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Notiziario Ufficiale del Circolo Italiano di Dallas Gennaio 2016 Vol 37 Num 1

January

1 - New Years Day CLOSED

2,9,16,23,30 - I Piccoli
Colori
4, 27 - Hunger Busters
4,11,18,25 - I Colori
6,13,20,27 - Pasta & WOW
8,15,22,29 - Cena
9 - La Befana
20 - Wine of the Month
22 - Volunteers Cena
27 - Book Club
February

1, 24 - Hunger Busters
1,8,15,22,29 - I Colori
Italiani
3, 10,17, 24 - Pasta & WOW
5, 12, 19, 26 - Cena
7, 13, 20,27 - I Piccoli Colori
9,16,23 - Parole Italiane
12 - Valentines Day Cena
14 - Valentines Day
17 - Wine of the Month
24 - Book Club

Epiphany and La Befana

Learn Italian

On January 9, La Befana will fly in and bring gifts for

I Bambini who are waiting for her at the Italian Club.
Families and children, please come to enjoy the lentil
soup and other traditional food served for the feast of
the Epiphany. The children will also participate in a
skit depicting the legend of La Befana. This special
feast is traditional in Italy for gift giving. A King or
Queen for the day will be the lucky one who finds the
fava bean in the Epiphany cake.

The Italian Club of Dallas is offering Parole Italiane,

a beginners course of the Italian language, the
language of Art, Music, Love and the pleasure of
living. The class will be conducted by native Italians
who are very knowledgeable of the customs of modern
Italians. The classes will be light on grammar and
heavy on practical conversation, especially valuable for
those planning a trip to Italy. Seven adult classes will
be held on Tuesdays beginning February 9. The class
size is limited to 15, so click HERE to reserve your
spot!

Please let us know you are coming!

March

1,8,15,22 - Parole Italiane

2,9,16,23,30 - Pasta and
WOW
4,11,18,25 - Cena
5, 12, 19, 26 - I Piccoli Colori
7,14,21,28 - I Colori Italiani
7, 30 - Hunger Busters
16 - Wine of the Month
30 - Book Club

Keep up to date
and subscribe to
our weekly
e-mail bulletin...
please visit our
website!

RSVP:
Carrie 214-886-6498 or 972-242-8283
Maria 972-235-4920
Or email
Carrie, marcar32@verizon.net
Maria, marchob@swbell.net

When: Tuesday evenings

Feb. 9 through Mar. 22, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Cost: ICD Members $150
Non-Members $200

Honoring Our
Volunteers at Cena
January 22
W W W . I TA L I A N C L U B D A L L A S . O R G

Presidents Letter
I am deeply honored to have been elected by
the ICD Board of Directors to serve as the
2016 president of the Italian Club of Dallas.
Joining me as elected officers are Carole
Strippoli, VP, Barbie Gumin, Sect., Joan
Seley, Treasurer, and Francesca Barone, At
Large.
This past year has been exciting and one where we were able
to make adjustments necessary to keep ICD alive for the
future. We saw a fantastic Festa, thanks to the initiative of
President Ken Venuso, Charlie Castellano and all of the tireless
volunteers. We caught up with our financial obligations and
are on road to the black, somewhere weve not been for a
while. Your 2016 Board of Directors are pleased to be reviving
and repeating some favorite social and cultural events and
are entertaining some great ideas for future Cene and events,
keeping in mind what you, our members, would like to see.
Ive always known that an organizations biggest asset is its
people. The Italian Club of Dallas has always been fortunate to
have fantastic people as members, volunteers and leaders. Quite
frankly, the Club can only operate as long as the members are
involved and at the January 22 Cena, your Board of Directors
will honor those individuals who have given of themselves.
Please jot it down on your calendar and join us at this Honoring
our Volunteers Cena, thanking them.
I want to say that we all owe a great debt of gratitude to our
outgoing President Ken Venuso and outgoing Board Member
Paul Di Carlo. Both of these gentlemen gave everything the
ICD asked for and more during their year on the Board. Please
make it your business to shake their hands and offer your own
grazie! It is only through the efforts of fine people like these
two can we survive.
I look forward to hearing your ideas and working with the
Board, the staff, the Past Presidents and the loyal supporters to
make my year as President the best ever for ICD and ensuring
that subsequent years will be even better than that. During
my time as Board president I will work with the members to
develop a long term management strategy to insure that we not
only meet but exceed the original goals of our founders. Those
same goals that initially attracted all of us and that so many of
you have stated must be carried on. The Board is committed
to working with our ongoing source of revenue, the Clubhouse.
Cena, lunch, dinner and rentals will be analyzed so that ICD is
enjoying the maximum benefits available.
I want and need to hear from you. This is your organization
so please help us to help you. Call or email me any time, Im
always willing to learn.
Thank you for entrusting me with the great honor of serving as
your ICD president and I will see you soon.
Al DeMarzo
al.demarzo@dfwalarm.com
972-355-8395

