LITTLE ITALY NEWS JANUARY 2010 EDITION

www.littleitalytroy.org
Thanks for a new Christmas tradition
The humble sounds of the bagpipe, reminiscent of shepards coming
from the hills to the towns of Abruzzi, Apulia or Calabria during
Christmas time; the festive sounds of the accordion played to accompany children singing holiday songs; the melodies of Italian
carols from the strings of a mandolin, played with such heart and
skill, on a street corner, while chestnuts roasted these were some
of the memories of the event to herald in the Christmas season in
Troys Little Italy last week. The musicians were Tristan Wilson
(on bagpipe), John Chupka (on accordion) and Dominic Adamo
(on mandolin). The chestnuts, compliments of Michael LoPorto,
were roasted by Jerry Favata.
The blessing of the Ceppo by Deacon Chuck Wojton of South
Troys St. Josephs Church began with a minute of silence in memory of our beloved friend and neighbor Josie DeFazio. The Ceppo,
designed and constructed by Joe Mix and Anthony DeFazio and
members of the wood working class at Questar III, contained the
gift of a Nativity set from St. Anthony of Padua Shrine Church.
Our neighborhoods first community Christmas tree, located opposite the Square, an impressive seventeen foot pine tree which grew
in the backyard of the DeFazio family residence on Fourth Street
for the past thirty years, was donated by Josie and Tony DeFazio.
People gathered at Lisas Gelateria to hear the Italian folk tale of
La Befana in an entertaining performance by Claire Davis, based
on a version from Tomi DePaolas book, The Legend of Old Befana. Lisa and Terry Jordan, gracious hosts at the story telling
event, provided a complimentary assortment of holiday treats and
warm beverages. Later in the evening Professor/Cavalier Philip
DiNovo, founder and president of the American Italian Heritage
Association, presented slide program filled with memories of Italian Christmas traditions, at a comfortable meeting space provided
by George Regan. Dr. Phil remarked that Troys Little Italy still
retains much of the ambiance of the friendly, city neighborhood he
remembers when visiting his maternal grandparents, the Sgarlatas,
who resided here in the 30s.
Many thanks to the seventy or so individuals (adults and children)
who braved a damp, chilly evening on the night of our first snow
fall of the season, to attend our event. Special thanks to all mentioned above and also to Carmella Casale, Dan Iacketta, Jean
Krueger, and Bill Chamberlain and the City of Troy DPW employees.
Mike Esposito for event planning members, Rocco DeFazio
(Chair), Marion Field and Andrea Daley

troylittleitaly@gmail.com

VICTORIAN STROLL 2009 *** BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

The Adopt a Family committee of Little Italy and St. Anthony's would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support. With the ziti dinner, Breakfast with Santa, the
silent Auction, and generous donations from area businesses, parishioners of St Anthony's Church, bingo workers and players, we raised $2500 along with food, toys and
other donations. $500 and 20 turkeys were donated to the Rourke Center and 20 turkeys to the CYO, the rest of the money was used for Christmas shopping.
We were able to provide a Happy Holiday to 6 families and toys to children in the
ESNY program. We were joined by the Circle K group from RPI who adopted a family
of their own. The money they raised from their holiday pie sale topped $900 in sales.
They shopped till they dropped and did it all with big smiles on their faces.

I would like to thank Marion Field, St Anthony's church and Troy Little Italy for their
support and help, Tony Behan (owner of the bingo hall) for letting us use his facilities
and supporting our cause, the local businesses who gave to us for either the Auction or
the Breakfast, Jerry Favata for flipping pancakes and helping at the visitors center, Tom
and Kathy Turner, and Dave and Brenda Holmstedt for helping us set up, break down
and run errands and all our little bakers for the holiday treats for the Ziti Dinner and the
Silent Auction.
Thanks also to Michael Margiasso for the beautiful wreath, Brenda Holmstedt for the

lovely candle set,

and Beverly Maloney for the handmade
throw they donated to our raffle for he
day of the Stroll, Sandy Anselment for
her skills with shopping and pinching
pennies till they cry, Dave Holmstedt and
Mike Carlow for playing the big man for
us so well. And Santas helpers Mickey
Farrington, Donna Megan, Jo Ann Guertin, Linda Skarrup and Carolyn Nolan.
I cant forget our most important contributor's, The Bingo Players. They
brought in food for Thanksgiving, new
toys and clothing for our families and if
they won a game, they gave a little extra.
Hopefully I didn't forget anyone
and again to all of you, Thank You. Wait
until next year we are thinking bigger and
better.

