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Per la traduzione in italiano cliccare la bandiera italiana in alto a destra
After Hurricane Katrina many people from New Orleans re-evaluated what really matters in life. While I enjoyed my material possessions – my faith, family and traditions\heritage are what I value most. Mardi Gras, jazz music, and the regions great food would all return but lesser known New Orleans traditions may be washed away by the storm. Once vibrant traditions like the Saint Joseph Altars and Mardi Gras Indians might both become historical pre-Katrina events, a new generation would need to step up to carry on.
You could say it was a calling when I moved the small Saint Joseph Altar from my home into a much bigger public altar at my jewelry store. In New Orleans it wasn’t enough anymore to celebrate a tradition with just close family and friends especially a Saint Joseph Altar that should be a community celebration.
Growing-up I thought everyone had a little Italian in them… in New Orleans that is close to the truth, by 1910 nearly eighty-percent of the people living in the French Quarter were from Italy (most Sicilian). Today there are over 200,000 people in the region of Italian descent. The Saint Joseph Altars I visited (as a little girl) were full of symbolic religious items (a bit formal and serious)… I remember being told not to touch anything on the beautiful altar and especially not to eat anything.
My father a jazz musician played for Louie Prima for several years, his father (my grandfather) came to New Orleans from Contessa Entellina, Sicily… of course our home was filled of music and pasta every Sundays. If I was going to do an Altar it was going present to the community best of my Italian heritage (food, music, warmth) and be in the true spirit of Saint Joseph be open to everyone.
I am so pleased the way the altar has grown each year the food, singing, and the diversity of the people that attend make for a wonderful community celebration. A unique tradition that withstood the destructive forces of Hurricane Katrina; a tradition with a renewed spirit that lives in the hearts of a community called New Orleans.
The annual Saint Joseph Altar at Anne Dale’s jewelry store continues a Catholic Italian New Orleans tradition while honoring our family’s ancestry of Ferrara, Catanese, Maestri and Labadini names.
Anne Ferrara Dale
[nggallery id=297]For translation in your language simply clik on the appropriate flag at the top right
Ieri mia cugina Maria Bertucci Compagno, a nostra insaputa, ha preparato un mega party di saluto per me e mia moglie, nel grande locale comune a tutto il comprensorio (Gatehouse of the Lakes) di- Mandeville. Erano presenti una quarantina di famiglie (più di 100 persone venuti, per l’occasione, anche da altri Stati) e la gran parte avevano radici usticesi – Picone, Palmisano, Giardina, Moltissimi Bertucci, Gumina, Mancuso, Licciardi, Tranchina, Caravella, Maggiore, Caserta, e altri della provincia di Palermo. Mi hanno chiesto molte informazioni su Ustica e tutti, dico tutti, hanno espresso il desiderio di visitarla. Ho rassicurato tutti della mia disponibilità, anche attraverso il mio sito www.usticasape.it , a fornire tutte le informazioni che mi verranno richieste e, con la mia presenza sull’Isola, aiutarli per rendere più piacere il loro soggiorno ad Ustica.
Colgo l’occasione per ringraziare, dopo mia cugina Maria Bertucci Compagno, Chris Caravella, Ron e Marlene Robershaw Manfrè, Rosa Tranchina, Fred Lauricella e tantissimi altri che hanno contribuito a rendere questa mia lunga vacanza negli Stati Uniti una esperienza di vita indimenticabile.
Grazie ancora a tutte le famiglie che ho avuto il piacere di incontrare e a quanti, pur avendo espresso il desiderio di incontrarmi, non hanno potuto per vari motivi.
Arrivederci ad Ustica
Pietro Bertucci
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Da Baton Rouge (LA) Loella Barilleau
What a wonderful party for Pietro and Pina…I’m sure everyone had a wonderful time.
Our Ambassador for the beautiful island of Ustica is very talented and we thank him for his wonderful website and updates on what is going on in Ustica.
Loella
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Dalla California Marlene Robershaw (Manfrè)
So happy to see the huge turnout at the farewell party for Pietro and Pina Bertucci !! Our country will miss the prescence of them both when they return to Ustica. They have brought so much happiness and good will with them. Pietro is definately an Ambassador of Ustica !!
