RECENT SOCIEY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
SUMMER SOCIAL HAD IT ALL!
We had music!! We had dancing!! We had magic!! Lots of good food too. What better way to spend a summer afternoon? We had decided to forego the usual speaker format since many of our members were on vacation or in Italy. So instead we had a “social” event on July 31, our fourth meeting of 2016. It was a chance for family members, friends and guests to listen to music and dance, play games and enjoy a delicious lunch provided by 3 Brothers Restaurant.
Speaking of music, AMHS board member Sergio Fresco played the accordion and sang for us--songs we all loved such as Moliendo Café, O Sole Mio and Ugnie Vote which is a song sung in the Abruzzese dialect that is on Sergio’s second CD, Accordion 2 Me. He was amazing!!
Then he was joined at the microphone by Dora Leo Santacroce who sang some of everyone’s favorite Neapolitan songs, from the songbook “Canzoni Napoletane” which AMHS vice president Lynn Sorbara had put on each table so everyone could sing along. Dora sang Core ‘Ngrato for Lynn who loves that song and was celebrating her birthday that day. Then Margaret Uglow sang that crowd-pleaser Torna a Surriento.
Meanwhile, some people decided it was time to get out on the dance floor. Other people - namely Lucio D’Andrea, Omero Sabatini, Vince Ciccone and Sal DiPilla - decided it was a good time for a game of cards. Meanwhile, Antonio Bianchini put on a killer magic show that entertained not only the kids but the adults too. Antonio, who is also a master mosaicist, looked every inch the magician in his black top hat. Everyone, especially the kids, loved his “disappearing lollipop” trick, which Sergio dubbed “lecca-lecca scumbarito.”
We also heard from AMHS scholarship winner Christina Iovino. Listening to her heartfelt remarks about how much she learned during her stay in Siena and how much she enjoyed the time she spent with her Italian “family,” let us know that our scholarship committee had indeed made an excellent choice. The lunch provided by 3 Brothers Restaurant was delicious and the food was plentiful. Our thanks go to Sergio Fresco for making the arrangements.
The event had 66 attendees. The wonderful raffle prizes netted $121 for our scholarship fund, and $55 worth of our merchandise was sold. A special raffle prize, gifted by AMHS President Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, two standard seating tickets to the October 15 NIAF Gala, was won by founding AMHS members Tony and Elodia D’Onforio! Our heartfelt thanks to all those who helped make the event such a success!!
FERRAGOSTO 2016
The Society’s annual Ferragosto picnic was held on the grounds of Villa Rosa Nursing Home in Mitchellville, MD on Sunday, August 14. Approximately 30 people came out to share lots of good food and friendship in spite of the very oppressive heat! Folks played bocce, Italian cards, and just reveled in the good friendship and lots of food! As the day progressed and temperatures climbed, people made their way from the covered pavilion to the grassy fields where it was noticeably cooler. A very special “thank you” goes out to everyone who helped with setting up and cleaning up. We thank those of you who were able to come out and support our picnic this year.
It’s always wonderful to spend time with our AMHS family, especially at happy and festive occasions such as Ferragosto. We were also very pleased to have new faces with us. One, Velasco Cimina, is from Rome and was so very gratified to find an Italian American organization celebrating Ferragosto in the Washington, DC area. Velasco enjoyed the day so much, he joined AMHS! We were also joined by the extended Termini family, who remembered coming to Villa Rosa more than 40 years ago for the Italian Festival! Everyone’s participation also helps keep our traditions alive and well, especially for the next generations.
Several familiar faces and “regulars” - folks who come to many if not all of our events throughout the year – could not make it this time due to travel or other commitments. You were greatly missed. We’ll try not to be too jealous of those of you who were fortunate enough to celebrate Ferragosto in Italy! Photos of the 2016 Ferragosto picnic can be found on the Society’s Facebook page. If you haven’t done so already, please “like” us on Facebook and share posts with your family and friends who missed our event this year. We hope to see old and new faces alike at future gatherings.