A Look at the National Italian American Foundation’s 42nd Anniversary Expo and Gala

The flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies at the entrance of the Expo Siciliana
Photos by New York Scugnizzo

In partnership with our friends from the Comitati delle Due Sicilia USA and Argenio Napoli, Il Regno descended on Washington DC Saturday morning for the National Italian American Foundation’s 42nd Anniversary Expo and Gala at the festively decorated Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Unfortunately, we were unable to make Friday night’s kick off party.

Celebrating Sicily, NIAF’s 2017 region of honor, a wide variety of merchants and vendors set up shop and displayed their wares throughout the convention hall. As expected the expo was predominantly Sicilian, but other regions of southern Italy were well represented. For example, Rossella Rago and her delightful nonna Romana from the popular Cooking With Nonna web show were promoting their new eponymous cookbook loaded with traditional recipes from Puglia. 

Neapolitan high fashion was on display in our Salvatore Argenio stall, which featured an array of top quality articles from Argenio’s elegant and stylish Borbone collection. Silk ties, watches and ladies handbags emblazoned with the historic coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies were clearly the hot items.

Our Comitati table, laden with buttons, books, pamphlets and flyers about the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was also well received. We drew many interested attendees, including, to our great delight (and surprise), HRH Princess Beatrice di Borbone delle Due Sicilie.

Working hard, we were unable to partake in the many lectures and programs the expo had to offer, but whenever possible we made time to visit friends and make new connections. I was fortunate enough to catch the beginning of Tony De Nonno’s enchanting presentation of the century-old Papa Manteo Sicilian Marionette Tradition. Well attended, I was happy to see so many children enjoying the show.

As luck would have it, our booth was close enough to the stage to enjoy the musical stylings of Villa Palagonia, a Sicilian American folk-pop duo featuring our friends Allison Scola and Joe Ravo.

With nearly all of our merchandise snatched up, the 2017 expo came to a successful close.

Packing up the remnants of our stock, we retired to our rooms to freshen up and change into our finest finery for the upcoming gala.

With fortuitous timing, we ran into HRH Princess Beatrice and her aide-de-camp Justin Morin-Carpentier in the hotel lobby, and to the envy of our colleagues, had the great honor of escorting them to the cocktail reception. Naturally, our fellow Constantinians and socialites rallied around our Princess and vied for a moment of her time. 

Nearly two thousand attendees (by my estimation) packed into the enormous dining room. We took our seats, greeted the other guests at our table, and enjoyed a delicious dinner and live entertainment by Alessandra Salerno, the Sicilian Tenors and Emmy-nominated Alfio, among others.

After Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi’s invocation and the singing of the American and Italian National Anthems by Carmelo Sorce, co-hosts Maria Bartiromo and NIAF President John M. Viola took the stage and began the award ceremony.

This year’s honorees were Jon DeLuca, NIAF special achievement award in business; Vittorio Grigolo, NIAF special achievement award in music; Alessandro Profumo, NIAF special achievement award in finance; Nick Stellino, NIAF special achievement award in humanitarian service; Andrew M. Cuomo, in recognition of his longstanding support of the Italian American community and his leadership on behalf of Columbus Day and saving Columbus Circle statue; and HRH Princess Beatrice di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, NIAF special achievement award in philanthropy.

The event came to a close with NIAF’s Board of Directors honoring a clearly emotional John Viola, who announced he was stepping down as President and Chief Operations Officer last September to pursue other ventures. A true warrior and champion of our people, we wish him all the best and much success in the future.

John dutifully and competently served as NIAF President and COO over the past six years and will be leaving big shoes to fill. Having gotten to know him personally in recent years, I am sure his presence will be sorely missed. His love for his people and culture is an inspiration to us all.

Far from over, the fun continued well into the night at the “Italian Karaoke After Party” in the hotel bar and lounge. Spirit of choice in hand, my friends and I watched with great amusement the ardent attempts at singing and dancing by the young at heart. A stick-in-the-mud, I resisted my friends prodding and I spared my fellow revelers the agony of my singing voice.

