Columns

To speak fluently in another language, it is important to know how to make comparisons. Every day we all compare the characteristics of one thing to another — larger vs. smaller, older vs. younger, better vs. worse — often while describing what we prefer. The Italian language uses precise sentence structures and specific prepositions when making comparisons that are not always identical to English. In this blog, we will explore several ways to make comparisons that use the Italian preposition di.  The good news is that Italian is consistent, and it is easy to learn the “Italian way” of thinking …

The Italian verb mettere and its reflexive counterpart mettersi are used in many colloquial expressions in Italy today.  It is important to “put in” the time to learn how to use mettere, both literally and figuratively, if one wants to speak Italian like a native! The Italian verb mettere is most often translated into English as “to put” or “to place.”  It can be used in a simple way, to describe moving an object from one place to another. Mettere is commonly used with the prepositions a, da, in and su  in many Italian expressions that have the connotation of “putting” …

Fifty is a nice round number and since I possess a 1972 Greater Roseland Area Directory and a 1972 Calumet Index Ninth Edition Greater Roseland Area Annual Yearbook, I thought it would be great if we could review what was happening 50 years ago. Roseland’s service organizations were the main topic of the Annual Yearbook. As we’re all aware, Roseland had many charitable service organizations that we or our parents belonged to. I know as a student at St. Willibrord’s High School, I was involved with the Lions Club through the Key Club Program, which got us out on the …

Last year was one of the wildest rides in recent memory for the real estate industry. For realtors representing their buyers, 2021 was one long, mad scramble to help clients buy their home, with realtors representing sellers facing challenges of their own. The perseverance and patience of buyers’ agents was deeply tested throughout the year. With home inventory shortages stacking the odds in favor of the sellers, winning calls for highest and best offers could be quite discouraging. On the financing end of things, buyers were rushing to prequalify for letters of pre-approval so that they were able to take …

Italian cinema lost one of its most iconic stars on Feb. 2 with the passing of Monica Vitti at the age of 90. She suffered from dementia and hadn’t made a public appearance in nearly 20 years, but her acting prowess and simple-yet-stunning beauty will echo for generations to come. Born Maria Luisa Ceciarelli in Rome on Nov. 3, 1931, Vitti pursued acting as a teenager. She started in amateur theater before her formal training at Rome’s National Academy of Dramatic Arts. Shortly after graduating in 1953, she toured Germany with an Italian acting troupe and then returned to her …

On March 14, 1891, in New Orleans, 11 Italians found not guilty in a murder trial were dragged from their jail cells by thousands of enraged citizens, who promptly shot and hanged them. More than eight decades later, on March 14, 1972, another assault on Italian immigrants took place, this time on a cultural level. On that day, “The Godfather” premiered at the Loew Loew’s Theater in New York. The epic gangster film broke box-office records and set the standard for movie blockbusters on the way to becoming an American classic, replete with memorable quotes like “Leave the gun. Take …

To speak fluently in another language, it is important to know how to introduce an object or to describe direction, location or time. We do this naturally in our own language with prepositions — short words like of, to, at/in/from, and by. All languages use prepositions but the choice of preposition in a given situation will differ from one language to another. This is the case for English and Italian; English and Italian often use prepositions in a different way. Also, in some situations Italian sentence structure may require a preposition where English does not! Let’s take a look at …

The picture at the bottom of this column truly is worth a thousand words! It depicts the largest gathering of major Italian-American leaders in history. The photo was taken on Dec. 4, 2021, in Washington, D.C., at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (copomiao.org). The conclave was held the day after an unprecedented reception between the delegation and Italy’s new ambassador to the United States, Mariangela Zappia. The bond forged at this gathering allows our community to begin working with the ambassador’s staff to implement an exciting new strategic program. The subsequent COPOMIAO meeting …

Throughout the 13 years I’ve been writing this column I’ve heard many stories, and the fun part is I don’t have to seek them out! You readers are more than willing to talk about your Roseland days. At any of the many occasions that bring Roselandites together — whether it’s a gathering sponsored by St. Anthony’s, an event hosted by the Pullman National Monument or a chance encounter at a funeral — all anyone has to do is mention the old neighborhood and the stories begin to flow. Here are some of those stories that I can recall. Feel free …

Pier Paolo Pasolini continues to be one of the most relevant filmmakers in world cinema. This month, he is being honored for his centennial year. Born on March 5, 1922, in Bologna, the renowned poet, filmmaker and intellectual would have turned 100 next month. We’ve discussed Pasolini’s 1964 film, “Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo” (The Gospel According to St. Matthew) many times in this blog and in the printed edition of the magazine. It’s become an annual tradition in my household to watch the film during the Lenten season. What continues to amaze me is how the film stays so relevant. …