L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 H appy New Year to all our read- ers! As we enter 2 0 2 4 , w e ' r e excited to cele- brate the 116th anniversary of L'Italo Americano, the oldest and most enduring publi- cation serving the Italian-Amer- i c a n c o m m u n i t y a c r o s s t h e United States. Since its incep- tion in 1908, our newspaper has continuously celebrated and given a voice to our vibrant community, covering its rich culture, history, language, tradi- tions, artistic heritage, and landscapes. We've always shone a light on the individuals who make up this diverse group: Ital- ians, Italian Americans, and those of Italian descent. We encourage you to keep supporting us: whether you prefer the print or digital edition, or if you follow us on social media, your engagement is invaluable. Read our articles in Italian and use the accompanying translations to pick up new phrases and expand your vocabulary. Experiment with regional recipes, uncover secrets of your favorite traditional dishes, and try recre- ating that memorable pasta or dessert you had in Italy. Engage Dear Readers, Happy 2024 from L'Italo Americano! From the Editor with our Italian crosswords and Let L'Italo Americano be your window into all things Italian, connecting you with the Italy of yesterday and today. Spread the word among your Italophile friends: they're sure to discover new facets of the country they adore or wish to visit. Bring our paper into your circles and promote it, because by keeping this beacon of Italian identity alive, we continue to cherish and defend our rich, mil- lennia-old culture. A culture that has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of this country, a land that has warmly welcomed millions of immigrants and their descendants from Italy. Our newspaper, easily accessible in your living room chair, in Italian class, or online on your smartphone or social media, is a cost-effective way to maintain a connection with a surname that means much more than a string of letters: it may represent a courageous journey across the Atlantic, a quest for fortune in diverse jobs, from mining towns to bustling cities, braving the cold of the north or the Mediterranean warmth of California, enduring hardships, and finally finding prosperity and peace. It's a tale of overcoming poverty, ignorance, and prejudice, marked by resilience, determination, and talent. Choose L'Ita- lo Americano for yourself, and share it with your friends and family to reinforce the bonds within our star-spangled Italian- American community. The Italian government has announced 2024 as the "Year of Roots Tourism," signaling a strong commitment to tourism that echoes the increasing eagerness among people of Italian descent to reconnect with their cultural roots. This initiative is not just an immediate boost for tourism, it's also a deeper, longer-term cultural investment. It forges stronger links between the past and present, and between Italy and the USA, effectively bridging two worlds that are simultaneously distant and close. Through "Roots Tours," Italian descendants abroad are offered a unique chance to explore Italy, turning their fami- ly's cultural legacy, long held in their imaginations, into a jour- ney of personal discovery and lasting love for their heritage. This is exactly what L'Italo Americano does: it helps you reconnect with your Italian roots or build new connections to your Italian heritage. It takes you on a beautiful journey that combines geography, history, and culture. A journey that spans from north to south, unveiling the environmental, historical, architectural, and artistic gems of towns and cities across the country. It also shares captivating anecdotes and legends, and it even delves into the etymology of words, revealing the hidden stories behind places, cuisines, and social customs. Our corre- spondents, both in Italy and across the West Coast communi- ties, from San Diego to Vancouver, tirelessly piece together a beautiful mosaic that narrates the stories of Italian-Americans, both past and present. They explore the essence of "Made in Italy," the many worlds of Italian creativity and science. They write about old stories of migration but also about those who, today, leave Italy to make a new home here, or about Americans, whether connected to Italy or not, who fall head over heels for Italy and change their life's course, leaving everything behind in pursuit of happiness or fortune in the Belpaese. In short, use L' Italo Americano and its rich, centuries-old history as a starting point or the continuation of your journey to Italy, let it be the beginning of the rediscovery of your roots, and the family heritage you've inherited—of which you are now the bearer. Then, venture forth with confidence and boundless curiosity to explore the world of those "fellow countrymen" who embarked on third-class journeys and sent back only faded postcards. Discover the ancestral homes of your grandparents, who continued to send money to their Italian relatives and cooked up Sicilian or Venetian recipes. Or, revisit the city your parents — who found work, a home, and a future here in the West — originated from and where they may have left a part of their hearts. It's bound to be an astonishing adventure! Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano 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 news- paper 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 EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 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 P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003

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