MondoGuardiaregia FEBRUARY 2006 Newsletter

Editor: Peter M. Farina

Pete Ci Sentiamo -

Ciao a Tutti!

January was an exciting month for MondoGuardiaregia, as we have added two more ongoing sections to our newsletter. As you read ahead into this month’s edition, I hope that you will be delighted to find news about recent Italian events in the greater Toronto area (Courtesy of Roberto Bandiera, husband of Guardiola Maria Bandiera and founder of Panorama‐Italiano www.PanoramaItal.com), and also the first of many Italian (and hopefully, in the future, traditional Guardioli) recipes which I feel will be a great addition to both the site and newsletter. Of course, like all the other parts of the site and newsletter, remember… This is all yours! Only your input can help make this a success, so if you have any recipes that you would like to have included in next month’s “Tastes of Italy” section, feel free to send them in via e‐mail! You can include pictures, stories on how they were passed down through the generations, or even just share your memories of “Nonna’s” kitchen and cooking! Personally, my memories include “Nonna” giving me a “schiaffo” with the ever‐present wooden spoon for sticking my fingers in the sauce, which evidently is something I’m still guilty of doing (and still getting a “schiaffo” or two for it… but that’s another story altogether!!!) But on a serious note, I hope you all enjoy this month’s edition, and like always, let me send all my best to all the members of the Guardiola family around the globe. So until next month...

A Panorama of Guardiaregia ‐ Taken March 2004 by Peter M. Farina ‐

“Le Parole di Roberto”

A Night of Festivities

FAMCO, the Toronto area‐based association which unites all the Molisani Clubs of Ontario, contin‐ued a five tradition which was

started by Maria Bandiera (Former President of FAMCO and Current

Vice‐President of Club Guardiaregia,) by welcoming back “La Befana,” the good witch of

Italian Folklore, earlier this month at “La Primavera Banquet Hall” located north of Toronto. Once again, “The Twilight Music and Entertainment Duo” was the head of ceremonies, and help create a beautiful night of music, food, and fun for everyone in attendance. Molisani both young and old will be looking forward to next year’s return of “La Vecchia Signora.”

MondoGuardiaregia’s Inside Source to Toronto’s Italian Community

E’ Arrivata La Befana!

Photos and Information Submitted by; Roberto Bandiera;

Founder of Panorama-Italiano - www.PanoramaItal.com

ABOVE: La Befana, aka Mrs. Anna Meo

BELOW: The Ever‐Present Franco Sam‐

pogna, Sr. Playing His Organetto

Guardiolo John Giambattisa, alongside his twin Children

(From the Left) “Le Signore” Sampogna, Ro‐tundo (Vinchiaturese,) Bandiera, Meo, and Franco Sampogna, President of Club

Guardiaregia and FAMCO.

La Storia della Befana

“La Befana” is to Italy what Santa Klaus is for the USA and Canada. The legend says that the three kings (Gaspar, Baldassar and Melchior,) while looking for the baby Je‐

sus, asked an old lady for directions on their way to Bethlehem. After hearing the story from the three kings, the old lady picked up some figs, dates, and toys that she had in her house, and asked the kings to give them to the baby Jesus when they found him. In Italy, the tradition is very old and coincides with the day that the church celebrates the meeting between Jesus and the three kings: The 6 of January, also known as the Epiphany (In Greek; INCONTRO.) So, as it has been for centuries, during the night leading up to the Epiphany, “La Befana” comes and delivers gifts for the good children and ashes for

the bad ones.

I Sapori d’Italia The Flavors of Italy

Guardiolo of Am‐sterdam, Bob Al‐banese, shown above perfecting his Spinach‐

Parmigiano Balls at a recent family get‐together

Spinach‐Parmigiano Balls Recipe Submitted by: Bob Albanese; Amsterdam, New York Recipe Summary Difficulty: Easy Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Yield: 30 to 40 spinach Parmesan balls 1 pound package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 5 eggs 1 large onion, minced 10 tablespoons margarine, melted 1 cup shredded Parmesan 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1 3/4 cups Italian‐style bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Squeeze the excess water from the spinach and put it in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well by hand.* Form the mixture into 1‐inch balls, ei‐ther by hand or with a small ice cream scoop. Place the balls closely together on a bak‐ing sheet. Cook in the top half of the oven until firm to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, and then transfer to a platter and serve immediately.

* Cookʹs Note: Wearing latex gloves while mixing and forming the balls is suggested.

A Celebration of the many tastes from “Il Bel Paese”

ROMAN GLADIATORS

Most boxing writers thought Arturo Gatti should have retired after a devastating loss to Floyd Mayweather last year…

Someone must have forgot to tell Gatti, though.

On Saturday, February 28th, Gatti once again rose from the dead, this time to stop Thomas Damgaard, the undefeated IBA welterweight champ from Denmark, in 11 hard‐fought rounds

at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (New Jersey.)

“Not too many people knew Damgaard in America,” stated Gatti after the fight. “But he proved he was a world‐class fighter.”

Gatti, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada as a child from the town of San Pietro Infine, Caserta, which lies on the northwest‐

ern most border of the Matese Mountain Range (where Guardiaregia also lies,) now goes from being told by many to hang up the gloves to a possible shot at the true welterweight crown (held by Argentinian Carlos Baldomir) this Summer.