Festively decorated elevator doors

Cavs. Charles Sant'Elia and Vincent Gangone manning the Comitati table

A few of the items we had to offer

HRH Princess Beatrice, accompanied by Justin Morin-Carpentier
and Hon. Pasquale Menna visit our Comitati booth

Cav. Sant'Elia showcasing Tribeca Vini's latest offering:
Sertura Greco di Tufo DOCG

Cav. Anthony O'Boyle lends a hand at the Argenio booth

Argenio's high quality accessories were clearly hot items 

(L) Nonna Romana and Rossella Rago promote their terrific new cookbook.
(R.) Mayor Pasquale Menna shows off his new Argenio cufflinks 

Our new friends from Regnum Siciliae Imports LLC 

Traditional Sicilian terra cotta head planters

The great Prof. Gaetano Cipolla of Arba Sicula 

Our friends from the Italian American Podcast,
Dolores Alfieri and Anthony Fasano

Tony De Nonno and friends

Tony De Nonno entertaining children of all ages

Villa Palagonia 

Portraits of HRM King Carlo di Bourbon and HRM King Ferdinand I 

Portraits of HRM King Ferdinand II and HRM King Francis II

HRH Princess Beatrice addresses the audience 

Her Highness gets a standing ovation

Cavs. O'Boyle, Gangone and Sant'Elia dressed to the nines

(L) The enchanting Alessandra Salerno with autoharp beautifully interpreting Rosa Balistrieri. (R) Alfio brings down the house

Stylish John Viola does an amazing Lou Monte

Revelers cut loose and dance the night away

Congratulations Dama Rosanna Minervini on Your Investiture into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

Dama Rosanna Minervini

Sunday, November 5, 2017, Cathedral of St. Mathew the Apostle, Washington DC

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Congratulations Dama Rosanna Minervini on your investiture into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. All the best from your friends at Il Regno.

May you never cease to emulate our heavenly patron with alacrity to follow in the footsteps of His only begotten Son, who is our alpha and our omega, our beginning and end.

The Search for our Ancestry (XLII)

The Italian ‘Ancestors’ Website, Continued

by Angelo Coniglio

In my previous review of the Italian Antenati (Ancestors) site http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ I noted there are four main tabs, the first being Il Portale (The Portal), which explains that most of the records are available through an agreement with the LDS church; and the second, Il Territorio e li fonti (The Territory and sources), which presents a map of the regions of Italy and links to the explanation of the site’s sources, and websites or email addresses where more source information is available. The page can be viwed in Italian or English by clicking on the appropriate ‘flag’ icon near the top right of the page. Continuing with the 3rd and 4th main tabs:

3. Sfoglia i Registry (Browse the Registers). After selecting this tab, click on the link “ITALIA” at the upper left. This will display several items titled ‘Archivio di Stato di ______’ (Archive of the Records of Status of ______). This is a list of the Italian regions or provinces for which records are on line. As of this writing, there are fifty-one on the Antenati site.

In the following list, one asterisk* indicates a province or region which was originally in the Kingdom of Sicily. Two asterisks** indicate provinces on the island of Sicily. Records for those regions are generally more uniform and complete than those for the former city-states and duchies of the North. The areas included as of this writing are: Agrigento**; Arezzo; Ascolo Piceno; Asti; Bari*; Benevento*; Bergamo; Brescia; Caltanissetta**; Campobasso*; Catanzaro*; Chieti*; Como; Cremona; Cuneo; Enna**; Firenze; Forli; Genova; Grosseto; Imperia; Imperia, sezione di Ventimiglia; Imperia, sezione San Remo; L’Aquila*; La Spezia; Lucca; Macerata; Mantova; Messina**; Modena; Napoli*; Padova; Pesaro; Pesaro, sezione di Fano; Pesaro, sezione di Urbino; Pescara*; Potenza*; Prato; Ragusa**; Reggio Calabria*; Rieti; Roma; Salerno**; Savona; Taranto; Torino; Trapani**; Treviso; Udine; Venezia; and Viterbo.

Clicking on any of the Archivio links will display the categories of records available for that particular region: Stato Civile Napoleonico(1806 through 1815); Stato civile della Restaurazione (1816 through 1860 – 1865); Stato Civile Italiano (1860 – 1865 through 1910 and beyond). Click on the date range you want, and a set of links for various comune or towns in the region will appear. Select your town, and you’ll see a list of types and years of records available. Select the set you want, and begin browsing the images of original records. Generally, each year of records has an alphabetical index at the start or end of the year, indicating the record number for each record. Then browse to find that record number.

