L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D e a r R e a d e r s , " T o o t ! T o o t ! " - That's me, tooting m y o w n h o r n . I began writing for L'Italo- A m e r i c a n o i n m i d - 1 9 7 7 , forty-five years ago. As 2022 begins let me pass on some good advice and January jottings to you. *** A d v i c e f o r t h e N e w Year: Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. *** Astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth (1962) passed away in December 2016 at age 95. This reminds me once again that the accomplishments of our modern-day astronauts a n d t h e i r v o y a g e w e r e undertaken with the backup o f t h o u s a n d s , b o t h i n personnel, technology, and m o n e y . " T o m e , t h e r e a l pioneers of travel were our fathers and mothers and our grandparents who left their isolated and obscure villages to begin a journey to what was, for them, like another planet. To a world thousands of miles away, they set out w i t h n o m o n e y a n d t h e added burden of not being able to read or speak one of the world's most difficult languages." The fact that we are here, literate, and able to read our c o p y o f L ' I t a l o - A m e r i c a n o , f o u n d e d i n 1 9 0 8 , r e p r e s e n t s a n O l d World dream fulfilled and honored. By supporting the e f f o r t s o f o u r I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n p r e s s a n d o u r Italian cultural groups we c a n h e l p a s s u r e t h a t o u r children will never forget what our modern-day media has ignored, neglected or distorted, and that is the h i s t o r y a n d b r i l l i a n c e o f Italian gifts to the civilization of the world. *** January is named after the Roman two-faced god Janus. This New Year, 2022 is a new chance. A chance to try something new. A chance to bring a smile to someone's face. A chance to be part of something wonderful and e x c i t i n g . A c h a n c e t o r e m e m b e r o l d q u o t e s i n Italian and English and try to infuse their essence into our daily lives: "Fa male e pensaci, fa bene e scordati." "I expect to pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." *** T h e C l o c k o f L i f e i s wound but once And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop, At late, or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, and toil with will. P l a c e n o f a i t h i n tomorrow. For the clock may then be still. *** A g n e l l i , G i o v a n n i - " G i a n n i " - t h e s y m b o l o f almost a century of Italian industrial history died in J a n u a r y 2 0 0 3 . G i o v a n n i Agnelli was born in Torino, March 12, 1921. His father died tragically in an airplane accident in 1935. He married M a r e l l a C a r a c c i o l o d i Castagnetto in 1953 and took over as director of FIAT in 1966 when he was 45 years of age. *** Directions for a Happy New Year: To leave the old with a burst of song; to recall the right and forgive the wrong. To forget the things that bind you fast to the vain regrets of the year that's past. To have the strength to let go your hold of the not worthwhile of the days grown old. To dare go forth with a purpose true, to the unknown task of the year that's new. To help you brother along the road, to do his work and lift his load. To add your gift to the world's good cheer is to have and to g i v e a H a p p y N e w Year...and Healthy one too. By Sor Mary Gemma *** T h e f i r s t I t a l i a n American elected Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. was inaugurated in January 1 9 8 4 . T h e f i r s t I t a l i a n A m e r i c a n M a y o r o f S a n Francisco, California, Angelo R o s s i ( 1 8 7 8 - 1 9 4 8 ) w a s elected in January 1931. G i a c o m o B e l t r a m i (1779-1955) who discovered the source of the Mississippi R i v e r a n d w a s t h e f i r s t e x p l o r e r t o r e a c h t h e D a k o t a s , d i e d i n J a n u a r y 1855. Helping Hands are best found at the end of your own arms. Imperial Roman coinage began January 16, 27 BC, the day Octavian, conqueror of Marc Anthony, was named Emperor Augustus. Julius Caesar was the first living Roman to appear on a coin. Roman coins were struck by hand, so each is unique. Three people were required to make each coin. R o m a n c o i n s w e r e m a d e f r o m g o l d , s i l v e r , b r a s s , bronze, and copper. *** Looking Back...In January 1880, C h a r l e s B a r s o t t i founded the first daily Italian n e w s p a p e r i n t h e U S , I l P r o g r e s s o , a n d i n 1 8 3 3 , Paul Amati was the first I t a l i a n t o l a n d w i t h t h e c o l o n i s t s a t C h a r l e s t o n , South Carolina. Fr. Joseph N e r i , t h e f i r s t p r i e s t ordained in old St. Mary's Church in San Francisco, California, invented carbon l i g h t s i n 1 8 7 4 , a n d illuminated San Francisco's Market Street with them in 1 8 7 6 , e i g h t y e a r s b e f o r e E d i s o n i n v e n t e d t h e incandescent lamp. In 1839, Bishop Giuseppe Rosati founded the first school for t h e d e a f i n t h e U S . I n January 1931, the first Italian A m e r i c a n m a y o r o f S a n Francisco, Angelo Rossi, was elected.

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