L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 7 Amici d'Italia: Sharing Italian heritage and Building Community Heritage is a precious thing. From our parents and grandpar- ents, we learn who we are and w h y o u r c u l t u r a l i d e n t i t y i s important. Sharing family tradi- tions and memories is crucial to forming a bond between old and new generations. Unfortunately, the years pass and along with them go the peo- ple who hold the brightest mem- ories, leaving us with only shad- ows of those experiences. As the generations move along, the traditions and family stories become watered down and ulti- mately forgotten. This situation is precisely what drives ethnic organizations to exist – they offer an environ- ment where people can share and strengthen their traditions and culture. In 1980, after spending some months in Italy on a post col- lege internship, Jeff Baffaro and his wife, Andrea, decided to gather their friends and explore t h e i d e a o f s t a r t i n g a n e w I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n c l u b . T h e group of young adults and fami- lies were looking for a club that provided a deeper connection to their heritage that included their beloved Italian-American tradi- tions and history, as well as the language, history and culture of Italy. The new group included a mix of native Italians and sec- ond/third generation Italian- Americans. They all agreed on their purpose, "to preserve and promote the Italian and Italian- American heritage, culture and h i s t o r y f o r t h e I t a l i a n - Americans of this community," making it their formal mission statement. The next order of b u s i n e s s w a s t o d e c i d e o n a name. "The name, Amici d'Italia, w a s a u n a n i m o u s d e c i s i o n , " remembers Jeff. "It communi- cated the group's relationship to Italy past and present." F a t h e r A l d o , p r i e s t o f S t . Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, the Italian National Parish of Portland, volunteered the church as a permanent loca- t i o n f o r c l u b m e e t i n g s a n d events. The original members expanded their numbers with friends, relatives and outreach t h r o u g h o t h e r l o c a l c l u b s , churches, and the Italian lan- guage program at Portland State University. By 1981, the Amici d'Italia had incorporated as a non-profit organization with officers, by- laws and a stable residence, and the group set out to fulfill its mission of educating the com- munity about Italy's heritage, culture and history – and cui- sine! The first major event was a ravioli-making lesson offered to the public. One of the mem- b e r s t e a m e d u p w i t h F a t h e r Aldo - an accomplished Italian cook - and turned the church h a l l i n t o a r a v i o l i f a c t o r y . Shortly thereafter, one of the native Italian members began teaching a basic Italian language course, complete with textbook. Then came a cascade of more cooking classes, mountain trips mushroom picking, and tastings at local wineries. One of the most successful events was the very popular "Night in Italy" wine tasting. Teaming up with a local distributor, the Amici offered an inexpensive way to enjoy and learn about regional wines, accompanied by Italian imported cheeses, bread and sausage. " A m i c i d ' I t a l i a q u i c k l y became a medium to unite the generations of families as well as an effective means to intro- duce Italian Americans to their local native-born peers," Jeff shares. For many years, the Amici hosted an Italian conversation group called Il Circolo Italiano, w h i c h m e t o n c e a m o n t h . Although not currently active, many have expressed an interest to bring it back. Initially started by a younger crowd, the Amici have aged a bit over the years. In 2011, they celebrated their 30th anniver- s a r y b y p u b l i s h i n g " A m i c i d'Italia 1981-2011: Ricette e Ricordi," a cookbook stuffed full of family recipes, memories and photographs. The celebra- tion included a well-attended reunion dinner. True to their name, the Amici have always strived to work with other Italian clubs. Club members continue to volunteer w i t h t h e F e s t a I t a l i a n a Association and the Columbus Day Dinner Dance every year. In 2012, the Amici assisted the Tuscan Association of Oregon with their annual Festa della Befana. As a result, the two groups unite each year to pre- sent the annual event and the f e s t a h a s b e c o m e a b e l o v e d favorite, attended by more than 50 children and their families. Regular meetings occur on the first Thursday night of each month. Other favorite events include the