dicembre / December 2021
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Little Italy lights up - again!
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The Little Italy and star lights, which have hung in disrepair above the neighborhood's streets, have been repaired, refreshed, and rehung by a Baltimore City crew. Councilmember Zeke Cohen was instrumental in arranging for the Baltimore City Department of Transportation to take down and rehang the lights.
"It was incredible how so many of our Little Italy neighbors and businesses, and friends who don’t even live in our community, contributed the needed funds," said Dan Sutherland Weiser, Vice President of LINA - Little Italy Neighborhood Association. Donations pledged within 72 hours covered the cost of supplies and nearly 50 people contributed time and money to the project. Residents and friends participated in a neighborhood walk last week to look at the lights, beginning and ending at Chiapparelli’s Restaurant for an informal celebration.
"Once we purchased the supplies, it was amazing how many people stepped up to offer their time and skills to do the tedious work," said Weiser. "We especially thank lifelong neighborhood resident, Arthur Gentile, for his electrical knowledge and skills."
The old cracked wire, rusty sockets, and burned out light bulbs had to be cleared. Volunteers added sockets and new bulbs to nearly two thousand feet of new wire and attached them to their frames, taking over 130 hours of volunteer manpower over three weeks. Weiser said, "There is positive momentum in Little Italy."
The nine strands of lights, consisting of 2,355 light bulbs, strung across the streets of Little Italy, originally were installed as Christmas decorations in 1995, yet never removed. The strands have been repaired a handful of times over the years, and in 2010, people were able to "buy a bulb" for a $5 donation through the Light Up Little Italy campaign conducted by Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore, which raised repair funds.
"Many people donated in memory or in honor of their Italian ancestors," said Suzanna Molino, Director. The repair project used energy-efficient LED lights to go green and be environmentally friendly. “It was wonderful how everyone stepped up. The checks poured in, and we exceeded our $8,500 goal.”
LINA's Board officers include Bryan Chiapparelli, President; Dan Sutherland Weiser, Vice President; and Nancy Hayden, Treasurer. Pictured are residents Bryce St. Clair. (using hammer) and Matt Daddio.
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Bubbles up at Christmas Tree Lighting
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Although postponed to one day later than planned because of impending rain and wind, the annual Little Italy Christmas Tree Lighting happened December 12th at the corner of High & Stiles Streets, as it has done annually for years. Santa Claus (portrayed by Ray Alcaraz) delighted the kids with gifts from his toy sack and even playfully jumped rope as volunteers served hot beverages and Italian cookies donated by Vaccaro's and a few cookie / pizzelle bakers from the Little Italy Lodge Scholarship Foundation committee.
"I was overjoyed to see kids and adults playing with bubbles, corn hole, and jumping rope," said chief planner Renee Robertson (pictured above in cape). "Our spirits were lifted ... it was wonderful to connect with so many volunteers and interested parties from different associations and factions. The spirit of Little Italy definitely extends far beyond these downtown city blocks."
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SANTA SUCCESS! The annual Little Italy Lodge Kids Christmas Party was held December 10 to the delight of the little ones who received a gift from Santa - and a free pasta meal!
2022 LODGE DUES DEADLINE - Stay in good standing! Sons of Italy Little Italy Lodge is accepting members' $40 dues for 2022 between now and March 15, 2022. (After the deadline, members' names who have not renewed will be removed from the roster.) Mail a check payable to Little Italy Lodge #2286 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Susanne Walmsley (email Sue for address. Please do not mail dues to the Lodge address.)
JOIN THE LODGE! The Sons of Italy Lodge #2286, located at 905 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore's Little Italy, always welcomes new members. It is comprised of men and women who believe in the value of maintaining our Italian culture in America. There's always something happening at the Lodge! Affordable Friday Night Dinners, theme dances, kids' events, monthly Bingo - and much more. Members consist of people (and spouses) of Italian birth or descent; those adopted by persons of Italian lineage; and widow/widowers/divorced spouses of current and former members. To apply for membership, request an application.
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Who is La Befana? There have been two reported sightings of La Befana around Little Italy: one at the Little Italy Lodge (portrayed by Pat Greco) and one at the Feast of 7 Fishes at St. Leo's (portrayed by Mary Klepper).
In Italian folklore, Befana is a kind old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve in a similar way to Santa Claus on Christmas. Tradition is to place your shoes outside of a doorway and she will fill them with small gifts and sweet treats.
Does your famiglia celebrate La Befana?