Member News
Livia Tamburrino lost her brother, Demetrio Muccia, on
December 19, 2015 in Switzerland. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Livia and her family.
Kate Wassman lost her Aunt Marie Carmel Meglio Fusco on
November 26, 2015. She had turned 100 years old this year.
Our condolences to Kate and her family.

Culinary Events
Wednesday ~ Pasta & Pizza Night: January 6, 13, 20, 27. Doors open
6 p.m. Every Wednesday evening features our fantastic antipasti bar and
one of several pasta or pizza selections for a great price. Add extras if the
mood suits you meat, seafood & veggies. Pasta or Pizza - Members
$12 / Non-Members $16; Antipasti Bar only - Members $8 / NonMembers $12.

Call for reservations and large tables (972) 931-9167

or http://icdcena.eventbrite.com
Friday Cena Schedule & Pricing
Member Adult $20 / Non-Member Adult $28
Reservations are kindly requested as seating is often very limited.

January 1
(closed)

Come, visit and enjoy the company of friends with a

glass of wine while waiting for the delicious meal
Chef Gerard and Chef Christian have prepared for
our enjoyment.
Join us, you know you will enjoy a great meal.
DONT FORGET TO BRING A GIFT TO
RAFFLE OFF WITH OUR FRIENDS AND
FAMILY Its just a lot of fun!

January 8

What a great way to celebrate any occasion at the

Italian Club, come and have a great evening

January 15
Guest Cena
*** Raffle night

Guest Cena, bring your friends, your neighbors, your

coworkers, its a great event to introduce them to our
treasured Italian Club of Dallas.
*** What a great time to re-gift those extra gifts that
you have no use for - bring them to the Club. They
might become someone else's treasures and make
them very happy. Your donations assist in increasing
the Club treasury. ***

January 22
Guest Cena

Join us in honoring our Volunteers at this guest Cena.

Each Friday, we make special time to enjoy Cena
(dinner) with famiglia e amici (family & friends)

January 29

Visit the Club for a delicious four-course menu,

enjoyed insieme (together).
Join us to savor the taste of authentic Italian dishes
from fresh ingredients & recipes old and new,
prepared by our Chef.
Share the joy of good food, good wine and good
company ~ Italian-style!
Weekly menu available via Club Mail. Reservations
recommended at (972) 931-9167 or online at
http://icdcena.eventbrite.com .

January Wine Feature

The first line of The Italian Clubs Mission Statement reads: To explore,
preserve, and promote Italian culture, language, history, and traditions. In
the next installment of the monthly Wine Feature, we will do just that. So
grab your wine passport and lets head south to Calabria!
The wine we will feature this month is produced from the grape Gaglioppo
(gah-LYOHP-poh). For the last decade, Calabria has been fighting against
economic hardship, corruption, and a culture of bulk wine production
dominated by cooperatives that bled bulk wine. However, within the last
10 years, critics and producers have come to recognize the quality of this
ancient grape. Originally thought to be of Greek origin, producers now
argue that the grape is a distant cousin of Nebbiolo, the king of grapes in
the production of Barolo and Barbaresco. Wherever it is from, it is starting
to become recognized for its floral quality and its balanced elegance.
IGreco is the producer of the Gaglioppo that will be featured at the club.
The wine is named Cata which loosely translated is to taste. This is
100% Gaglioppo grape that after harvest and fermentation is aged in barrel
for about six months before release. In Ciro, the main production area in
Calabria for Gaglioppo, the grapes are grown at high altitudes to protect
them from the hot southern Italian sun. Long maceration periods allow the
shy tannins of this varietal to be coaxed out and add structure. The profile
is one of crushed red berry flavors, accented by cherry and spicy secondary
notes. From my experience with this lovely wine, it is just delicious.
The wine pairs beautifully with many of Melissas dishes, and I encourage
everyone to come and try this elegant expression of Gaglioppo! Ciao!
RUSSELL
BURKETT - CS
facebook.com/

