From the Editor & A Message from the Publisher
From the Desk of
Paul Sciria
IN THIS ISSUE
FROM LA GAZZETTA
03 From the Desk of Paul Sciria
03 A Message from the Publisher
NEWS
04 News from Italy
05 News from the Consulate
BOOK REVIEW
05 The Italian Americans
FEATURE
06 Leoni - "Reeling" in TV Diplomacy
06 San Antonio Abate
07 Florence, Italy: The Misericordia,
an Ancient Society
07 Marconi - Father of Wireless
08 The Night of La Befana
08 "Ladri di biciclette"
(The Bicycle Theif)
ART & CULTURE
09 An Altarpiece by Ugolino da Siena
11 Intonarumori
EVENTS IN ITALY
Current Events 12
2
January 2015
Local Gazzetta
LINGUA ITALIANA
LOCAL NEWS
TRAVEL
YOUNGSTOWN
25 Hunger Network's Best Party
25 Local Business News
25 Council Formed to Advise WRHS
26 Air Show Pasta Fundraiser
Notizie Dall'Italia 14
Teatro della Concordia
(Theatre of the Union) 16
No Place Like Home! 16
Paese Dipinto
(Painted Village) 16
Focus on Milan in 2015 16
FOOD & WINE
Sgroppino 18
'Tis the Season for Some Fennel 18
Sicilian Holiday 18
ENTERTAINMENT
Alessandro Safina 19
A Magical Outdoor Theatre in
Northern Italy 20
Help Sought for Book on Mahoning
Valley's Italian Heritage 21
LA GAZZETTA
Where to Buy La Gazzetta 22
26 Steel Museum Offers Youngstown Italian
Heritage Online
CLUB NEWSLETTERS
FEBRUARY PREVIEW
The holidays have come and gone, and we are
already looking forward to stepping into spring.
Before we can do that; however, we pay tribute
to St. Valentine and celebrate Carnevale. These
are times to remember that special someone.
The February issue of La Gazzetta will be
all about Italian cars and sports. We'll give
you a sneak peak into the latest car models and
explore Italy's favorite sporting event, soccer.
Please submit all letters to the editor to Angie
Spitalieri
at
[email protected].
If your company would like to place an ad in our
upcoming issue, please contact Paul Sciria at 440461-9836. All advertisements must be submitted by
January 15. For more information on becoming a
distributor, please contact Angie Spitalieri, Publisher,
at [email protected] or 216-229-1346.
LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | JANUARY 2015
28 Italian American Cultural Foundation
29 Le Radici
30 Americans of Italian Heritage
31 Alta House
32 Club Molisani
33 Casa Italia Foundation
34 Little Italy Redevelopment
35 Home Family Club
38 Loggia Baranello
39 Order Italian Sons & Daughters of America
40 Nothern Ohio Italian American Foundation
41 Rionero Sannitico Recreational Club
42 Solon Italian Club
43 Southwest Italian American Club
44 Wickliffe Italian-American Club
45 The Patrons of the Arts
46 The Italian American Brotherhood Club
PHOTO EXHIBIT
36 Ritratti Di Gente Italiana
KIDS CORNER
47 Homework / Nonna
LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | JANUARY 2015
As the New Year is here, I
reminisce about how my journalism
career began; bottom line, being in
the right place at the right time!
I was a Political Science graduate
of The Ohio State University and a
first-year law student at Cleveland
Marshall working part-time in
Cleveland’s Recreation Department.
I wrote copy about a neighborhood
swimming pool and took my draft
into Commissioner John Nagy’s
office. He was on the phone and
said to the person on the other end
he had a young kid in front of him
he thought could help. He sent
me to WTAM Sportscaster Tom
Manning whose writer quit without
notice; he needed someone to script
his radio Texaco show. I began this
part-time sports writing gig and it
went so well that I quickly picked
up additional sports writing for
Indians broadcaster Bob Neal. Soon
after, the news department boss
asked me to quit sports and work
nights, full-time, writing radio
news for the all-night disc jockey.
