L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 W h e n w e r e c e i v e d h e r s u b s c r i p t i o n renewal form, we were charmed by t h e w o n d e r f u l message she added in her delicate blue script. We smiled happy, in the newsroom, rewarded for every little sacrifice, more motivated to create an even better newspaper. But we were really touched. Because receiving more than a simple encouragement to work well is, indeed, touching. It's beautiful to know that every day, while we seek and find original content to keep strong our special, 110- years-old bond with the Italian-American community, you, our special readers, are there, too. Special, not only because you choose us, because you've adopted us and sup- port us generously. You are special because you are the very reason L'Italo-Americano was born, in 1908, and it kept being published, issue after issue, through different decades, changes, eras and societies. You've always been there, and there you remained, beside L'Italo-Americano: you, a bit Italian and a bit American, you changed too, but without for- getting the importance of keeping your foot in two shoes, one A million thanks to subscribers like you, Natalia From the director in the Belpaese, the other in the place you chose as a home on this side of the pond. You can be more American sometimes, more entrenched in the traditions and habits of your ances- tral home some others, and it's ok both ways, because it's amazing and enriching. Renouncing to a part of you is never an advantage. Dear readers , receiving Natalia's kind words recharged us, it gave us more enthusiasm and an eagerness to hold on and be strong, an eagerness that sometimes weak- ens and struggles with the many difficulties we encounter in bringing forward our mission. Because it's a difficult mission indeed, in spite of our enthusiasm and our energy. Those words made us feel better, like when you're down and a smile gives you new courage and can make the differ- ence between biting the bullet and giving up. Keeping this newspaper going is more than publishing it. It means carry- ing on with something that was started over a century ago, in a world far removed from us so much, in time and nature that, when we think of it, it is like watching a black and white movie. Still, if you look at the way it truly is, if you look at its substance, you'll find plenty of similarities: there was a need to create and live the community, which is still present today; an eagerness to be together, to support one another and face difficulties, as well as sharing the roots, habits, tradi- tions, language and culture we share with the Belpaese. Yesterday, just like today — and as it's typical of everyday's life — things can get a tad rougher and obstacles more diffi- cult to overcome, costs seem to win over all our efforts and, at times, you may just ask yourself where to find the strength to go on. We've recently launched Ciao Sicilia, our traditional raf- fle to support L'Italo-Americano's finances. You know it: this raffle is a huge source of financial sustenance for us. 12 dollars may seem nothing but, ticket after ticket, they can guarantee we can keep on standing beside the community. Because every time we resist, we do so because we leave no space for selfishness: it shouldn't be only the Italian- American community to pay. Natalia's words felt like a gentle embrace, an invite to never give up. You see, if a lovely and gentle woman of a hun- dred years of age tells us she will subscribe again next year, it doesn't only mean that our newspaper is important for what it does and what it represents. It also means that in you, the Italian-Americans who've been reading this newspapers for years, maybe even generations, we can find the beauty and the strength of our origins, the same spirit of adventure that led million of migrants across the ocean, without even knowing what they were going to find. We can find resilience against the difficulties of an entirely new and unknown world. But there's something else, something very important especially today, in a time made even more difficult by Covid- 19: hope and trust in the future. C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, rightly said that "you are never too old to reach another goal nor to dream another dream." In an impeccable Italian, with refined and powerful words, la signora Natalia didn't only announce her new subscription, but also the hope to renew it next year, when the candles on the cake will be 101. How can we not thank her with all our heart for the message she sent us, filled with hope, and how can we not wish to all Italian-Americans to preserve her enthusiasm for life and her strength, her will to protect, even through L'Italo-Americano, her heritage and culture, and the need to be pro-active part of the West Coast's Italian-American community. This issue is dedicated to you: cento volte grazie, cara Natalia! Simone Schiavinato, Director NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italiana all'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano 610 West Foothill Blvd. Unit D, Monrovia, CA 91016 - Tel.: (626) 359-7715 PLEASE SEND CORRESPONDENCE TO P.O. BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian newspaper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale DIRECTOR/EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Giudici SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Accardi Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Joel Mack, Paula Reynolds, Nicoletta Curradi, GenerosoD'Agnese, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Alfonso Guerriero Jr., Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio © 2020 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano PO Box 6528 Altadena, CA 91003

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