BURLINGTON SONS OF ITALY LODGE 2223

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Cari fratelli e sorelle,

The year 2011 is in the history books and now we’re in the bleakest part of the year, winter 2012. With short days and long, cold nights along with incredible heating bills, I can’t wait for spring to come along. I’m very grateful we’ve had so many ‘balmy’ days recently, except for a few ‘nuisance’ snow storms which, no matter how little snow, still needs to be shoveled away!

By the time this newsletter comes to you, Ground Hog Day will have taken place and I’m hopeful Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring. Of course we have a few members who will be in Florida with no cold and snow to worry about. Oh well, someone has to make the ‘sacrifice’ and be there…J

Our lodge had its January council meeting and several items were discussed and presented to the lodge during our January Meeting. For those who were unable to attend, following is a very brief review of the subjects discussed:

The Italian Classes Program at this writing has 64 students, with thanks to Phil D’Alleva who publicized the offering just about everywhere. Also, thanks to Dan DiTucci, St. Margaret’s once again will allow us to use their classrooms at no charge. This is an enormous PLUS for our treasury. Thanks to Phil and Dan!

We discussed dwindling membership and possible incentives for our members to find and bring in new members. Marie Patrick will come up with incentive ideas.

Our wine tasting event will be held on April 13^th at the American Legion on Winn Street. Further details will be forthcoming from our chairperson Jo Fernandez and Joanne Margi. We’re hopeful of duplicating our 2011 success and also hope to obtain the same donations as we did then from the same local businesses.

Our regular June meeting will be at the Billerica Elks for a cookout. It’ll be very different and sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun with lots of hot food from the grill! As of the moment Pat Moreno has ‘volunteered’ to do the cooking!

Our annual Christmas dinner was discussed and will once again be held at Lucia’s unless someone can come up with an alternate location that provides Italian food as wonderful as Lucia’s and is within a price we can afford. So far we’ve not be able to find a restaurant as accommodating and affordable.

The council also suggested we ask every member for a $20 donation in order to supplement our scholarship fund. The last time we did this a couple of years ago we raised over $1,000 thanks to our generous members. I’m hoping we can do it again. Please send your checks to me at 206 Fox Hill Road in Burlington, 01803, made out to Burlington Sons of Italy Lodge 2223, or bring them to the next meeting. Remember, the donation is tax-deductible!

Meanwhile, we do NOT have a dinner/dance on our calendar for this October due to a lack of a committee to put plans in place. Last year’s dinner/dance was an OUTSTANDING social event with rave reviews from everyone. If you’d like to pitch in and get involved in running an event, let me know. It can be both fun and very rewarding. It’s a great experience. We need your participation and leadership. We can’t depend on the SAME people every time.

Some happenings for our March meeting: we’ll be initiating a couple of new members and also inviting the parents of our Junior Lodge members to join us after our regular monthly meeting to socialize over coffee and dessert and get to know what the Sons of Italy lodge is all about. It’s our hope they may become interested in joining our lodge.

On the 28^th of March, as part of the Italian Exchange Program, the Italian kids from Cles (near the Austrian border in northeast Italy) will once again be in town. We hope to have an ice cream get-together with them along with the Junior Lodge at St. Margaret’s School Hall while they are here. As such events in the past have been, we’re looking forward to having a wonderful evening with them.

Carol Nappa has been doing an outstanding job with the interesting monthly newsletter. BUT, like everything else, it’s only as good as the information it contains and she NEEDS interesting stories, Italian history, jokes, recipes, trip reports, etc. Please send her items for publication to keep our newsletter interesting and the very best newsletter within our Massachusetts Grand Lodge.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00. I’m very aware it is winter and getting to meetings is often difficult, but I’m hopeful our unseasonably snow-free winter continues and everyone is able to attend. Please make every effort to attend. No matter the agenda, it’s ALWAYS a good night out to enjoy the company of your fellow lodge members.

Have a happy St. Valentine’s Day and stay warm and healthy!

Ciao! Don McGowan------781-272-0529

CARNAVALE VENEZIANO - GRAND LODGE

INSIDE STUFF…..- Submitted by Pat Moreno

So much preoccupation…another meeting Friday night…Tony could not meet on Monday, out of the Country. Must get the Gondola to the hall…how?...when? Can the multi-media projector loop? With enough guests the caterer promises an extra entrée. Will there be espresso? Masks and beads everywhere…costumes too. Will the Consul himself come? All of the G. L. Council with Jim…a raffle. Irene is doing the foyer…water, Venice. Centerpieces, orchestra, Italian, great prizes…Wow…the best ever! People with preoccupation nearly always get the best results.

It’s not fair to keep a grand celebration secret. So……………………

Saturday evening, February 18, the Grand Lodge, Sons of Italy will lay at one’s feet a sumptuous and most colorful celebration of Carnevale Veneziano.