December 2009 Neighborhood Watch Update

Meeting Summary: There were 121 calls from the South Central Troy area resulting in 28 arrests. At each meeting, a map is
given to attendees that indicates what each call/arrest was for, and where it was. Several properties have been cited for code violations.
Decembers meeting was well attended and the food and holiday festivities at the ICC were enjoyed by all!
There are still concerns regarding robberies and trespassing. Please do not hesitate to call in any suspicious activity. Garbage
issues (problem properties) and pick up issues were discussed. Specifics are being given to DPW by Officer McDonald. If you have a
neighbor that is not following garbage pickup guidelines, please feel free to call DPW at 270-4579. The city has been responsive to
problem properties and sending citations.
General Information: If you are concerned about a code violation, suspected illegal activity or tenant issue, please feel free to
email Officer Chris McDonald at chris.mcdonald@troyny.gov or call him at (518) 270-4789. If you would like to receive regular updates through email and get crime alerts, please send an email to sctroywatch@gmail.com. The next Neighborhood Watch Meeting will
be on January 20th at 6:00 at the Freihofers Race Headquarters at the corner of 4th and Washington. We hope to see you there. BE
SAFE!!
HELP US REAC OUT TO MORE NEIGHBORS
While the SCTroyWatch emails reach over 350 individuals including residents in the Little Italy, Historic Sage, Washington
Park, Think First and the Pottery District neighborhoods, we are still missing residents. If you have a new neighbor please ask them if
they would like to be added to the list. Please just send, or have them send an email to SCTroyWatch@gmail.com with the email address to be added.

Apartments for Rent

in Little Italy
Modern, clean apartment near RPI & Sage,
Laundry, lease required, quite neighborhood, References, No pets, non - smoker.
Call 542-1055
245 2nd Street
(Vicinity Washington Park) Victorian brick
row house, convenient to Sage, library,
downtown amenities. Smoke free house.
No dogs 3rd Floor - 1 br, lr, k, lg bath,
great light, good closet space. $625 (inc
heat) + security. Call 518/273-1692
Liberty Square neighborhood in Little
Italy, large 3 bedroom. 1st floor, appliances, w/d hookup, off street parking, No
dogs. Call 518-272-6660 or 518-274-4344

3rd floor, 3 bedroom, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen $600.oo/month, 1

months security, utilities not included
call 368-2516
Upscale 1 Bedroom, bamboo and ceramic tile throughout, central air, Dishwasher, built-in micro-wave, jetted tub,
separate shower washer/dryer combo. No
pets or smokers.$800.00/month, 1
months security, utilities not included
Washington Park, 224 3rd St, 2nd fl.
Just renovated, original hrdwd fls, Large
Family room overlooking the park, 2 bedrooms, dining room, new bathroom, large
kitchen. Bright sunroom in rear overlooks
garden. Great for artist or work at home.
New washer/dryer in bldg. $1,100 mo.
Inc. heat and hot water. Lease and references, no smokers, no pets. Call Pete,

South Central/Little Italy News

The Record, December 27, 2009. Creativity, commitment equal success by Mike
Esposito. The Troy Treasure column presented a year end summary of Little Italy events
and accomplishments.
Siena News, December 17, 2009. An Old-World Tuscan Tradition Comes to Siena.
Siena College celebrated the Christmas season with an old-world, Tuscan tradition a
ceppo. Siena alum, parent, and friend of the College, Rocco DeFazio 75 introduced the
idea of putting up the wooden, pyramid shaped structure to the Siena College Chaplains
Office.
The Record, December 4, 2009. Little Italy Christmas on Saturday by Tom Caprood.
Members of Troys Little Italy will hold a traditional Christmas celebration Saturday in
Liberty Square, at the intersection of Fourth and Liberty streets, featuring festivities in
line with the customs of old Italy.

275 Fourth Street, looking for a new use

and owner. Price reduced to sell. For info,
look for sign in window.

