruzzomoliseheritagesociety.org,
(301) 926-7792 Carmine James Spellane, Secretary
(202) 355-3410 Peter Bell, Treasurer,
treasurer@abruzzomoliseheritagesociety.org,
(202) 276-2483
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrea Balzano Lucio D’Andrea, President Emeritus Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, Immediate Past Pres. Frank Bonsiero Jeff Clark Alfred Del Grosso John Dunkle Mark Lino Chris Renneker Joseph Scafetta, Jr. Helina Zewdu Nega Opt to just receive the AMHS NOTIZIARIO newsletter via email. It’s fast, convenient & helps cut down on paper waste and postage. Contact Maria D’Andrea-Yothers at uva051985@comcast.net or call (703) 473-4033