January Book Club News

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the
Book Club returns from Christmas
break, meeting at 7 p.m. at the ICD,
when our selection will be Black Run
by Antonio Manzini. Manzini,
a popular Italian writer of murder
mysteries featuring his irascible
detective Rocco Schiavone, has seen his
works developed into successful Italian
television programs, and translated into
many languages. This mystery is the
first of his works to be translated into
English.
Deputy Prefect of Police Schiavone
built his career in his beloved Rome,
but a few wrong moves put him in
serious trouble with higher authorities,
for which he is exiled to Aosta, a small, touristy Alpine town popular with
skiers. Schiavone hates skiing, mountains, snow, and cold. Above all, he
distains the provincial locals, whom he deems rubes and bumpkins, far
beneath his sophisticated Roman standards. He fears being stuck in what
he perceives as an isolated patch of nowhere, cut off from the excitement
and action of the big city. But when a mangled unidentified body, crushed
by a snowcat used to clear ski trails, is discovered high on a mountain ridge
off one of the slopes more challenging ski runs, Schiavones spirits begin
to soar. The Book Club will bundle up for Alpine weather and follow the
Deputy Prefect as he doggedly investigates the bizarre murder.
If you would like more information about the Book Club, please contact the
Coordinator, Norma Iacovo at 214-724-4832, or niacovo@tnsk.com.

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Alex@SafeProPest.com

Save the Date for

Mothers Day
Brunch on May 10!

Attention All Club Members

A Look Back Grazie Mille

Over the past year as president I have enjoyed writing these articles about the men
and women members whose love for our Club has made it what it is today.

As a Club that stands for Italian culture we have an obligation to honor and cherish
our past. We have a group of individuals who are known as Founders, lifetime
members or long time members.

We have a tremendous amount of history in our Club and many wonderful

members who donate their time and money to help spread our Italian Culture and
make this Club a place for all of us to come and enjoy with our extended family
our membership.
Our purpose is to respect, honor and cherish our history and past members who
have helped build this Club. In addition, we also want to acknowledge people from
our current membership base. We have many members who give their time and
efforts to this Club freely and do things for the Club, because they want to do it.
The Club is like family; if someone needs help we go over to their house and help
out.
The Board selected two individuals for this month. We have an open door policy
on nominations, so anyone can nominate someone and give their name to the
Board.
Keep in mind there is no specific order or rules to go by here, its just a simple
criteria of saying GRAZIE MILLE to a member who helps make this Club a
better place for this month or since they have been a member.
Ken Venuso
2015 President ICD

They helped establish and build the Club. They helped create what we have today,
a Club that is a place to enjoy being around friends and family and the Italian
culture. It is up to our current and future members to learn from our past and to
remember what these individuals created: THE ITALIAN CLUB OF DALLAS.
Once again we are challenged to select someone who was there at the beginning
or at an early stage of the Club or a member we all know. However, our aim is
not to single one person out because their contributions are greater than someone
elses. Our focus is on honoring and cherishing people from our past or current
membership base but in no specific order.
It is with pride the Board announces as our Honoree this month of A LOOK
BACK

RON MIGLINI
GRAZIE MILLE
The Italian Club was created for people of Italian heritage
to share their knowledge of Italian culture and traditions,
speak the Italian language with other members, have fun, be
Italian and helped support our mission statement.