January Meetings
Note new times and places
1/20 Weed & Seed
5 pm
Italian Community Center, 1450 5th
Avenue
1/20 Neighborhood Watch
233 Fourth Street
1/27 TNAC
233 Fourth Street

6:15 pm

5:30 pm

Creativity, commitment equal success

By Mike Esposito
2009 was another banner year for Troys Little Italy. Important contributions regarding our commitment to record and preserve our
neighborhoods Italian heritage and culture were among the highlights of the year. An engaging series, At Liberty: The Saga of an ItaloAmerican Family, written by Frank LaPosta Visco in our monthly newsletter, is a work of non-fiction, but represents a composite of
people and incidents familiar to most of us. In June, Arcadia, the largest publisher of local history in America, released my book, Troys
Little Italy, a history and pictorial compilation of life in our neighborhood. Also this summer, Dan Lennon assembled a DVD on our
neighborhood history which was shown for the first time at our Quadricentennial event celebrating the diverse ethnic groups who lived
in South Central one hundred years ago. Our first venture at an oral history project was taped and broadcast by WRPI in September. In
December we shared old country Christmas traditions at a public event in Liberty Square complete with a Ceppo, a storytelling of
the Italian folk legend of La Befana, carols in both Italian and English, a community tree, and a slide presentation on Italian Christmas
traditions.
Our monthly newsletter (available in print and online), allows us to communicate and extend neighborhood news beyond our borders. It
is always gratifying to hear from former residents and from the public at large as they follow our activities. We are working toward improvements to our website and volunteers are in the process of organizing and categorizing almost two thousand photos and images from
our growing archival collection of life in Little Italy.
Several established events continue to recreate the former public market on Hill Street as an important local social space featuring interesting four season events for families. Our spring stickball tournament, billed as We Play for Food, was a benefit for the Roarke Center. Seven teams organized this fall to form the Troy Stickball League playing regularly on Sunday and Monday evenings. Bocce enthusiasts schedule their games in our two courts on Thursday evenings, demonstrating the age old sport to newcomers by their lively playing of the game. Our outdoor Italian language film series, city-wide garage sale/flea market and the return of a seasonal farmers market
are crowd pleasers.
Our first ever Winter Carnival held in a huge heated tent in the MarketPlace over a two-day period in February attracted several hundred people with cabin fever. The success of this summers four week Baseball and More day camp held at the Sage College Recreation Center, sponsored by the City of Troy, Little Italy, the Tri-City ValleyCats and the Troy Police Athletic League and supported by
partnerships with several local organizations and businesses, is a good example of the kind of program we look forward to continuing.
Our South Central Neighborhood Watch continues to serve as a model for other Troy neighborhoods. We also take great pride in representing our neighborhood at community events such as the ICC Festa Italiana and the Victorian Stroll.
A highlight of the year was organizing and hosting a Quadricentennial event as part of the citys week long celebration in September.
During the entire planning process, culminating with the exciting and memorable day of the event, we worked alongside representatives
of many ethnic organizations, the citys special planning committee, local businesses, and dozens of neighborhood volunteers. Bakers
provided a delicious array of ethnic foods, talented musicians and dancers entertained, history buffs assisted in doing research on the
neighborhood, people contributed photographs and images for a worship sites display, those with creative abilities in arts and crafts exhibited their wares, and information was shared about diverse cultures and traditions. An estimated six hundred people attended the
event held at the MarketPlace on Hill Street.
Loyal volunteers led by Rocco DeFazio and Marion Field and the growing number of partnerships weve formed continue to challenge
us to move forward in our neighborhood revitalization efforts. We wish you all a healthy, happy and productive New Year.

Thank You, Mayor Tutunjian and City of Troy staff for the new look in the Marketplace

AT LIBERTY
The Saga of an Italo-American Family
in South Troy
By Frank LaPosta Visco
Book Two, Chapter 3: A Date That Will
Live In Infamy
I was almost a year old on December 7,
1941, so I really don't have a first-hand
recollection of the shocked reactions on
the faces of those around me. I'm pretty
sure no one in Troy's Little Italy even
knew where Pearl Harbor was, or what it
was.
They just knew that it had been attacked,
our Navy was in ruins, and that we were
now at war a war not just with Japan,
but with Germany, too. A war against
two countries, a hemisphere apart. Today,
it's remembered and commemorated as an
ancient and honorable victory over two
evil empires, won at great cost to much of
the world and to virtually every American
family.
But try to imagine what it meant to those
families the instant change in attitude,
in purpose, and the life-changing decisions facing the young men and women
of the time.
World War Two was every American's
war even those whose grandparents had
come from the very countries that were
attacking us and our allies. Little Italy,
especially the enclave of Tory Hill, which
encompassed the part of Liberty Street
across the railroad tracks, St. Mary's and
Havermans Avenues, was a pretty closed
community back then but the ItaloAmericans who made up the great majority of the population had to go outside its
imaginary walls to shop, work and go to
school.
Of course, it was easier for people of
European backgrounds to blend into the
general population. We didn't know anyone of Japanese extraction back then, but
the wave of ugly propaganda was especially hard on them, and, frankly, the
resulting focus on their incarceration in
the western states probably brought some
sense of relief to my relatives, as well as
to those of German extraction.
Not that it was easy, even for a family
whose name had been Americanized
from Caserta to Case. Even though it had
been an innocent enough change, there
were people who suspected that the name
had been changed to facilitate spying for
the Old Country. Any communication
with relatives in Italy or Germany was
now suspect. Social clubs that had been

