L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 From the director Another year together in the name of the Italian Heritage and the Italian American culture Cari Lettori, This year is coming to an end, and with this Special Edition preceding Christmas festivities we want to thank, once again, our loyal subscribers and our readers, constantly increasing in number, who also follow L'ItaloAmericano online. Since January, you have accompanied us in this long journey through the Year of the Italian Culture in the United States, rediscovering many aspects of the Italian heritage that we often bring with us - and inside us – sometimes without even realizing it and that, as Italian Americans, we pass on to our families and our community daily. We have placed emphasis on stories of recent or past immigration, stories of famous or common people who arrived in America and gradually integrated in the American society. We have celebrated the American Dream, which has often meant – and still means – personal and professional success thanks to greater opportunities that people can't find in Italy. At the same time, we have given much attention to the current news from Italy both in the Italian and English Sections, to contemporary expressions of the Italian culture and society in the fields of cinema, arts, sports, as well as in the high-standard business, cultural, and scientific environment of the adopted country, the U.S.A. I'm really excited to let you all know that recently we introduced four new columns: "All Around Italy" a travel column featuring advice for destinations around Italy including hotels, restaurants, and vacation tips. "Le Pasquinate" the new approach by Anthony Di Renzo to Italian politics and history. "La Settima Arte" (The Seventh Art), featuring biography, career highlights, movie industry news, and film reviews. "Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors" a monthly column that deals with uncovering information about immigrant ancestors from US Censuses and passenger manifests, determining their "original" Italian names, and finding their ancestral towns. Lastly, we introduced a fashion column available on our site, highlighting trends, collections and news among the most famous iconic Italian fashion designers. Our online presence is growing faster than we could ever imagine and we have reached now 100,000 unique visits a month and 25,000 pages of content, a milestone considering the site has only been launched less than a year ago. We encourage you to browse the many thousands pages of articles we produce every week, support your favorite publication, your loyalty is the most precious gift to us. Subscribing to the digital representation of L'Italo-Americano will not only support our mission but it will also support the journalistic enterprise and the in depth original news coverage that has been a trademark for L'Italo-Americano since 1908. Week after week, our project would like to focus on helping our readers to enhance their knowledge of past and present Italy and of our language, not only for its role in our historical heritage but also as a constant incentive for personal growth. The more the Italian community will be able to preserve those peculiar features that make Italians unique, different from all other people, and yet capable of appreciating foreign cultures and easily adapting to the American life, the more it will remain authentically Italian. This becomes more and more important as time goes by, as geographical and familiar roots fade away into the past, as the young generations lose contact with their parents', grandparents', or greatgrandparents' native land. Losing "biodiversity" would be an impoverishment and detrimental for all of us Italians, Italian Americans, and Americans. I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a joyful 2014. L'Italo-Americano www.italoamericano.com 15 Christmas comets and the Christmas Star Continued from page 1 divine sign guiding the magi in the right direction. But what is actually a comet? And what is its shining tail made of? Professor Marcello Coradini, member of the Italian team working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, planetologist, and Coordinator of the ESA (European Space Agency) Programs, explains that "At the beginning of the process that gave birth to the Solar System, gas and dusts inside the nebula coagulated to form lumps and were pushed to the edges. These lumps are the comets, made of ice - that is, frozen hydrogen and oxygen - and dusts. Because of their chemical composition they are subject to evaporation and sublimation, passing directly from the solid to the gas status, every time