Grazie Mille - Member Of The Month

This month the Board is recognizing an individual who has supported the Club
in so many ways over the years in a quiet and unassuming way. Once again he
pleasantly surprised the Club during this season of giving. Our GRAZIE MILLE
honoree this month is

TONY BELLISSIMO
Part of our mission statement is to promote and help
charities in our community and we are fortunate we
have members like Tony who continue to support our
causes.
Most of us know Tony as a Lifetime Member and
strong supporter of the Club. He is usually laid back
and quiet with a friendly smile to all. Sometimes you
may see him sitting just outside the Club enjoying a
beverage of choice and smoking a cigar. Behind this
wonderful faade is a person who observes and listens
to what is happening and then takes action.
That is what he did for the Toy for Tots program
this year. Ben Parlapiano, retiring chairman of our
Charity Outreach program, announced the good news
that our contribution to the Toys for Tots program we help support hit a record
dollar amount this year. Thanks to Tony Bellissimos generous donation the Club
was able to give many wonderful gifts to the program that makes it possible to
put many smiles on childrens faces this Christmas that may not have happened
without our support.
The Christmas season will always be a season to be giving but is also a time for us
to count our blessings.
We are proud to count Tony Bellissimo as one our blessings at the ICD.
As we enter this New Year let us remember to count our blessings and the next
time you see Tony at the Club remember to say
GRAZIE MILLE TONY BELLISSIMO!

Like so many past honorees of A Look Back, Ron has been

a strong supporter of the Club and what it stands for: to
promote the Italian traditions and culture.
Ron has done this in many ways. He is a Lifetime Member, a
past president and board member for many years, a supporter
of our events and an adviser to the direction the Club should
follow.
I was fortunate to meet Ron at the Club sitting at the bar area holding court.
He was talking and having fun with a crowd in the area and quickly introduced
himself to Jan and me.
First impressions are lasting. He was friendly, sincere, expressed interest in who
we were and hoped we would enjoy the Club and become active in it.
As a membership chairman Ron was a huge supporter of new members. He
always spoke to all the new members at the quarterly New Members Meeting. He
consistently offered suggestions and encouraged people to get involved with the
Club. The two best ways were to come to the Cena and volunteer. It was sound
advice then as it is now.
Ron is a member and a business leader. One of a leaders qualities is to lead by
example and Ron does that all the time at the Club. He helps in all of our major
and regular events as a supporter and volunteer.
If you were involved with the Festa Italia, you saw him along with many others
working to help set up the day before and in the early hours before the Festa
opened. Regardless of the temperature he was helping lead the way.
As a loyal and strong supporter of the Club, Ron continues to show his
commitment to the Club with suggestions, good counsel, monetary and in-kind
donations, and a positive approach to handling challenges we may encounter as we
continue to grow as a Club.
When thinking about the wonderful history our Club has and the number of
members dedicated to making our Club something special, one always has to
bring up Rons name when talking about that unique group of individuals.
Im talking about that group of members who continue to do things to help us
grow and promote our Italian culture and traditions. In the near future when the
opportunity presents itself and you see Ron at the Club, remember to walk up to
him and say
GRAZIE MILLE, RON MIGLINI

ICD Volunteers Spread Joy at CCA

As they have in past years, on Saturday, December 12, our Italian Club
volunteers assisted at the Childrens Craniofacial Associations Childrens
Christmas party at South Fork registering the children and their families,
filling out name tags, distributing door prize tickets and helping the
children with their paintings and constructions at the craft tables.
Italian Club elves participating at the party were John and Mary Ellen
Di Tucci, Lisa Newman, Carmine Nittolo, Fred Hansen, Ken Venuso,
Nick Parigi, Dottie Parlapiano and ICD friends Vicki Cravens and Mark
Liberio. Every year John has done a masterful job as a traffic cop of
sorts smiling and cordially greeting the partygoers at the door directing
an even flow of attendees to each of the registration tables that were
efficiently manned by Mary Ellen, Carmine, Nick, Fred and Dottie.
Ken, Lisa, Vicki and Mark did their turns at the craft tables.
Many thanks to our volunteers for devoting their very precious time and
their energies to help a wonderful charity in their humanitarian work.
And Annie, Jill, Char and Greg of CCA also extend their sincere thanks
to our volunteers and the Club for its ongoing support.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year to us all. May the New Year be a
happy, healthy and prosperous one to you and your loved ones.
Ben Parlapiano Charitable Outreach