A carefully sculpted dinner with distinct wines, lively tunes for dancing and decorations above and beyond, will provide for discriminating festivities.

Come, be Venetian for an evening! Don a disguise and win a prize or come as you are.

Good authority promises a most memorable evening.

Stuzzichini at 6:30 pm.

Celebrities and important persons from all Italian organizations will make merry.

Dance and see a spectacle at the Watertown Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street.

Donations are $50.00 per dream.

Call Pat quickly at 781-272-5375

Sounds Like Organic, BUT…..many people confuse these claims with the real (certified organic) thing. Here’s the lowdown on the lingo!

NATURAL----On meat and poultry, this indicates that no artificial flavorings or colorings were added and that the cut was not irradiated to reduce bacteria, but it doesn’t tell you anything about how the animal was raised. On products outside the meat case, the tern is undefined (and unregulated), so it doesn’t mean anything.

FREE RANGE------When you see this term on chicken and eggs, it means that the bird has had access to the outdoors. But the USDA doesn’t regulate how much time chickens must spend there or what kind of surface it must be (it could be cement).

LOCALLY GROWN…..Can you define “nearby”? Neither can federal regulators—there’s no standard for descriptions of how far food has traveled to reach your store. It’s also important to remember that not all organize food is locally grown, nor is all locally grown food organic—even the vegetables and fruit you see at farmers’ markets.

JEWISH NEWLYWEDS – submitted by Mary Ann Russo
A young Jewish couple got married and went on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother. "Well", said her mother, "so how was the honeymoon?" "Oh mama", she replied, "The honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic"... Suddenly she burst out crying. "But, mama, as soon as we returned,
Sam started using the most horrible language -- things I'd never heard before! I mean, all these awful four-letter words! You've got to take me home!! PLEASE MAMA!" "Sarah, Sarah", her mother said, "calm down!
You need to stay with your husband and work this out. Now, tell me, what could be so awful? WHAT four-letter words?" "Please don't make me tell you, mama," wept the daughter. "I'm so embarrassed, they're just too awful! COME GET ME, PLEASE!!" "Darling, baby, you must tell me what has you so upset. Tell your mother these horrible four-letter words!" Sobbing, the bride said, "Oh, Mama..., he used words like: "DUST, WASH, IRON, and COOK... "I'll pick you up in twenty minutes," said her mother.

(con’t on last page)

FEBRUARY, 2012 BAKERS

Toni Faria, Jean Berardi, Carmelina D’Alleva, Anna McGowan, and Lola Lombardo.

As always, thank you to all our bakers for providing us with delicious treats at every meeting.

Fran & Pauline

FAST FIXES FOR WINTER CAR PROBLEMS – From First Magazine, Dec. 2011

De-Ice Locks---with hand-sanitizer!

The simple fix for a frozen-shut car lock: Squirt hand sanitizer gel onto your key, pump the key in and out of the lock several times, and then slowly, without forcing it, try turning the key. Repeat until the lock opens. Why this works: Most hand sanitizers are at least 60 percent alcohol, the main ingredient in commercial de-icers. Alcohol has a lower freezing point than water, so the gel is able to act as a lubricant to help free the lock. Since the alcohol will strip away the oils inside the lock, spray some WD-40 into the lock after doing this to relubricate it and keep it from refreezing.

Get Unstuck from Snow----with Floor Mats

Experts advise keeping kitty litter in the trunk to give the tires traction in case you get stuck in the snow, but if you find yourself without any, try this: Point your car’s wheels as straight as you can, then turn off the car and clear away as much snow as possible from around the stuck tire. Next, slide one of your floor mats right in front of (and practically under) the tire with the rubber side facing up. Then start the car and gently step on the gas. The mat will give your tire a little more traction, which will help push the car out of the bank. One caveat: When you accelerate, the mat may be forced out from under the car’s wheels, so make sure no one is standing behind the car as you do this.

Rejuvenate Wipers----with Rubbing Alcohol

Nothing wears windshield wipers down faster than accumulated winter grime and the muddy, salty streaks they leave make it hard to see. An easy remedy: Pour a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a cloth or rag and use it to clean the wipers’ edges. The solvents in the alcohol dissolve dirt, so your wipers will make clean sweeps. Reapply as needed. Another tip to prolong the life of your wipers: Don’t tug the blades from the windshield on cold mornings or switch them on to help scrape away ice or frost, both of which can tear or damage the rubber blade.

Thaw a Frozen Windshield---with White Vinegar

To avoid ever having to chisel away at rock-hard windshield ice again, simply fill a spray bottle with three parts water and one part white vinegar. After starting your car and turning on the defroster, spritz your icy windows and windshield with the solution. Due to its high content of acetic acid, white vinegar has a lower melting point than water (28 degree F versus 32 degree F for water. When the vinegar hits the ice on your windows, the liquid will speed the thawing process and shorten the time you spend scraping. The vinegar will leave behind a thin film on your windows that will prevent ice from re-forming on the glass for a couple of days.