they get close to the sun. The output of these processes is blown by the solar wind, creating those gorgeous tails." Sometimes, due to the passage of a star or a particular conjunction of planets, they are pushed away and start orbit the sun. "The temperature increase can cause explosive sublimation and accelerate or decelerate the comet. Sometimes the burst is so intense that the core breaks into People watching the comet Lovejoy from Perth, Australia fragments," continues Professor Coradini. For those who still don't want to give up the magic of Christmas and have the right equipment, Lovejoy can be found not far from the Big Dipper in the Northern sky before dawn. Otherwise, we are still in time to decorate the Christmas three as Italians traditionally do on December 8 - and to arrange the nativity scene with our personal comet, wishing that it will light our way into the new year. Attention Clubs and Organizations! Your Calendar item submissions are welcome. Items are due no later than three weeks prior to the date of the event. They may be emailed to linda@italoamericano . All submissions must include: Event, date, time and address of the event, brief description, as well as a phone number or website for additional information. Subject to editor's review and space availability. Not all items submitted will be published. Dec. 15, Sun.-The Trentino Club of Southern California Christmas Gathering at Portofino Italian Restaurant (651 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra CA 90631). Cost is $25 p.p. Reservations required by Dec. 9. For information call Ann DePierro (714) 7756003. Dec. 15, Sun. - Saddleback Vally Lodge #2566 - Christmas Dinner Mission Viejo Country Club. 5PM - Dinner to include Primo e Secondo Piatti, Insalata, Dolce plus soft drink and coffee. Price $45.00. Reservations please call: Teresa at (949-830-0351. Dec. 15, Sun.-Families of Italian Lineage Christmas Gala Dinner Dance at Mission Viejo Country Club. It will feature a filet mignon dinner plus antipasto etc. Members $45, Non-members $55. For information call Venus at (949) 363-5348. Dec. 15. Sun.- Feast of Santa Lucia at St. Peter's Italian Church. Mass 11:00 am; Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana 1:00 pm. Reservations: 323-257-2182 Dec. 16, Mon.- ICF Br. 67 Christmas Party DATE CHANGED from Monday, Dec. 16th to Tuesday, Dec. 17th. See Dec. 17 calendar entry below. Dec. 17, Tues.-ICF Br. 67 Christmas Party at Casa Italiana. 6:30pm. Call to make your reservations. Complimentary Dinner. We will do a Potluck Dinner. Please call Nick D'Egidio (562) 9472819 or Teresa Thompson (323) 721-1673. Dec. 21, Sat.-Orange County American Italian Women (OCAIW) Annual Christmas Gathering, 11 a.m. at Mission Viejo Country Club (26200 Country Club Dr., Mission Viejo, tel. 949-582-1550). Cost $35.00 For information and reservations contact Lucy Gallo (949) 472-8218 or lugallo@cox.net Dec. 21 – Sat.- OCAIW Meeting - Mission Viejo Country Club (26200 Country Club Dr, Mission Viejo 92691) $35.00 Entertainment Alexandra Rupp accompanied by the Pazarro Brothers. Call: Lucy Gallo 949-472-8218 or Arline 949-786-7845 Dec. 25, Wed.-Christmas Day at St. Peter's Italian Church. Midnight Mass, 9:30 am (English); 11:00 am (Italian). NO EVENING MASS Dec. 31, Tues.-New Year's Eve Gala Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana. 6:30 pm Join us as we bring in the New Year. Reservations: 323-225-8119, ext. 10 Jan. 13, Mon.-Santo Padre Pio Society Dinner Meeting. 6:30 pm, Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, 90012). Vi prego di partecipare per una serata piacevole per stare con amici. Cost: $15 per person. For reservations and information please call the president Maria (818) 241-4672. Jan. 18, Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Jan. 18 – Sat.- OCAIW Meeting - Marie Callenders (15363 Culver Dr, Irvine 92604) $25.00 White Elephant. Call: Lucy Gallo 949472-8218 or Arline 949-786-7845 Jan. 18, Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Jan 19, Sun.-Santo Padre Pio Society Rosary at St. Peter's Italian Church (1039 N. Broadway, Los Angeles) 10:30am. For information call President Maria Bruno at (818) 241-4672. Jan 19, Sun.-Santo Padre Pio Society Rosary at St. Peter's Italian Church (1039 N. Broadway, Los Angeles) 10:30am. For information call President Maria Bruno at (818) 241-4672. Jan. 26, Sun.-POINTers (Italian genealogy group)-Luncheon 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Raffaello Ristorante (400 South Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731). For reservations and information call Diane at (310) 645-9442.

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