A monthly bulletin for Italian American organizations and media outlets, dedicated to promoting the language, culture and traditions of Italians and Italian Americans.
A Celebration of Women
 March 8 marks La Festa Della Donna, International Women’s Day, where women receive a traditional gift of yellow mimosas. This celebration evolved from two events including a strike on March 8, 1857 by garment workers in New York that led to the formation of the first women’s union. Years later, Russian women led a strike during World War I and also during the Russian Revolution. To celebrate womanhood, the Union of Italian Women declared March 8 a holiday in 1945.
The significance of the yellow mimosa is said to have originated in Rome after World War II, when men would give mimosas to friends, partners and family members.
March also brings two festivals including the Marriage of Venice to the Sea and the Palio dei Somari, a donkey race held on Saint Joseph’s Feast Day on March 19, also known as Father’s Day in Italy. The Marriage of Venice to the Sea celebrates the city's maritime identity and takes place on the first Sunday after Ascension. Each year a ring is cast into the sea by the mayor, who is accompanied by the Patriarch of Venice.
Italian Astronaut to Travel on The Endeavour in July
 One of the seven members onboard the Endeavour Space Shuttle will include Italian Astronaut Roberto Vittori. In July, the crew will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) to install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) for research in the field of antimatter. The mission, an agreement between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA, will deliver and utilize three logistical modules built in Italy.
“This is a very advanced program in which Italy takes part with researchers from the National Institute of Nuclear Physics and from various universities,” explained Ambassador Giulio Terzi, who met Vittori at the Embassy of Italy in Washington.
Author To Speak About The Rescue of Italian Jews
Author Elizabeth Bettina will discuss the rescue of Italian Jews during the Holocaust on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Italian Community Center, 631 East Chicago Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center, NIAF and the Italian Community Center will host author and Holocaust survivor Ursula Korn-Selig, who will speak about Italy and its treatment of Jews during World War II.
Bettina, a New York-based marketing executive, spent her childhood summers visiting her family in the Italian village of Campagna. Her book, “It Happened in Italy,” tells the story of how her discovery of a single faded photo taken in 1940 led her on a quest to research how thousands of Jews were saved throughout the Italian countryside during World War II. To attend, contact Bonnie Shafrin at 414-963-2719 or bonnies@milwaukeejewish.org.
New Documentary By Son in Memory Of His Father
Photojournalist Louis F. Dematteis, a NIAF grant recipient, is the producer and director of the documentary “Crimebuster: A Son’s Search for His Father.” The film follows Dematteis on a journey in search of the story of his late father, Louis B. Dematteis, an influential Italian-American crime fighter and jurist.
The film goes from the mountains of Italy to the fields of California and streets of San Francisco with the outline of family, justice, estrangement and healing. The hour-long documentary also tracks the history of early Italian immigration to the U.S. and the West Coast.
The film was shown at the Museo ItaloAmericano in San Francisco on January 14. There will be a gala “Crimebuster” premier and reception on April 8 with two screenings at the San Mateo County History Museum; the photojournalist’s father first worked as the county’s District Attorney and Superior Court Judge. It’s also where he first hired former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor as a lawyer when no one else would because she was a woman. Contact Louis Dematteis at ldematteis@igc.org.
Spotlight On Show Host in California
 Rick Amato, radio talk show host, columnist and political commentator is host of two talk shows: “The Rick Amato Show” in San Diego and “Inside the Story with Rick Amato” on Washington Times Radio News. He is also the host and executive producer of “The Rick Amato Show.” In October 2009, the show was awarded first place at the prestigious 36th Annual San Diego Press Club’s Excellence In Journalism Awards for Talk Radio-Best Interview. Amato also became the first ever radio host for the Washington Times. For more information, go to: www.amatotalk.com.
Mission San Juan Capistrano Debuts Audio Tour
The audio tour of the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano in California has been translated into Italian. Its debut will take place at the Mission on St. Joseph’s Day on Friday, March 19 at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. On March 20, the 52nd Annual Swallow’s Day Parade will once again include an Italian entry featuring the 22 regional flags of Italy, Miss Italia California, Roman Soldiers, pizza tossing, students from Fondazione d’Italia, Stella the Sicilian donkey and proud, flag-waving Italian Americans. For more information, call (949) 234-1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
Tour The Region of Basilicata
Luisa Potenza, host of “Italia Mia,” a radio show in East Patchogue, N.Y., is hosting a tour to the undiscovered region of Basilicata, also known as Lucania (the area’s ancient name).
For more information, contact Luisa Potenza at 631-589-6634 or LUPOT11796@aol.com.
Upcoming Events:
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Please send your group or city’s news on Italian American exhibits, cultural events, scholarships and special events to: Elissa Ruffino, the NIAF, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. Or write her on the internet, e-mail address: elissa@niaf.org
N.B. Events/programs noted are not necessarily endorsed or sponsored by NIAF.
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