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Marcella Croce Speaks About the History and Secrets On November 10, 2008 Marcella Croce, a native of Palermo Sicily, and author of Eat Smart in Sicily, spoke at the Italian Cultural Institute about the history and secrets of Sicilian food. Click here
Armed Forces Day Celebrated at Italian Embassy Pictured above, Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Brig. Gen. Mirco Zuliani, Defense Attache, Embassy of the Italian Republic
Brig. Gen. Mirco Zuliani, Defense Attache, Embassy of the Italian Republic, and Carla Paris Zuliani
Sicilians Meet in Boston The Confederazione dei Siciliani del Nord America (CSNA) held its The elections for new CSNA officers, which had been scheduled to take place on November 1, were unexpectedly postponed. (Pictured above, Assessore Carmelo Incardona addressing the CSNA 2d Annual Convention)
Search Begins for Miss Italia nel Mondo USA 2009
NIAF Chairman Kenneth Ciongoli Passes Away The Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington hosted on October 22, 2008, a talk and reception to celebrate Pino Cicala's 50 years at Antenna Italia, the Italian radio program founded at the end of the 1950s. Marco Mancini, First Counselor at the Italian Embassy, Rita Venturelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, and Prof Luigi de Sanctis of the Embassy's Education Office, spoke warmly of Pino's contibutions to the Italian American Community in the Washington metropolitan area and to Italy. Ennio Carretto, who for many years was the Washington correspondent for Il Corriere della Sera, interviewed Pino before a filled-to capacity Embassy auditorium, about his career and his life experiences in Washigton, D.C. (Pictured below, Ennio Carretto with Pino Cicala) . \ It's a NIAF Weekend in Washington! Check later for more picture from the NIAF event Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
President Bush spoke very warmly about Berlusconi's visit, relationships of Italy and U.S., and the contributions of Italian Americans. Berlusconi decided to avoid reading from the script and spoke even more warmly from his heart: Never, ever I found, in all of the meetings we had over these years, in you the calculations that sometimes politicians made. I've always found in you the sincerity and the spontaneity of a person who strongly believes in what he does. And it was always easy for me to share your ideas, to share your visions, to be next to you, to stand next to you, because we are always bound by these common love for freedom, love for democracy, respect for the others, and the feeling, this common feeling that we are here just to serve our peoples. And I'm a hundred percent sure and positive that history will tell -- will say that George W. Bush has been a great, very great President of the United States of America. (Applause.) As someone commented, that's what friends, or amici, are for .(Photos by Francesco Isgro)
Italy's Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi President Bush and Mrs. Bush are pleased to welcome Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy for an Official Visit to the White House on Columbus Day,
RAI Italian Fiction Week "Puccini" a film based on the life and times of the great Italian composer, Giacomo Puccini, whose masterpieces include La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, and Tosca premiered at the Italian Embassy on October 6 before a standing-room only audience. At its conclusion, the film received a standing ovation. Rita Venturelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute which organized the event, introduced the film’s director Giorgio Capitani, actor Alessio Boni, who plays Puccini, Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, and officials of RAI. At the end of the program, Amb. Castellaneta noted that the life and work of Puccini exemplifies the creativity and genius of Italians. (Pictured above Giorgio Capitani and Alessio Boni at Italian Embassy)
Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples Premieres at National Gallery of Art Washington October 19, 2008–March 22, 2009 In the first century BC, the picturesque Bay of Naples became a favorite retreat for vacationing emperors, senators, and other prominent Romans. Luxurious works of art excavated from the opulent houses of the urban elite in Pompeii and from nearby imperial villas along the shoreline of the Bay of Naples illustrate the region’s importance as an artistic center. Some 150 works of sculpture, painting, mosaic, and luxury arts include recent discoveries on view in the U.S. for the first time and celebrated finds from earlier excavations. These exquisite objects from the richly decorated villas reveal the breadth and richness of cultural and artistic life, as well as the influence of classical Greece on Roman art and culture in this region. The National Gallery of Art will transform its West Building Garden Café into Garden Café: Italia where traditional Neapolitan cuisine will be offered until early February 2009. More info.