4. Trova i nomi (Find names). Here you can search for person’s names using the given name and / or surname; the search can be further specified or limited by indicating the locality of birth or residence and by chronological limits. Once found, the name of the person is linked to the image of the record it references (birth, marriage, death). It must be recognized that the number of names so far indexed is far lower than the number of images available on the Portal, because indexing is a slow and laborious task that requires a major commitment of human resources and time. You may get lucky and find a relative’s name directly by this search, or you may have to browse the registers as listed above. Regions/provinces that have been indexed are listed below. The years and types of records that are indexed vary by region or province, as indicated in a list at http://bit.ly/AntenatiIndexedRecords

Asti; Bari*; Bergamo; Benevento; Brescia; Caltanissetta**; Campobasso*; Chieti; Cremona; Enna; Forli; Genova; Grosseto; Imperia; L’Aquila*; Mantova; Modena; Mondovì (Cuneo); Napoli*; Padova; Pescara*; Prato; Ragusa; Reggio Calabria; Rieti; Salerno; Savona; Taranto; Udine, Urbino; and Viterbo.

There are search boxes headed Nome (Given name); Cognome(Surname); Tipologia di Atto – Nascite, Matrimoni, Morte (Type of Record – Birth, Marriage, Death); Comune/Localita (Town/Locality); Anno Inizio (Starting Year); and Anno Fine (Ending Year). Enter one or more item in the boxes and click the button marked ‘Cerca’ (Search). A list will appear with a transcription of information for names that match your search. To see the actual image of the original record, click on the link ‘Apri’ (open).

Coniglio is the author of the book The Lady of the Wheel, inspired by his Sicilian research. Order the paperback or the Kindle version at http://bit.ly/SicilianStory. Coniglio’s web page at http://bit.ly/AFCGen has helpul hints on genealogic research. If you have genealogy questions, or would like him to lecture to your club or group, e-mail him at genealogytips@aol.com

Congratulations Cav. Vincent Gangone on Your Promotion to Knight of Merit

Cav. Vincent Gangone

Sunday, November 5, 2017, Cathedral of St. Mathew the Apostle, Washington DC

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Congratulations Cav. Vincent Gangone on your promotion to Knight of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. All the best from your friends at Il Regno. 

May you never cease to emulate our heavenly patron with alacrity to follow in the footsteps of His only begotten Son, who is our alpha and our omega, our beginning and end.

Photo of the Week: Ruins of Paestum with Heraion II in the Background

Ruins of Paestum with Heraion II (Temple of Hera and Poseidon) in the background; Paestum, Salerno. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Il Regno's 2017 Weekend Getaway

Flying the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies atop Look Out Point
Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Saturday, October 28th — Birthday of Michelina De Cesare (1841-1868) and Anniversary of Emperor Constantine’s Victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD)

Members and friends of the Circolo delle Due Sicilie USA—which is what we’re calling our merry band of netroots these days—took a much needed respite from city life this weekend with a long overdo excursion to Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in Westchester County, New York. Leaving the noise, grime and pollution behind, our little troop set out to the great outdoors for a little peace and tranquility, not to mention fresh air and fellowship. 

Placard with info about Dr. Sal J. Prezioso, the park's namesake

Half jokingly, we referred to ourselves as the “Guerra Gang” in memory of Michelina De Cesare, "la Brigantessa" who took to the hills and carried on the good fight in defense of our ancestral homeland, traditions and good King Francis II after the Piedmontese conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1861.

One of the park's many hiking trails

In what was an absolutely gorgeous day, we parked our car, grabbed our provisions, and began our hike. Slowly ascending one of the many scenic trails, we eventually reached a clearing at Look Out Point (Elev. 740’) and admired the spectacular panoramic view of the changing foliage in the valley beneath us, and lakes Waccabuc and Rippowam. 

Panoramic view of the changing foliage

Taking a load off, we planted our flag, temporarily rechristened our little patch of turf “New Ferdinandia” in honor of HRM King Ferdinand I, and waxed poetic about our majestic surroundings. Sitting back in quiet reflection beneath the blue sky for awhile, I thanked God for my many blessings, including our brief jaunt into this remote sylvan idyll, and enjoyed the day with my companions. 

Breaking camp

Like all good things, our ramble came to an end and we needed to get back to our lodgings. So the thoroughly relaxed “Guerra Gang” packed up camp, took one last look at the incredible view, and sauntered down the mountain. 

* * *

Our Lady of Loreto RC Church in Cold Spring, New York

Sunday, October 29th — Feast of Christ the King

Unfortunately, Sunday was cold and rainy, so we decided to skip our planned hike in Bear Mountain State Park and take a trip to Cold Spring, New York, a quaint little village in Putnam County. 