Soon
a
full-time, daytime
news job opened on the television
side and I became an “on the scene,
investigative reporter” on the clock
24-7. Equipped with a microphone
and phone, I was given a new
Thunderbird with my name and
station call letters on it
in big type. Obviously
I had to quit law school
for a job I never applied
for. I just happened
to be in the right
place at the right time.
My first assignments
were a train derailment, a
West Virginia coal mine
disaster and the plane
crash of the Cal-Poly
football team at Toledo.
Over the span of 17 years I
never regretted a day. I had
a great time and wonderful
experiences
developing sources
and interviews like Richard Nixon,
Jimmy Hoffa, Bobby Kennedy, Sam
Sheppard, The Sleeping Beauties,
Shondor
Birns,
and
football
coaches Paul Brown and Blanton
Collier. The list is endless and the
experiences amazing. One day
I would interview the governor,
the next day I’m investigating a
Youngstown bombing, a race riot
on Auburndale Avenue or a Euclid
judge accused of murdering his wife.
Like in the sports business, TV 3
decided not to renew my contract, and
on a Friday afternoon I was told not
to come in on Monday. I didn’t skip
a beat. On Monday, I was a publicist
for Minute Man entrepreneur Sam
Paul Sciria,
Managing Editor
Lucarelli
and
handling
hype for boxing promoter Don King.
Soon after, a non-Italian lady friend
suggested Cleveland needed an Italian
American newspaper and suggested
I start one. I did, and today La
Gazzetta Italiana under the banner
of PAS Publishing of Hudson, Ohio
is in its 22nd year and continues to
be the voice of the Italian American
community. But, not for that day years
ago, and that phone call in Room
8 of City Hall, and John Nagy’s
need to he lp a friend write a sports
show, I might have been an attorney.
SUBSCRIBE TO LA GAZZETTA ITALAIANA
Take out a subscription to La Gazzetta Italiana! It's a great gift
idea... JUST IN TIME for the Holidays!!! Sign up today at www.
LaGazzettaItaliana.com.... Share with family and friends!
SUPPORT YOUR ONLY ITALIAN NEWSPAPER!
A Message from the Publisher
advertisers. We take great pride in our
newspaper, and we are always looking
to bring more value to those that
support our effort. If you have any
suggestions, please contact me at
[email protected].
New prices will go into
effect
January
1,
2015.
• The
print
publication
will be $22 for one year and
$35 for a two-year subscription.
• The online subscription will
decrease from $30 to $15 per year.
• The print and online
lieri, subscription will be $30 per year.
a
Angela Spit blisher
This issue features all things
Pu
Italian. Ask most people what
they know about Italians, and they’ll
The
holidays
likely mention our great food.
are over. No more Christmas lights
While Italian food is arguably the
and no more Christmas tree. We best in the world, it barely scratches
at La Gazzetta Italiana have great the surface of the myriad of
things in store for you in 2015. As contributions Italy has made to this
mentioned last month, the paper will planet. For example, the Cleveland
see price changes and new options to Museum of Art has many displays
package both your online and print of the beautiful Italian art we can be
publications. We are also preparing proud of. Plus, the Western Reserve
new marketing opportunities for our Historical Society has great archives
featuring the accomplishments of
Italian immigrants in the Cleveland
area. And what about fashion?
The clothing and textiles from
Florence are unparalleled. And
Milan, the fashion capital of the
world, is where fashion truly begins.
Food is always an important
part of our heritage. The pasta
and pastries are my personal
downfall. Living in Little Italy,
I have the perfect opportunity
to enjoy all the great restaurants
and bakeries that we can offer.
It’s such a blessing to be born
of Italian heritage. The culture
is rich with traditions and values
we pass on from generation to
generation. I am honored to be a
part of this great culture.
I hope
you enjoy this month’s issue.
Please
note:
La
Gazzetta
has moved our office. We are no
longer in the Alta House, but still
in Little Italy. Our new address is
2026 Murray Hill Rd., Studio #104,
Cleveland, OH 44106, and our
telephone number is 216-229-1346.
3