Stabiae View of a harbor town, 1st century BC - 1st century AD fresco Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli Minister Franco Frattini, Speaking at Brookings, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Franco Frattini, speaking at the Brookings Institution outlined Italy's foreign policy in the new millennium. The event was moderated by Federiga Bindi, Visiting Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe. Read transcript of Frattini's remarks
Nancy Pelosi insignita del Cavalierato di Gran Croce
On September 16, the Ambassador of Italy, Giovanni Castellaneta, on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, conferred upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest order of the Italian Republic, the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce." The ceremony, held at Villa Firenze, was attended by numerous members of the Italian-American Congressional Caucus, other Senators and Congressmen, representatives of NIAF, and other dignitaries. (Pictured above, Ambassador Castellaneta conferring the title to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; pictured below, Ambassador Castellaneta, House Speaker Pelosi, and Mrs. Castellaneta.)
Congratulations to
Miss Italia 2008
Vincenzo Arcobelli - Nominato Responsabile PDL-USA L'on. Marco Zacchera, responsabile del dipartimento esteri di An-Pdl ha nominato Luciana Martena e Vincenzo Arcobelli responsabili del Pdl rispettivamente per la Germania e gli Stati Uniti d'America. “So Edmund Giambastiani Grand Marshal of Louis Tallarini, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, has announced last month that Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be Grand Marshal of the 2008 Columbus Day Parade in New York City. “Admiral Giambastiani has devoted his life to the service of the United States, and we are grateful and delighted that he has agreed to lead our annual celebration of Italian-American heritage and achievement”, said Tallarini in his announcement. Follieri's Follies Raffaello Follieri, arrived in New York from Italy in 2003. Like many others, he was in search of the American dream. He soon established a venture to invest in REMEMBERING 9/11 Vice President Dick Cheney meets with Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi - Berlusconi Accepts Invitation To White House September 9. Vice President Cheney in his remarks, following his meeting with Prime Minister Berlusconi in Rome, praised the "strong partnership between Italy and the United States" "This great nation," he said, "is a fine ally of the United States, and millions of Americans are proud to claim Italian heritage. When we think of Italy, we think of your wonderful people, your rich history and culture of the beautiful land you call home." In his remarks Berlusconi indicated his acceptance of President Bush's invitation to join him for dinner on Columbus Day. Click here for text of remarks as released by White House. NIAF Announces 2008 Honorees The National Italian American Foundation has announced this The 33rd Anniversary Awards Gala and Annual Convention will be held on October 17-18, 2008, at the Hilton Washington & Towers in Washington, D.C. For additional information visit
www.niaf.org. Assassination of General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa Remembered - Sept. 27, 1920 - Sept. 3, 1982 The assassination of General Dalla Chiesa and his wife in Palermo on September 3, 1982, was remembered on the 26th anniversary of his mur Bejing Olympics - Italy Wins 28 Medals
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi greets medal winners at Villa Madama. Distringuished Italian American Conductor Italian American conductor, Nicola Rescingno, died on August 4, 2008, at a hospital in Viterbo, Italy. He was 92 years old. In 1953, he co-founded the Chicago Lyric Opera, where he was music director from 1954 to 1956, and conducted the American debut of Maria Callas there. In 1957, he co-founded the Dallas Opera where he served as artistic director and principal conductor from 1957 to 1990. While at the Dallas Opera, he conducted the U.S. debuts of such singers as Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Teresa Berganza, Magda Olivero, Jon Vickers, and stage director Franco Zeffirelli. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1978, conducting Don Pasquale (with Beverly Sills, in John Dexter's production), followed by L'elisir d'amore (1980), L'italiana in Algeri (with Marilyn Horne and Rockwell Blake, 1981), and La traviata (1981-82). Rescigno also conducted at the San Francisco Opera. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini "We are relaunching the era of particularly close and friendly relations with the United States" and not just with the departing president, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in an interview with the Washington Post. Click here for the transcript of the press conference at the Department of State and the video of the press conference. Michelangelo Antonioni: The Italian Treasures A eight-part retrospective of Antonioni's most important Italian films presented at the National Gallery of Art. Click here for schedule of films Festa Italiana 2008 Draws Unprecedented Crowds