The foggy Hudson River

After Mass at Our Lady of Loreto RC Church (24 Fair St.) we strolled over to the picturesque water front, complete with Civil War Parrott Cannon and large gazebo. Gazing across the foggy Hudson, we could faintly discern the United States Military Academy at West Point.

One of several statues of San Francesco d'Assisi around Graymoor Monastery

As the rain got heavier, we sought cover on Main Street, which is lined with restaurants, boutiques and antique shops. We looked around for a bit, but to be honest we weren’t much in the mood for shopping; it kind of defeated the purpose of our getaway. So we cut our stay short, and thanks to a suggestion by our friend Lucian, we took a drive to Graymoor Monastery (40 Franciscan Way) in nearby Garrison, New York. 

Part of the Monastery complex at Graymoor

Known as the Holy Mountain, Graymoor is the headquarters of the Franciscan Sisters and Friars of the Atonement. Normally a popular destination for pilgrims, the inclement weather kept most wayfarers away, so we virtually had the serene grounds, shrines and chapels all to ourselves. 

Chapel of Our Lady of Atonement

A blessing in disguise, the bad weather brought us to this harmonious oasis, where we spent our day praying, meditating and enjoying all the peace and tranquility it had to offer.

We lit a few candles inside the Chapel of Our Lady of Atonement

(L) Our Lady of Atonement. (R) The Sant'Antonio da Padova Chapel

Another shrine to Our Lady of Atonement

* * *

Seeing as we haven't eaten since breakfast, by the end of the day our group was thoroughly famished. However, instead of looking for an acceptable place to dine nearby, we decided to hold off a little longer and grab a bite back in Manhattan. Naturally, we ended up at Acqua (21 Peck Slip), our friend Chef Marrone’s restaurant in the South Street Seaport. My go-to place in Lower Manhattan, we enjoyed (and consumed) an array of delicious antipasti and pasta dishes. 

For my entree, I enjoyed a delicious plate of spaghettoni ai pomodorini del Vesuvio

It was unquestionably the perfect way to end our weekend of rest and relaxation.

Also see: Il Regno & Friends' Weekend of R&R

Congratulations to all our Confratelli and Consorelle

His Royal Highness, Prince Carlo di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies, and Hereditary Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and the Dynastic Orders of Two Sicilies, on the recommendation of the Magistral Council, has been graciously pleased to bestow the following Honors and Promotions to individuals of the United States Delegation, to be remitted in the City of Washington on Nov. 5, 2017:

SACRED MILITARY CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF ST. GEORGE

Hon. Dominic Massaro
Knight Grand Cross of Merit

Don Nicola D'Elia
Knight Commander of Grace

Baron Dr. Robert A. LaRocca
Knight Commander of Grace

Louis Andre Mendola Mantegna
Knight Commander of Grace

Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson
Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace

Timothy Pickles
Knight Commander of Merit with Star
-----

Knights of Ecclesiastical Grace:

Rev. Fr. William Farge, SJ
Rev. Fr. Michael Lankford-Stokes
Rev. Fr. David Skoblow, Esq.
------

Hon. Anita Bevaqua McBride
Dame of Merit with Star
-----

Knights and Dames of Merit:

Hon. Wayne Bacchus
Thomas Barra
Carol Berardi
Rocco Berardi
Nicholas Caiazzo
Aileen Mary Ann Shapiro Carlucci
Robert Edward Carlucci
Luisa Maria Cristofano
Nicholas Fedeli
Cav. Vincent Gangone
Rosanna Minervini
Joseph Panepinto, Sr.
Joseph Panepinto, Jr.
Mark Reynolds
Dr. Thomas Rossi
Debra Costa Turano

ROYAL ORDER OF FRANCIS I

Her Excellency Dr. Margaret Badum Melady
Dame Commander

Scott MacMillan of Rathdown
Knight Commander

MOTU PROPRIO APPOINTMENTS TO THE ORDER WILL BE RELEASED AT THE TIME OF THE INVESTITURE

 
We congratulate all members who will be admitted and all individuals who have been promoted by His Royal Highness for exemplary service to their community and dedication to the Order.