Hunger Busters New Year Starts

Monday, January 4
Hard to believe but we will be starting another year at Hunger Busters on
Monday, January 4. The years certainly fly by. The remaining 2016 first
quarter schedule is First Mondays: February 1 and March 7. And Fourth
Wednesdays: January 27, February 24 and March 23. Dates are subject to
change according to the Dallas Independent School District schedules, so
stay tuned.
If you care to volunteer for our Charitable Outreach in general or Hunger
Busters in particular, please contact board vice-president Carole Strippoli,
who is temporarily chairing the Charitable Outreach Committee pending
a permanent chair person replacement. Caroles number is (469) 7668198 or e-mail carole.strippoli@gmail.com.
Ben Parlapiano Charitable Outreach

Italian Club Members Joyfully Respond to

USO Toy Drive
In the true Spirit of Christmas club member responded to our USO
Toy Drive contributing hundreds of dollars worth of toys and through
the outstanding generosity of several members making cash donations
totaling $3,400.00. In the words of Tina Neal, who graciously helped
to deliver the toys and the check to the USO at DFW: They (USO
personnel) were sooo excited. Im certain the children of our military
heroes were just as excited, if not more, to receive those wonderful toys.
Many thanks to those of you who contributed to the toy drive. Im so
justifiably proud of you all.
Ben Parlapiano Charitable Outreach

Mostaccioli
Dry Ingredients:
3 C flour
3 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/8 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/8 t nutmeg
1/4 C granulated
sugar
Zest of one orange
Wet Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 C molasses
1/4 to 1/2 C milk
1 t vanilla
4 oz. oil or shortening
Icing:
8 oz. confectioners
sugar
1.5 T milk
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 t cloves

Directions:
Traditionally, all the ingredients are mixed by hand,
though if one wants a lighter cookie, one can use
an electric mixer to beat the eggs, and cream the
sugar and fat and molasses together. In either case,
combine all the wet ingredients as well as the sugar
and mix or beat. Combine all the dry ingredients
less the sugar, and add the wet ingredients to the
dry. Mix until a dough is formed, adding flour or
milk as necessary to obtain a consistency that is
firm and a bit sticky. Do not overmixotherwise
the cookies will develop a bread-like instead of
a cookie-like texture. Wrap the dough in plastic
wrap, and let it rest for about 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll the dough about 1/3 thick,
cut into diamond shapes, and place on an oiled or parchment-lined cookie sheet. I like using
parchment, because it is 100% reliable and quick. Bake at 350F for about 12 to 15 minutes.
While the cookies are baking, its time to make the icing. The icing is important for the flavor
profile of the cookieswithout it, the cookies will seem a bit bland and not sweet enough. To
make the icing, put all the dry ingredients in a bowl, and slowly add milk. Add just enough milk
to make a mixture that is about the consistency of pancake batter. Add the milk carefullyeven
a little too much will cause the icing to become too thin, and more confectioners sugar will be
needed. When the cookies are done remove them from the oven and place them on a drying rack
with wax paper or even newspaper underneath to catch any icing that drips off in the next step.
When mostly cool, apply the icing with a pastry brush or by dipping the cookies into the icing. If
doing the latter, the icing should be a bit thinner so any excess can easily drip off.

ICD Board
of
Directors

Mailing Address:
ost ffice ox allas, Texas

Clubhouse
14865 Inwood Rd.
Addison

Al DeMarzo - President
Carole Strippoli - Vice President
Barbie Gumin - Secretary
Joan Seley - Treasurer
Francesca Barone

The Mission Statement of the Italian Club of Dallas

To explore, preserve, and promote Italian culture, language, history, and traditions; perform charitable works; and foster
social interaction within the community.

La Missione del Circolo Italiano di Dallas

Conoscere, conservare e diffondere la cultura Italiana, la lingua, la storia e le tradizioni; fare opere benefiche; promuovere i
rapporti sociali all'interno della comunit.

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NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION;

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT CICARTICLES@ITALIANCLUBDALLAS.ORG

W W W . I TA L I A N C L U B D A L L A S . O R G