Mayor of Washington, DC,
Adrian Fenty In connection with the 10th Annual Festa Italiana, the Mayor of Washington, DC, Adrian Fenty, has signed a proclamation proclaiming June 29, 2008, Italian American Day. Read Text. The Italian Ambassador, Giovanni Castellaneta has also released a letter expressing his pleasure in extending the Embassy of Italy's patronage to the 10th Annual Festa Italiana. Read Text of letter in Italian and English. The Grand Marshall for this year's event is Mrs. Jeanette Perno Fenty, mother of the Mayor of DC and an Italian American with roots in the Lazio Region. Among the highlights of this year's event will be a procession led by Father Lydio Tomasi of Holy Rosary Church, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial where a wreath will be laid in memory of all fallen Italian American Law Enforcement Officers. Charles J. Bonaparte On June 20, 2008, the Italian American community honored Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the 46th Attorney General of the United States and the Founder of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This 48th Annual Ceremony coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the FBI. John LaCorte, Sr., founder of the Italian Historical Society of America, instituted this commemoration in 1961 and since then, Charles Bonaparte has been commemorated at the Department of Justice in the month of June, the month of his birth. This year's speakers included Joseph Persichini, Jr., the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office, Hon. Francis Allegra, Judge on the Federal Court of Claims, Marco Mancini, First Counselor of the Italian Embassy in Washington, and Carmelo Cicala, President of the COMITES of Washington, DC and Coordinator of the COMITES USA, and John LaCorte, Jr., the President of the Italian Historical Society. The ceremony was coordinated by Francesco Isgro, Senior Litigation Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice. (Pictured above, speakers at the 48th Annual Bonaparte Ceremony, Marco Mancini, Fr. Lydio Tomasi, Joseph Persichini, Jr., Francesco Isgro, Carmelo Cicala, Hon. Francis Allegra, John La Corte. Photo courtesy of Vito Catalano) Message from Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta delivered by First Counselor Marco Mancini on the occasion of the 48th Annual Ceremony to commemorate Bonaparte and the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the FBI. Click here. Washington Prepares to Celebrate Festa Italiana Festa Italiana DC is the only Italian street festival held in our nation’s capital. Festa della Repubblica Celebrated in Washington
Sons of Italy Foundation Honors Italian-Americans On May 22, 2008, at the Sons of Italy 20th Anniversary National Education and Leadership Awards Gala held in Washington, DC, four Italian Americans were honored. Alfred Rotondaro, Ph.D., a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, received the SIF Humanitarian Award. Joseph Plumeri, Chairman and CEO of the Willis Group Holdings, received the National Education and Leadership Award. Michael Petruzzello, founder and managing partner of Qorvis Communications, received the SIF Award for Excellence in Business. Steve Wynn, Chairman and CEO, Wynn Resorts, Ltd., received the SIF Award for Global Vision & Philanthropy. Featured performer Tony Bennet, received the most applause! Dr. Ronald A. Parise (May 24, 1951 – May 9, 2008) Dr. Ronald A. Parise, an American scientist, an astronomer, and a NASA astronaut who flew aboard two NASA Space Shuttle missions as a payload specialist, died on May 9, America's Polo Cup - May 10, 2008 On a beautiful afternoon on May 10, 2008, at the historic Morven Park, in Leesburg, Virginia, the Italian and U.S. polo teams clashed at the Land Rover America's Polo Cup. The U.S. Team won 6-2. Click here for more pictures. Anita McBride, Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush Italian American Anita McBride was appointed Assistant to President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush in September 2006. She first joined Mrs. Bush’s office as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Mrs. Bush’s Chief of Staff in January 2005. () Gilberto Idonea Presents at Casa Italiana On April 30, a premiere U.S. screening of the film In Nome di Maria took place at Casa Italiana. In the passionate and poetic film, an Italian priest confronts the tragedy of post-Chernobyl children in Russia, in a trip that tests his faith. (Continued) Urbino Press Award Presented to Minister Sebastiani Cardi welcomed the honored guests at the Urbino Press Award Ceremony held at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 23, 2008. (Continued) (Pictured below, Minister Sebastiano Cardi and Martha Raddatz) Papal Mass -
April 17, 2008
Click here for Voce Italiana, April 2008 Ambassador Castellaneta launched Italian Culture Week on April 1, 2008, at a reception in the U.S. Capitol Building. The event was hosted by the National Italian American Foundation and the Italian Embassy.