“We’re gonna make a great fight,” said Gatti, who now fights out of New Jersey, when asked about the possible match‐up.

“We have the same style, and it’s a great opportunity for both me and him.”

After the 11th round TKO, Gatti improved to 40‐7, while Damgaard fell to 37‐1.

To learn more about Arturo Gatti, or to keep up-to-date on boxing news, feel

free to visit the following sites;

www.HBO.com

www.Maxboxing.com www.ArturoGatti.com

www.ESPN.com

Arturo Gatti Born in San Pietro Infine, Province of Caserta

(PHOTO TAKEN FROM HBO.com)

Photos Above and Below Taken From www.Maxboxing.com;

copyright www.HOGANPHOTOS.com

Above photo taken from www.ESPN.com

ITALIANS IN THE SPORT OF BOXING

Arturo Gatti stops Denmark’s undefeated Damgaard in 11

Stay Tuned Next Month as Paul Malignaggi, fighting out of Brooklyn, New York (With roots in the city of

Siracusa, Sicily,) continues his rise to boxing stardom.

Notizia Guardiola

News and Announcements From the Guardiolo World

MondoGuardiaregia would like to send its very best wishes to three Guardioli who recently celebrated their birthdays this past month.

So, on behalf of all the Guardioli of the world;

TANTI AUGURI A VOI!

Birthday Announcements

Maria Galeazza (Sampogna) recently celebrated her 85th birthday (January 21st) alongside her grandson Jim Fa‐rina, who turned 27 on December 29th, and the rest of her family at a family party in early January. Also, Caroline Lynch (Sampogna) celebrated her 80th birthday (January 19th) at a surprise party at the Crystal Ristorante

(www.CrystalRist.com) in Amsterdam, New York along with her closest

friends and relatives.

Right and

Below:

Maria Galeazza (Sampogna)

Left and Below: Jim Farina

Above:

Caroline Lynch (Sampogna) (Photo Submitted by Jim Farina)

Notizia Guardiola

News and Announcements From the Guardiolo World

Mr. Nicholas A. Bottisti, 86, of Howlan Street, Tribes Hill, New York, passed away Thursday morning, January 26, 2006 at Montgomery Meadows RHCF in Amsterdam, New York. Born in Amsterdam on October 28, 1919, he was a son of the late Dominick and Anna Viscusi Bottisti. [He is also the grandson of Nicolangelo Giambattista, the first Guardiaregia born immigrant to come to the Am‐sterdam area circa 1870, and Maria Teresa Vecchiarelli.] Mr. Bottisti received his education in the Amsterdam school system and attended Wilbur H. Lunch Sen‐ior High School. Mr. Bottisti was employed by E.J. Calahan Construction Company in Amsterdam and retired from Car‐petland in 1981. He was a member of the Carpenters Local 370 in Albany, New York He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving from 1939 to 1945. Mr. Bottisti was a communicant of Sacred Heart Curch in Tribes Hill, New York. He was a member of its Holy Name Society and served on the Parish Council. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 55 and the Southside Veterans Association. Mr. Bottisti was also an avid bowler in several Amsterdam City Leagues. Mr. Bottist is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Champagne Bottisti, to whom he was married on September 11, 1948; two sons William Bottisti and his fiancée Tammy Hume of Tribes Hill, New York and Nicholas Bottisti and his wife Elizabeth of Fort Johnson, New York; two daughters Marilyn Keenan and her hus‐band Robert of Lakeville, Massachusetts and Julie Schmidtmann and her husband Donald Jr. of Tribes Hill, New York; one brother Dominick Bottisti and his wife Kathleen of Amsterdam, New York; one sister Eleanor Pallotta and her husband Joseph of Saratoga Springs, New York; 11 grandchildren and four great‐grandchildren [which represents a 6th generation of a proud line of Guardiol‐Americani]; nieces, nephews, and cousins also sur‐vive.

(***ABOVE OBITUARY TAKEN FROM THE AMSTERDAM RECORDER, FRI. JAN. 27, 2005 ISSUE)

MondoGuardiaregia would like to send its sincerest condolences to the Bottisti (Giambattista) family of the greater Amsterdam area, after hearing about the loss of Guardiolo, Nicholas Bottisti, and

also to the Lunardo Family of the greater Toronto area, regarding the loss of Francesco “Frank” Lunardo 2 months ago.

Francesco “Frank” Lunardo In the following weeks after last year’s “Festa di Guardiaregia” in Toronto, many Guardioli throughout Canada e‐mailed MondoGuardiaregia regarding the loss of one of the charter members of “Club Guardiaregia,” Francesco “Frank” Lunardo, who tragically passed away after collapsing during the night’s festivities. Due to this great show of love by many of his friends, who wanted the Guardioli of the World to remember this proud immigrant of Guardiaregia, MondoGuardiaregia would like to once again remember him. Nicknamed “Chicco Perito,” Frank is survived by his wife, Filomena, and also by his three sons; Domenic, Anthony, and Fabio. He also has 4 brothers and 1 sister. He will also remain in the memories of count‐less friends and paesani, which is evident by their outpouring of love and support to MondoGuardiaregia re‐garding the loss of Frank. A great representative of the Guardiola community, both in Toronto and around the world, he will surely be missed.

Nicholas A. Bottisti