MUSEUM DINING

For those lodge members who enjoy spending a day at one of the many interesting Museums in Boston, why not try one of their in-house restaurants/cafes listed below. Spend a leisurely morning or afternoon browsing the galleries and then enjoy a delightful meal to top of your day.

Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston. 617-478-3100. www.incaboston.org. Water Café: Tue-Wed 11am-5pm, Thus-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston. 617-566-1401. www.gardnermuseum.org. Café G: Wed, Fri-Mon 11am-5pm, Thur 11am-9pm. Reopens January 19^th.

Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston. 617-267-9300. www.mfa.org. Bravo: dinner Wed-Fri 5:30-8:30pm, lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, brunch Sat-Sun 11:30 am-3pm. New American Café: Sat-Tues 11:30am-4pm, Wed-Fri 11:30am-8pm (coffee service daily 10am-close). Taste: Mon-Tues 11:30am-4pm, Wed-Fri 11:30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-4pm. Garden Cafeteria, daily from 10:30am-4pm.

If you prefer to stay on the North Shore and not adventure into Boston, drive over to Salem and dine at the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex St. 978-745-9500. www.pem.org. Antrium Café is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4:30 pm. The Garden Restaurant is closed for the winter season.

VALENTINE’S DAY - article from Internet

Every February we celebrate Valentine's Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, "Who is St. Valentine"?

Time to brush up on your Valentine's history!

Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.

Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.

Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

ITALIAN AMERICAN SUPERSTITIONS - By Justin Demetri – submitted by Carmelina D’Alleva

Growing up in Italian American households, many of us have been witness to bizarre rituals and beliefs practiced by our parents and grandparents. Many of them never fully explained to us; you just did them because you were supposed to. They are shrouded in the mists of time and have been practiced for countless generations. Some may seem silly, but the continuation of these rituals is a link to the past, when ancient pagan traditions had to be modified in order to survive in a world of Christianity. The fact that these superstitions are still with us is a testament to just how strong forces of good luck, prosperity and ill fortune are even today. We are all familiar with The Evil Eye (Malocchio) and The Devil’s Horn (Corno), but what about some of the others listed below:

No Birds in the House -- Italians often believe that having a bird in the house brings bad luck. Some versions of the superstition include even bird feathers, especially peacock feathers with their potentially “Evil” eye. I was told that the reason for birds being bad luck stemmed from the Bible, when St. Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times before the cock crowed.

Upside-Down Bread -- This is one of those superstitions that are known throughout Europe, having more to do with the poverty of peasants than anything else. A loaf of bread must always be placed face up, or else bad luck will come. Upside down bread is taken quite seriously at times, especially on board fishing boats, where bad luck could mean no fish or worse. This belief reflects just how important bread was in the life of a starving peasant or immigrant family. For these people, bread was life and so every precaution was taken in order to keep it on the table.

Lucky/Unlucky Numbers -- The Italian concept of lucky and unlucky numbers is different from other parts of the world. Some older Italian Americans still hold the belief of lucky 13, especially when gambling, but it seems that in Italy the number 13 has started to have unlucky properties as well. The number 17 is considered unlucky for at least two reasons, both having to do with how it is written. When 17 is written using Roman Numerals XVII, it can be rearranged to spell the Roman word VIXI meaning “I have lived” and was found on ancient tombstones. When written using Arabic numerals, 17 is still considered unlucky sine it resembles a man hanging from the gallows.

Blessing/Exorcising a New House -- This is not as common these days, but was practice for generations in both Italy as well as America especially when it came to newlyweds. Southern Italians immigrating to new lands brought with them their concepts of bad luck and how to combat it. Moving into a first home was accompanied by the necessary rituals to rid the place of any spirits that may have been left by the previous owners and could harm the new couple or their first child. Before my grandparents could finish moving into their first home, my great-grandmother had to give them a new broom to wipe away evil spirits and she sprinkled salt in the corners of the house to purify it. In other versions of this ritual, the salt and broom are accompanied by a loaf of bread and sometimes holy water.

The Sicilian Witchdoctor -- Southern Italian immigrants brought their views of health and medicine with them from their homeland and included a mix of folk medicine and ancient superstitions. However, when home remedies did not work and modern medicine was not an option (from either money or language), some neighborhoods had the services of a man or woman trained in ancient techniques often bordering on witchcraft. Older Sicilian Americans may recall voodoo like practices such as making dolls to curse someone or amulets to protect themselves from evil. A story told by my great-grandmother told of how she got out of an arranged marriage by visiting the local witchdoctor. After protesting to her mother, they asked the Mago to create a love portion to make her fiancé fall in love with another girl instead. Apparently, it must have worked since she later married my future great-grandfather.

LAUGH OUT LOUD! (CON’T) – Submitted by Shirley Moreno

The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star Spangled Banner."
And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!