In connection with the celebration of Italian Culture Week, Voce Italiana dedicated its April issue to the Italian legacy in the Nation's Capital. Festa della Vendemmia
Elezioni 2008 - Estero Liste dei candidati
e instruzioni Cherry Blossoms in Washington Elezioni 2008 - Estero Arcobelli l'unico candidato presente al Forum Vincenzo Arcobelli, candidato alla Camera dei Deputati con Il Popolo della Liberta' e' stato l'unico candidato ad essere presente alla tribuna elettorale organizzata dai Comites di Washington, a Casa Italiana, in Washington D.C. il 26 Marzo, 2008. Hanno anche partecipato alla tribuna, Gianluca Galletto, che ha rappresentato il Partito Democratico e on. Salvatore Ferrigno, Presidente del Comites di Philadelphia, che ha rappresentato UDC. Melo Cicala, Presidente del Comites di Washington ha dato il benvenuto di casa, e il Dott. Ennio Caretto del Corriere della Sera ha moderato il dibattito. Pictured above, Vincenzo Arcobelli, Ennio Caretto, Melo Cicala, Galletto Italians To Return To Polls On April 13 and 14, 2008, Italians will return to the polls to elect a new government. It was only 20 months ago that Prime Minister Romano Prodi cobbled together a center-left coalition, which in the end collapsed after the government received a no- confidence vote from the Senate. The political lineup in the upcoming election is led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who heads Il Popolo della Liberta (Pdl) the center-right coalition, and who by all accounts is the front-runner in the early polls. His coalition is composed of Forza Italia, Alleanza Nazionale, with the support of Lega Nord, and the Movimento per l’Autonomia. Continued - Click here Italian Culture Week Set for April 1-6 The Italian E Melo Cicala Elected Intercomites Coordinator Carmelo (Melo) Cicala, President of the Comites of Washington, D.C. has been elected the new Coordinator of the Intercomites USA. The elections took place on March 1, 2008, at an Intercomites meeting hosted in Detroit by Giovanni Catalano, President of the Detroit Comites. On February 26, 2008, the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC, hosted a reception in ho Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary was the keynote speaker at the Ms. Perino was born to Jan and Leo Perino in Evanston, Wyoming and raised in Denver, Colorado since the age of 2. When she was 6 years old, Dana stood on a milk crate in her Denver house, held up an American flag, and told her parents, "I'm gonna work in the White House." By third grade, she and her father, Leo Perino, were debating the news of the day at the dinner table. "He wanted me to have read the newspapers and to have picked out one or two articles to discuss by the time he got home and then we always watched the evening news together and my Dad and I would always watch the Sunday shows as well." said Perino. ( (Voce Italiana - March. 2008) President George W. Bush named Perino as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary on March 31, 2006. On September 14, 2007, she succeeded Tony Snow as the new White House Press Secretary ISNAFF First National Conference Una Fondazione per i ricercatori italiani negli Usa: primo convegno a Washington della ISSNAF
Sono circa 10 mila i ricercatori o i professori italiani che lavorano nelle università americane. Una comunità di tutto rispetto sia per dimensione che per ruoli. Justice Alito Honored by Lido Club Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., received the Lido Civic Club Public Achievement Award in Public Service at the group’s 78th Anniversary Gala held on January 19, 2008.
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Second Annual Gala and Convention at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston on October 31 and November 1, 2008. The CSNA, currently under the presidency of Vincenzo Arcobelli, honored the following personalities: Bruno Ficili (Sicilia) CSNA special Humanitarian Service Award; Gaetano Gagliano (Canada) CSNA Lifetime Achievement Award; Fiorella Migliore (Italia) CSNA special Award (Miss Italia nel Mondo); Anthony J. Piscitelli (USA) CSNA special Achievement Award in Business. A number of representatives from the Region of Sicily were also in attendance including Assessore Carmelo Incardona, who has among others, the immigration portfolio, Assessore per l'Industria Pippo Gianni and, Santi Formica, Vice Presidente Consiglio Regione Sicilia. Also making the rounds were Deputato Amato Berardi and Senator Basilio Giordano, who represent Italian citizens from North and Central America, Hon. Salvatore Ferrigno, and USA Comites Coordinator Carmelo Cicala. 
