Interviewer: CJ, you have been writing Petals from Roseland for three years now — happy anniversary, by the way — and based on the 36 columns or so that you’ve written, what have you learned? (Now, I can put down the mirror and answer the question.) Three years ago, when I began writing this column, my background consisted of my having been born and brought up in Roseland, which I left in 1970. Since Fra Noi editor Paul Basile selected me to write the column, I have attended monthly dinners, community breakfasts, club meetings, picnics, reunions, pizza gatherings, church festivals, …

For many years, Roseland was just a memory that we spoke about when we got together with family or, on the rare occasions when we ran into them, childhood friends. Some groups, like the Veneti nel Mondo, have a singular mission, such as honoring Italy’s Veneto region. However, they also have many Roselandites as members, which invariably leads to reminiscing about how Roseland was an important part of their lives. Then there are groups of Roselandites in Arizona, California and Florida who get together now and then specifically to recall their days in Roseland. When going on the internet became …

Growing up in Roseland’s Kensington neighborhood, it took years before it occurred to me that Italians weren’t they only ethnic group that claimed Roseland as their beloved community. When I was growing up, there were us Italians and then there were ‘those Americans.’ In a nutshell, that is what this column is about: the Italians of Roseland have joined all the other descendants of ethnic groups in becoming ‘those Americans’ that we grew up talking about. I was reminded of that fact recently when I received a letter from Marion Irvine Phillips of Hudson, Fla. Marion had previously written me …

Roseland was named in honor of the many roses that the Dutch settlers had planted to beautify the area. In addition to having many gardens and flowers sprouting throughout Roseland, there came to be six florists in Roseland, but the one florist that meant the most to those of us that attended St. Anthony’s was Richard’s Flower Shop at 11503 S. Michigan Ave. They were ‘our’ florist. Richard “Popo” Guastalli married a Petrocelli, who was part of the Parise family from Parises of Kensington and Front Street, which shows how interconnected the families of Roseland were. He was the original …

Former Roselandites who enjoy the drive into Roseland, arrived at St. Anthony’s on March 20 to the welcoming smiles of fellow Roselandites and St. Anthony Alumni that they hadn’t seen in many years. The Alumni brought many people out for the celebration of mass and the sharing of the St. Joseph’s table. It also gave many people the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with former fellow students, teachers and parishioners. I made the promised trip to Rockford the day before and provided more than 20 one pound ciopette. At the south end of the church hall the ciope were laid out …

The Roseland Roundtable began a little over a year ago as a Facebook site. Danny Bovino, Paul Petraitis, and CJ Martello got together at Harbor Lights Restaurant on 115th to talk about their love for Roseland and made plans to preserve the memories of Roseland. This discussion led to the RoselandRoundtable Facebook site that today boasts 2390 Friends and presents over 1000 photos. In addition, there is a monthly Roseland Roundtable get together at various restaurants in the south suburbs. Thanks to the networking, or discussion, possibilities presented by Facebook, you can always find lively commentary below any of the …

Lou Ann Sola Pretto, Gina Frighetto Sakiewicz, Ana Magnabosco, Louise Panozzo, Jack Rossi, Fran Trentacosti, Carol Miceli, Edda Mancuso, Tony Pittacora, Vince Zopetti, “Midge”, Mike Maglis, CJ Jim Martello, Adriano and Gina Magnabosco, Bob and Lorraine Brezich, Chuck and Beverly Carli, Julia Munoz, Madelyn Wolf, Georgia Vroman, Jo (Josephine) Navarette, Gloria Bernardi and her son John Bernardi, and Marilyn Meneghini Carone, Dan and Sue Bovino, Dennis and Debbie Carlotto. I’m sure you’ll recognize more than a few of the names. It’s amazing that this is 2011 and yet, the family names that we heard so often when we were younger …

Let’s go back to the November 2009 Ciope Hunt! Apparently, there are a couple of people who have a ciope recipe: Gloria Slivensky from Minnesota and Tony Maro of Chicago. I came across Gloria on the website Chowhound and the next time she makes ciope, she is going to photograph the process. Tony Maro posted photos on Facebook of ciope he made last year and plans to forward me the recipe. For the time being we’re in a holding pattern until someone shares their ciope recipe with us but I’ll keep you posted. Talking about food has sparked my desire …

A little over two years ago, I began my journey as the author of Petals from Roseland. Little did I know at the time that I would be tapping into the fountain of youth. Of course, now I’ll have to explain myself. Roseland as we knew it in our youth was a fun place to grow up with the same friends, some we still have today, and familiar businesses and schools and hangouts. I was recently reminded of those days of our youth, not necessarily mine, while at a Spaghetti-Os dinner. Aldo Panozzo had a small photo album he was …

Roseland was a community unto itself. There were clothing and shoe stores galore and Gately’s People’s Store for a major department store. There were restaurants up and down Michigan Avenue (The Ave), including Tony’s Snack Shop, Snack Time, Giovanni’s, Nino’s and Krapil’s, and Kresge’s and Woolworth’s each had a food counter. Over the past couple of years, a number of people have mentioned various theaters that were in the Roseland community. Those included the Normal, Verdi, State, Roseland Show, Parkway and Ridge. The State Theater (11016-20 S. Michigan Ave.) seated 2,000 and was much more stylish than any of the …