Celebrating Italian Heritage Month with the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

This year's honorees were Enzo Venuto, Maria & Vito Deserio, & Cav. John Napoli
Photos by Cav. Charles Sant'Elia, Lucrezia Nardulli and New York Scugnizzo

By Cav. John Napoli

Last week was very gratifying. My endeavors for the greater Duesiciliano (southern Italian) community were recognized by three different associations! Even though I’m not concerned with personal laurels, I am pleased to see that my hard work does not go unnoticed. The awards I received from the Associazione Amici di Totò and the Comitati Due Sicilie USA were for promoting Neapolitan culture and Compra Sud initiatives, but the honor I received Friday evening from the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata for spreading the faith made me especially proud.

Held at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, partygoers packed into the festively decorated auditorium for an evening of fellowship, music, dancing, and, of course, feasting. Impressively, trays of delicious homemade southern Italian fare, including Giovanna DiDonna’s merluzzo fritto, Lucrezia Nardulli’s polpo e piselli, and Vito Marinelli’s phenomenal scalcione spanned the length of the hall.

Festivities kicked off with the introduction of the society’s board of directors and the National Anthem. To everyones’s delight, young children performed a spirited traditional tarantella and guest appearances were made by the great Dante Alighieri and Cristoforo Colombo. Unable to hold back any longer, revelers delved into the amazing buffet, then worked off the meal with some dancing.

Happy and sated, the award ceremony got underway and the merits and strengths of the honorees were extolled. Congratulations to my fellow recipients, Maria and Vito Deserio, and Enzo Venuto. I’m honored to be counted among you.

During the award ceremony, our dear friend Lucrezia Nardulli was pleasantly surprised by members of the Figli di Santa Rosalia with a well-deserved award of her own. Bravo Lucrezia, you truly earned it!

The evening concluded with more dancing, coffee, dessert, and exciting raffle and 50/50 drawings.

Thank you to all the members of the Figli Maria SS. Addolorata for your customary warmth and hospitality. As always, you went above and beyond the call of duty. Special thanks to President Lucrezia Nardulli, Josephine DiDonna and JoAnn Marinelli for your unremitting dedication to our faith and culture. I’m eternally grateful for the friendship and love you have shown me over the years. 

I would also like to thank my friends from the St. Rocco Society of Potenza, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, the Circolo delle Due Sicilie USA, and the Figli di Santa Rosalia for your continuous support. It meant the world to me to share my special moment with you all. You are true friends.

Members of the Board and Color Guard stand for the National Anthem

Children dance the tarantella

(Left) Festive decorations adorn the auditorium.
 (Right) Western titans, Dante Alighieri and Cristoforo Colombo

(Above & below) Guests enjoyed a smorgasbord of southern Italian delights 

(Above & below) Local celebrities partake in the festivities.
Rossella Rago, host of Cooking with Nonna, and Andrew Giordano,
frontman of the Black Cats NYC, show their Due Sicilie pride

Marcantonio Pezzano, Francesca Cavaliere and Diana Marie Paunetto

Raw baby squid

Panzerotti

Vito Marinelli's famous Scalcione

Rosa Gentile's amazing Crostata di Pere

Members of the Figli di Santa Rosalia surprise Lucrezia with a plaque

(Above & below) A good time was had by all 

Enzo Venuto (fourth from left) with our friends from the Figli di Santa Rosalia

Our pals Cav. Vincent Gangone and Rosanna Minervini

Members of the St. Rocco Society of Potenza, Circolo delle Due Sicilie USA, and the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George show their support

Revelers trip the light fantastic

A Prayer for New York City

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the October 31st terror attacks in New York City and their families. May Saint Nicholas, Saint George and Our Lady of Ghisallo watch over you.

Prayer for Victims of Terrorism

Loving God, welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism. Comfort their families and all who grieve for them. Help us in our fear and uncertainty, and bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love. Strengthen all those who work for peace, and may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts. Amen.

Also see:
• A Prayer for the Victims in Las Vegas, Marseille and Edmonton
• A Prayer for Barcelona
• A Prayer for London
• A Prayer for Manchester
• A Prayer for the Church Bombing Victims in Egypt
• A Prayer for Stockholm
• A Prayer for St. Petersburg
• A Prayer for Westminster
• A Prayer for Berlin
• Requiescat in Pace: Fr. Jacques Hamel
• A Prayer for Nice
• A Prayer for Brussels
• Solidarité

New Book: 'Abruzzo' by Michael Kenna

New title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com

• Abruzzo by Michael Kenna

Publisher: Nazraeli Press, 1st edition
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Hardcover: $75.00
Language: English
Pages: 80

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