NOVEMBER 2006
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Happy Thanksgiving
This month we celebrate VETERANS DAY, the time to salute all veterans of all the wars and say THANK YOU for defending our freedom yesterday. Our prayers are with our young men and women who are continuing to defend our freedom today.
Our 25th Anniversary Celebration is just a few days away. If you have not made your reservations - call Gene LaColla – 703 246 9464 – today. There will be NO tickets sold at the door. This is your lodge and we need your support.
The news on Brother Paul Agosta continues to be inspiring. We hope that by the time you read this newsletter, he will be home regaining his strength and on the road to recovery. Continue to keep him in your prayers as he still must undergo chemo and radiation in the near future. As Susan keeps repeating, “We are going to kick cancer’s butt.” We have missed you, Paul.
November is the month that the nominating committee for the upcoming election is formed. This year the committee is comprised of Fred Michaelangelo, John Asiello and Tony Finocchiaro. If you receive a call from one of these people, consider saying “YES”.
Our Christmas party is just 6 weeks away. December 9 is the night that LaBafana and Santa Claus will be stopping by our lodge meeting. If you are bringing children, grand children or friends 12 or under, please contact John Asiello – 703 321 7840 – so that Santa will have a gift for them. We ask that all children bring a gift to be delivered to the Hospital for Sick Children; adults are welcome to contribute gifts for the hospital also. We will be collecting money for the family that we will be “adopting” for Christmas. We will get the family from ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others) and provide them with the fixings for Christmas dinner and a small gift for each member of the family.
Fraternally,
Dot
ITALIAN HERITAGE LODGE 2517 - OFFICERS
President Dot Saia Lodge Trustees
703 978 8499 Anthony Finocchiaro -- Bob Maida
Vice-President Joe LaMarca Art Moscatello -- Phil Traina
703 475 6962 Yolanda Pelosi
Imm Past President Omero Sabatini Master/Mistress of Ceremonies
703 931 5054 VACANT
Orator Frank Marcinkowski Sr. Marge Finocchiaro
703 323 8447 Sentinel – John Dovel
Recording Secy Dolores Marcinkowski Membership Chair:
703 323 8447 Bob Maida ()
Financial Secy Jo Lowe Members on the Grand Lodge
703 449 0682 Jo Vidiri Nunnenkamp – 1st V-P
Treasurer Gene LaColla 703 556 0094
703 246 9464 John Asiello, Trustee (703 321 7840)
La Bandiera Editor:
Paul Alligood, 703 848 1758 - 1908 Youngblood St., McLean, Va. 22101
Visit our lodge website at WWW.ITALIANHERITAGELODGE.ORG (upper case added for emphasis – not required on the address line). Check the website for breaking news between newsletter editions.
FUTURE LODGE EVENTS
November 5 Lodge 25th Anniversary Celebration 1:00PM Amer Legion, Springfield
December 9 Christmas Party Santa/La Befana 7:00PM At KofC
January 6 Lodge Meeting 7:00PM At KofC
January 17 Council Meeting Fairfax Library 7:00PM
ANNIVERSARY MEETING NOV. 5 – CHRISTMAS PARTY DEC. 9
Don’t forget that Sunday, November 5, is the date for our anniversary celebration at the American Legion in Springfield. Details were published in last month’s newsletter. If you haven’t made your reservations, call Gene LaColla at 703 246 9464. The anniversary celebration will take the place of the regular general membership meeting for November.
The holidays are looming. Our Christmas party will be held December 9 at the KofC. If you plan to bring children, send John Asiello their names and ages so age-appropriate gifts can be purchased for them. John’s e-mail is ; his phone number is 703 321 7840.
LODGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
The LUNCH BUNCH will not meet during the months of November or December. See the January newsletter for the next place, time and date.
Tickets will still be available on Nov 5 before the drawing for the “Italian Angel” created by Susan Agosta and donated to the lodge to use as a fund raiser. The price is $1.00 per ticket or 6 for $5.00.
Check the website, italianheritagelodge.org. It now has pictures and is updated every week.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Andrea Savoca Nov. 6 Gloria Grandinetti Nov. 14
Kathryn Vitali Nov. 7 Anthony Finocchiaro Nov. 20
Joseph Onofrietti Nov. 13 Lilda Lando Nov. 21
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
Paul and Susan Agosta Nov. 6
Peter and Janine Andriole Nov. 9
Steven and Ann Lipton Nov. 30
Carl and Millie Malm
BOWLING
There is no bowling scheduled for November or December. Watch the newsletter or website for the next event.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE LEARNING GROUP MEETING
The next meeting of our combined Italian language conversation group will be on Saturday, November 11, at 5PM at Irene Didinsky’s in Potomac, Md. As always, all are welcome. Please contact Betsy Mignani, , 703 830 7699, and let her know which food item you plan to bring for the meal. Directions to the meeting site will be provided. Remember that there is no lodge membership meeting that evening in lieu of the anniversary celebration held the previous Sunday.
25th Anniversary
Italian Heritage Lodge #2517
Program
Reception and Cocktails
1:00 to 2:00 PM
Invocation and Dinner
2:00 PM to 3:15
Program and Presentations
3:15 to 3:30
Social Continues
3:30 to 4:00 PM
Menu
Mediterranean Salad
Fruit Salad
Baked Salmon
Lemon Chicken Breast
Garlic Parsley Potatoes
Tortellini Alfredo
Medley of Vegetables
Zucchini with Parmesan Cheese
Desserts
Assorted Desserts and Anniversary Cake
Beverages
Freshly Brewed Columbian and Decaffeinated Coffees,
Assorted Herbal Teas, Traditional and Regular.
Regular and Diet Sodas, Water and Ice Tea.
Open Bar
Beer, Wine and Distilled Spirits with Appropriate Mixers.
DIRECTIONS TO AMERICAN LEGION POST 176
6520 AMHERST AVE.
SPRINGFIELD, VA. 22150
From 395 North:
South to Exit 169 B – Old Keene Mill
Make immediate right off the ramp on Brandon Ave.
Make a left at first intersection, Bland Street
Second light is Amherst, make left and go over the bridge
American Legion is at the bottom of the bridge on the right hand side – look for the flags
From 495:
Take 95 South Exit and follow directions above
From 395 South:
Go North to Backlick Rd. Exit, follow Backlick
Stay left when road forks and follow past Jennings Toyota on left
American Legion is next building on left hand side
Turn left into parking lot
Do not go over bridge
From Fairfax County Parkway:
Take Backlick Exit and follow directions above
From Springfield / Old Keene Mill Rd:
Follow Old Keene Mill and turn right on Springfield Ave. (just before the signs to 395 between Mobil station and the dentist building)
Follow straight ahead into American Legion parking lot
ITALIAN-AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS
There are nearly 15 million people who identified themselves as Italian-American in the 1990 census. The Census Bureau estimates that 1 out of 10 Americans has some Italian blood, bringing the total number of Americans of Italian descent to 26 million.
Italian-Americans are the fifth largest ethnic group in the U. S., according to the Census. The four larger groups are: the Germans, Irish, English and African-Americans.
Italian-Americans either make up 15% of the population or number more than 1 million in the following states:
California – 1,500,000 Connecticut – 650,000 Massachusetts – 845,000
New Jersey – 1,500,000 New York – 2,900,000 Pennsylvania – 1,400,000
Rhode Island – 200,000
From The Alfano Digest