The legend goes that when the Magi went off with gifts to find the newborn baby Jesus, people from each village they passed through ran to meet and follow them. But Befana claimed she was too busy with housework and promised to join them when she had more time. The next day, she realized her mistake and frantically tried to find the Magi, still clutching her broom. But it was too late – they were gone. Her name is believed to derive from the Feast of Epiphany - Festa dell'Epifania. In 2022, it will be on January 6. Don't forget to set out your shoes the eve before!
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Daughters host Feast of 7 Fishes
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The Daughters of Isabella Annunciation Circle #1448 of St. Leo's gifted a festive affair to the Little Italy community December 12th with their annual Feast of the Seven Fishes. Its success was due to the talented kitchen staff and the 70 attendees consisting of members and their friends & families. The atmosphere was filled with holiday energy ... friendships renewed ... family reunions ... a visit from La Befana ... and delicious food. There was great applause for four loyal parishioners who were the dinner's honorees: Nancy Menafee, Nick Guarino, Charlie Ferraro, and John Kidwell. The Daughters' largest fundraiser of the year, this dinner helps the ministry to assist with local charities and parish programs: Children's Feasts for Saints, First Communion gifts, and money & gifts to local schools & shelters. It donates 10% of event revenue back to St. Leo's.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an annual Christmas Eve vigil and epic seafood feast that has grown into the most beloved meal of the year in Italian American and other households.
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"It definitely will be the highlight of my 2021 Christmas season," said Maryellen Woodward, St. Leo's Religious Education director, of the pierogi-making during the Feast of Saints for kids held in the School Hall December 8th. Father Bernie Carman, pastor, presented insightful information about Saint Carlos Acutis, the youngest contemporary person to be beatified a saint; and the kids made pierogi, led by parishioner Cara Joyce, a chef and teacher. Cafe Gia in Little Italy donated pizza. "There was wonderful food and happy children," said Woodward. The event was hosted by St. Leo's Daughters of Isabella.
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140th Anniversary Campaign
doubles goal
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St. Leo's Church 140th anniversary campaign has exceeded - and doubled - its $140,000 goal one month ahead of its six-month close, totaling approximately $170,000, the amount before an anonymous donor has committed to matching the $140K. Separately, a generous and anonymous couple who had visited the church last month donated $25K. The Anniversary Committee is appreciative to the Italian Heritage Festival Committee for its $15,000 donation from revenue collected during the Italian festival in Little Italy October 3rd. Mike Gallerizzo, Bill Martin, and John Pica (from left) gifted the money to Father Bernie Carman, SAC, (center) and Anniversary Committee chairs (right) Paul Rao and Ray Alcaraz.
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Donations to St. Leo's Church in celebration of its 140th year as a parish are still being accepted online or by mail to St. Leo's Anniversary Campaign, 227 S. Exeter Street, Little Italy / Baltimore, MD 21202. The campaign ends December 31 and has doubled its goal in five months.
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Christmas Week Mass Schedule
St. Leo the Great Church
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CHRISTMAS EVE
Fri., December 24
(no 8 am Mass)
- 4:00 pm Children's Mass
- 6:30 pm
- 12 am Midnight Mass
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CHRISTMAS DAY
Sat., December 25
(no 8 am Mass)
- 9:30 am
- 4:30 pm Vigil Mass for Feast of Holy Family
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ANGELS NEEDED FOR PROCESSION The 4 p.m. Children's Christmas Eve Mass will include a procession of children from our parish dressed as angels and singing Silent Night. If your child is interested in participating, email Maryellen Woodward, Religious Education director.
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NEW YEAR'S EVE
Fri., December 31
(no 8 am Mass)
6:30 pm Vigil Mass
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NEW YEAR'S DAY
Sat., January 1, 2022
(no 8 am Mass)
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Submitted by Heather Patti
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"This is my grandfather, Cosimos Patti, and his first wife Rose (nee Balsoma) on their wedding day circa 1924. Rosie grew up on West Street and Cosimos grew up on Marshall Street - both near Cross Street Market.
Photo on the right is my great-grandfather, Francesco Patti; he and his brother, Giuseppe Patti, emigrated from Santa Margherita, Agrigento, Palermo in Sicily and had a produce store, Patti Brothers Produce, at 808-810 Eastern Avenue in Little Italy in the early 1900s. Prior to that, he had operated several stalls in the Cross Street Market.
Below is my great-grand uncle, Giuseppe Patti, with four of his children in front of the Patti Brothers Produce in Little Italy - circa 1920s."
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Include caption, people ID, location, approximate year, and your name.
Photos must be Little Italy or Italian immigrant-related.