no due persone giovani, qualificate, serie e preparate, ben note nelle nostre comunità all'estero - sottolinea Zacchera - e che potranno da subito operare per l'organizzazione del Popolo della Libertà nelle area loro assegnate”. L'obiettivo – ricorda Zacchera - è di costruire una capillare organizzazione del Pdl all'estero anticipando le strutture che verranno poi formalizzate dal congresso di costituzione del nuovo movimento politico che presumibilmente si terrà all'inizio dell'anno prossimo.” 
properties being sold by the Catholic Church. He said that he had Vatican connections and that claim probably helped him get funding from none others than some of former President Clinton's friends. The investment money that he received helped him establish a lavish lifestyle in New York City. According to court records he started flying on private jets, vacationing on Mediterrenean yatchs, and was sharing a $37,000 a month apartment with his former girlfriend Anne Hathaway. At some point, his investment partners became annoyed by Follieri's misuse of their funds for his private use and sued him. That suit was settled on what appears to be amicable terms. But in June of this year the federal government decided to prosecute Follieri for fraud and money laundering, among others. On September 10, in the federal court in Manhattan, Follieri plead guilty to those charges and now faces 51 to 63 months in a U.S. federal prison. We suspect that federal immigration officials can't be too far behind. 
year’s gala honorees. They include: 
der by Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano. General Dalla Chiesa is credited for capturing in September 1974 the leader of the Red Brigade terrorist group. On May 1, 1982 he was appointed Prefect for Palermo to stop the mafia’s wars in the Sicilian capital. Dalla Chiesa was gunned down five months later as he was being driven through the streets of Palermo. 
The Festa will be held in “Little Italy”, the area surrounding the Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana (Third St. and F St., N.W., near the Judiciary Square Metro Station). To mark its 10th Anniversary, Festa Italiana 2008 DC will proudly feature the culture and heritage of Rome and the Region of Lazio. The Festa will use this special celebration to commemorate the historical and cultural ties between the United States and Italy and the regions of their Capital cities. . . . . 
2008, at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was a parishioner at Holy Rosary Church in Washington, D.C. and for many years a member of the Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society of Washington D.C. Dr. Parise was born in Warren, Ohio to Henry and Catherine Parise. By age 11, he became a licensed amateur radio operator. In his teens, he developed an interest in astronomy and aviation and became a pilot. He attended Western Reserve High School, graduating in 1969 before attending Youngstown State University. In 1973, he obtained a bachelor of science degree in physics, with minors in mathematics, astronomy, and geology. He went on to receive a master's degree in 1977 and a doctorate in 1979 from the University of Florida, both in astronomy. He and his wife Cecelia Sokol Parise had two children.
Winemakers from the Washington area met at Casa Italiana on March 30, 2008, to enjoy the home made wines of the Washington Winemakers of Holy Rosary Church. Pictured below are Andrea Waldeck and Catherine Timco tasting the wine of the House of Nick Ferrante (center).
Arcobelli e' il Presidente del Comites di Houston, Texas. 
mbassy has announceed a series of events in celebration of the launching of the book The Italian Legacy in Washington, D.C.: Architecture, Design, Art and Culture. The events will take place from April 1 until April 6, 2008 at various venues throughout the city. The celebrations aim to showcase Italy’s influence in the cultural life and heritage of the capital of the United States. The events range from panel discussions to social soirées and a classical music concert. 
nor of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli and the crew of Shuttle STS-120 which recently completed a mission to the International Space Station. STS-120 was the 23rd shuttle mission to the Space Station, and launched an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module named Harmony. 
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Public Policy Lecture Series held at the historic Riggs Library at Georgetown University.
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Inside November 2008 October 2008 September 2008
August 2008
June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno 2 Intervista con Marco Mancini 3 Nat'l Italian American Women 4 February 2008 Pino Cicala 1
Qualifying for Dual Citizenship 4 Global Health Conference 5 Confederation Sicilian Americans
Capecchi wins Nobel Prize
Dana Perino - "La nuova Voce" at the White House
July 2007 Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta Speaks on Translantic Relations August 2007 Remember Monongah |