annual summer pic- nic and bocce tournament, the I t a l i a n c o m m u n i t y p i c n i c a t Club Paesano and the annual Christmas potluck in December. A l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r n e w ways to share Italian heritage, the Amici are spearheading an Italian memorial project at St. Michael's Catholic Church, and are planning their very first St. Joseph's Table celebration in March 2016. "I came from a large Sicilian- A m e r i c a n f a m i l y i n L A a n d arrived in Portland in 1978. My immediate family was here but my extended family was not, and I missed that Italian con- n e c t i o n , " s h a r e s l o n g - t i m e m e m b e r J u l i a L o y a c a n o . "Someone suggested I call St. M i c h a e l ' s t o f i n d a n I t a l i a n organization, and that started something that became a very important part of my life. I met new friends that I had some- thing in common with. The Amici has become my extended Italian family here in Portland a n d I h a v e m a d e m a n y d e a r friends." I may be a chef, but every school year, I wig out organiz- ing the lunchboxes of my culi- nary demanding children. I g r e w u p i n I t a l y w h e r e school is only in the mornings, and every student comes back home around 1:30pm and sits down for his hearty and warm Italian lunch. The only food we would eat in-between meals, was a snack d u r i n g r e c e s s , w h i c h , i n m y case, consisted of a sandwich made with two slices of artisan bread and stracchino, or – even better – a few slices of prosciut- to, homemade by my parents. Of course, at the time I was jealous of the dull commercial snacks that many of my friends b r o u g h t t o s c h o o l . T o d a y , I would spend serious money for one of those homemade sand- wiches my mother used to give me. I t w a s o n l y f o r t h e r a r e daytrips that we packed a meal. On those occasions, you would commonly see omelet or fried chicken sandwiches. With this personal history, I face today's lunchbox challenge. I purchased a multitude of c o l o r e d c o n t a i n e r s t h a t inevitably disappear in just a couple of months and will need to be replaced. Every evening (or at sunrise!) I have to squeeze my creativity to come up with something to stuff into those containers. To make things more diffi- cult, my kids have inherited a certain reluctance towards cold sandwiches. You might ask, "What about the school cafeteria?" Yes, of course, my kids are American, but deep inside they are also spoiled Italian boys. All they eat at the cafeteria is yogurt and fruit and then come home and spend two hours describing the 'horrible' alternatives. So this year the boys are eat- ing pizza on Monday; mine- s t r o n e o n T u e s d a y ; p a s t a o n W e d n e s d a y ; m e a t b a l l s w i t h peas on Thursday; and broccoli and omelet on Friday. When does school get out? KERRY-LYNNE DEMARINIS BROWN STEFANIA TOSCANO A small group of the Amici d'Italia gathered for a photo at the February 2015 meeting to commemorate the last meeting at St. Michael's Catholic Church before the church closes for restoration An Italian Mother in the Land Of Lunchboxes Apr. 18, Sat. – Club Paesano's Annual Spring Dance, Cedarville Park, 3800 E. Powell Loop in Gresham. Gates open at 5:00pm, din- ner begins at 7:00pm, music and dancing from 8-11:00pm. Tickets $15.00. For information, contact Marc Battilega, metromarine@mac.com Apr. 19, Sun. – Tuscan Association of Oregon monthly meeting at 3:30pm in Carvlin Hall, St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, SE 16th and Division in Portland. For information, contact Jimmie Moglia at jimmie.moglia@gmail.com Apr. 19, Sun. – Italian Hour on KBOO 90.7 FM from 9:00 to 10:00am. Hosts Lucia Galiza, Andrea Scasso and Robert Iannacone play contemporary and classic Italian music. Featuring news of the local Italian community. Listen online at www.kboo.fm Apr. 21, Tues. – Italian Memorial Window Committee meeting at 7:00pm in Balestra Hall, St. Michael the Archangel Church, 424 SW Mill Street in Portland. For information, contact Kerry-Lynne Demarinis Brown at difamiglia@aol.com May 4, Mon. – UNICO-Portland presents "Dolci Lunedì" (Sweet Monday) at 7:00pm in First Covenant Church, 4433 E. Burnside St., Portland. Italian desserts and beverages; entertainment by Beth Donnelly, Doug Feller, and John English. Tickets $10. For more information, contact Walter Pozarycki at wpoz@comcast.net Packing daily school lunches is always a challenge, especially when your children are spoiled by homemade dishes like Italian spaghetti with clams!

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