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Christmas baskets, Little Italy books available
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CHRISTMAS BASKETS - Daughters of Isabella at St. Leo's are selling Christmas theme baskets filled with fruit, candy, homemade cookies, and small gifts. Email Maryellen. Sizes include: Grab & Go $10 ... small $25 ... medium $35 ... large $45.
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With memories of beloved local figures like Mugs Mugavero and artist Tony DeSales, interviews with lifelong locals, and a few classic recipes, this book creates a spirited history of our enduring Italian community.
SALE $16.99
(reg. $19.99)
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200 captivating vintage photos submitted by Baltimore families
SALE $16.99
(reg. $21.99)
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Books are signed by the author. If you want one signed to a specific person,
specify the name in the field provided when ordering.
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RECEIVE A FREE BOOK!
coffee-table book, Baltimore's Own Little Italy: The Artwork of Tony DeSales.
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Producer seeks Italian family
passionate about food traditions
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A story producer in Brooklyn, New York - Friendly Films - is working with an award-winning director on a series about families with deep intergenerational connections to food - exploring how we preserve our heritage and pass down food traditions and family stories. Each episode will feature a different family and cultural background/cuisine. They are searching for an Italian family passionate about food and Italian heritage, to capture a multi-generational perspective showing how older generations (grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc.) are passing on their culture, food and tradition to the younger generations. If your family is interested in being featured, connect with Mariel Synan at friendlyfilms.co, 319-621-8571.
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"I want to THANK YOU for doing such a nice article about the Family Ties to Cefalu, Sicily, Italy Facebook group, including the 1928 Baltimore Sun article about Cefalu, and also including my grandparents' wedding photo. I have shared this issue with the group (as I do each month) and asked the members to read the article.
This is sooo exciting! I have already had several people who read your article request to join. The facebook group is growing since the story was in your newsletter. We now have close to 800 members. I truly appreciate your help. Each new member enriches our group, helps increase the possibility of us finding more family members, and connects more of us so we can share our love of Cefalu with one another. Thank you for all you do."
~ Sandy Marsiglia Berry
Pasadena, Maryland
"The young girl to the left of the bride, Anna J. Vinci, looks just like my mother. She would have been 10 years old in 1917. I have a family photo looking just like this one of my mother with her brothers and sisters. My grandmother is also Anna Vinci, from Cefalu, Sicily. My mother’s name is Josephine Regina Vinci (Sturm) also from Baltimore. She grew up near Bel Air Market in Baltimore City. My maternal grandparents are Glorioso / Vinci. Please put me in touch with Sandy who began the facebook group? Thank you."
~ Jeanne’ Berger
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sandy & Jeanne' connected and met because of the story in our November issue - and discovered they are second cousins.
"Well done! Another winner! We loved this month's Little Italy newsletter, especially the section about the Cefalu connection to Baltimore. The note form Sandy Marsiglia Berry and her Cefalu Facebook group (of which my wife and daughter are members) was excellent, as was the link to the 1928 article from The Sun - both educational and informative. Wow! Who knew that so many residents of Cefalu came to Baltimore?
The article was particularly eye-opening for my wife, Elizabeth Muffoletto Factor, who grew up in Little Italy and whose father's family came here from Cefalu. Once again, good job!"
~ Harris Factor
Columbia, MD
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Regarding the article written about ancestors from Cefalù. This was so timely and shows many of us have identical stories. I just returned from Sicily, my first time in Italy! I took the train from my hotel in Palermo to Cefalù for the day, to walk around. It was such a cute, quaint place with tiny cobblestone alleys and charming outdoor cafes. A young man made me an excellent arancini from scratch at a local eatery.
However, the real reason I was in Sicily is because I wanted to visit the birth town of my great- grandfather, who immigrated to America. He was born in Castroreale, a few more train stops from Cefalù. I spent a few hours in Castroreale, an absolutely picturesque place. I loved being able to lay eyes on the old churches that would have been there when my great-grandfather was still living there. It was cool knowing our eyes have seen some of the same things in his hometown.
I never met him - he died a decade before I was born - but I bet never in his wildest dreams did he think his great-granddaughter would be nosing around his hometown all these years later.
At the cafe in Castroreale, I met the owner who told me locals with our family surname still live in the area and frequent the café. I'm sure they are my distant relatives. It's fascinating to follow the trail and get to know our ancestors on a new level. Thanks!"
~ Rebecca Longo
Catonsville, Maryland
"This newsletter is always a welcome addition to our inbox! Thank you for all you do for the greatest neighborhood in a city we continue to love and believe in."
~ Garry & Maureen Chandler
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Fred Militello
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