Many of us will be anxious to visit Ustica and behold it’s beauty, the pleasures of the sea, the ancient archeological sites, the wonderful people, abundance of cousins and the good and healthy food.
God abundantly bless you both on your return trip and your entire life.
Our prayers and love,
Ron and Marlene Robershaw – Manfre
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Il piacere di stare insieme. Momenti di gioco … Momenti di musica e balli … Momenti culturali … ma anche momenti di preghiera …
[nggallery id=280]Gradita visita di Pierino Bertucci con la moglie Dolly e di Antonino Bertucci con la moglie Peggy ieri a Mandeville, in casa di Maria Compagno Bertucci.
La giornata è stata allietata da piacevoli ricordi e di esperienze rimasti sempre nitidi nella mente di Pierino. Ricordi che non svaniscono mai e che conserva sempre in fondo al cuore, legati alla vita vissuta ad Ustica (“la Sua Amata Isola”) …
“Il passato è ricordo e il futuro oblio. E noi oscilliamo sempre tra le due cose.”…
(Josephine Hart)
COMMENTO:
Da Ustica Salvo Tranchina
Ho provato un grande piacere a rivedere le foto di Pierino con la sua Dolly. Sarebbe bello poterli rivedere ad Ustica……….un abbraccio simbolico da tutta l’isola a tutti i nostri usticesi di oltre oceano.
Un mondo di auguri per tutti.
Salvo
The Fontainebleau High School boys’ soccer team from Mandeville, Louisiana handed the undefeated St. Paul’s High School team from Covington, Louisiana their first loss on January 25, 2011. The Fontainebleau Bulldogs made the first goal late in the first half. The St. Paul Wolves came back to tie it in the second half. There were two ten minute overtime segments without scoring. Fontainebleau won in penalty kicks. Winning the game and the following two district games helped secure a ranking of #11 for Fontainebleau High School in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Boys Soccer brackets for state playoffs in Division 1. Playoffs begin Saturday, February 5, 2011. The finals game will be played in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 26, 2011.
HIGHLIGHT PLAYER FOR FHS:
Andrew Tarbell, the Fontainebleau Bulldogs’ goalie, is a junior in high school. He has a verbal commitment to play at Clemson University in South Carolina beginning in the fall of 2012. His soccer achievements include:
2010 Olympic Development Program (ODP) 93 Region III
NCAA Final Four Interregional Trip in Santa Barbara, California in 2010
2009 Olympic Development Program Team 93 Region III
2009 Disney Showcase-Winter Interregional All-Star Team
2010 Rio de Janeiro International Tour
2009 Olympic Development Program Team 92 Region III
2010 London International Tour
2009 Louisiana State Olympic Development Program Team 93
Andrew has served as captain of his club premier team for 7 straight years. He is captain of the FHS Bulldogs this year. He was Mandeville Soccer Club Premier Player of the Year for 2009 and 2010. He is an outstanding soccer player but also an outstanding young man in every aspect. He is also modest with his many accomplishments. The FHS Bulldogs are fortunate to have him.
Paul Connick ricorda con nostalgia i giorni trascorsi ad Ustica e saluta, con affetto, tutti i componenti della squadra di Baseball che si è recata a New Orleans.
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COMMENTO:
Da Ustica Mariangela Licciardi
Grazie per questa foto, sono di sicuro miei parenti. Mi piacerebbe spere il nome del loro antenato che lasciò Ustica così da farmi aiutare da papà a fare i collegamenti di parentela…………..grazie un abbraccio
Mariangela
West bank end New Orleans Bertucci gathering
[nggallery id=249]COMMENTO:
Da Mandeville (Louisiana) Kevin Plaisance (Bertucci)
It truly was a pleasure meeting your and your wife today, and I will hopefully see you again soon at the meeting next Friday.
P.S. – This was the first gathering for my family involving Bertucci relations from both Ustica and New Orleans, Louisiana. We met some new friends and shared some great stories. Thanks to Maria Bertucci Compagno for organizing this wonderful luncheon at her home.
Kevin