founded to help equalize the ethnic communities were mistrusted and even reviled.
Despite that, the Case brothers helped
rally the community and used their talents
at organizing and producing plays and
musical reviews to continue their efforts,
redirecting the proceeds of their shows to
the USO, the United Service Organizations.
Begun with foresight in February of
1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
The USO was and is a private, nonprofit organization created to provide onleave recreation for the rapidly growing
United States armed forces. In response to
the increasing world crisis, U.S. troops
grew from 50,000 to 12 million between
1940 and 1945! USO clubs all over the
world provided a touch of home a place
to dance, to meet, to watch movies, to
find solace, to write letters home, and to
enjoy free coffee and doughnuts.
Before the war would end, over a million and a half volunteers would work on
the USO's behalf. Everyone in Little Italy
pitched in. People who once played, sang
and danced just for family gatherings,
now brought their talents to the stage for
the whole community to enjoy, and contribute to the war effort.
Everyone seemed to pull together back
then, under the commonly heard phrase,
For the duration.
Backyard gardens suddenly became
Victory Gardens, and with rationing of
tires, gasoline, meat, butter and other supplies needed for the war, cooperation was
the watchword.
Blackouts were common, and men and
women who were unable to fight became
neighborhood Wardens, patrolling the
streets at night, making sure no lights
could be seen and used as targets by possible enemy aircraft. Children were
trained to recognize and identify aircraft
by their silhouettes, and to report any
suspicious shapes in the sky.
Summertime lemonade stands now supported the USO, as did the traditional
backyard circuses that the neighborhood kids put together, with performing
pets and acrobatics. Breaking news of the
war came from our radios, war action film
was shown in newsreels at the movie
theaters, and detailed reports of the fighting as well as lists of the dead and missing in action came from newspapers.
No one who was in the neighborhood at
the time, in early 1942, can ever forget
the screams of a mother on Havermans

Avenue when she was told of her son's

ultimate sacrifice in the very country she
had left many years before to escape the
hardships of life.
Her wailing sobs struck deep, and awakened the fears of every family with a
member in service, or about to be.
Copyright 2010 Frank LaPosta Visco
Next: In Book 2, Chapter 4: War stories.

Little Italy Real Estate

For Sale
1 FAMILY
191 Second St.
$499,900 Karen
892-1326
261 Liberty St.
$54,900 Harvey
466-1303
164 Second St.
$269,000 Michael
813-6049
504 Washington St. $105,000 Willie
348-2060
1033 Sixth Ave.
$59,500 Yvonne
788-6381
1023 Fifth Ave.
$124,900 Cindy
269-8278
56 Havermans Ave. $145,900 Deb
688-1504
2 FAMILY
190 Third St.
588-6755
1045 Sixth Ave.
496-4145
310 Second St.
788-6381
42 Ida St.
885-9121
198 Hill St.
857-5427
2512 Fifth Ave.
798-2819
MULTI UNITS
1 Irving Place
852-1365
191-193 Second St.
892-1326
199 Fourth St.
961-3313
341 Fourth St.
727-3949
283 Fourth St.
724-5959
78 Hill Street
331-4755

$99,000

James

$45,900

Diane

$99,900

Yvonne

$64,500

Patricia

$118,500 James
$26,000

John

$215,500 Richard
$849,000 Karen
$119,900 Jay
$174,900 Allen
$99,000

Tom

$59,900

William

Apartment Listings are

Located on Page 3

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Open for Business

Starting Monday January 11, the visitor
center will be open from 10 am to 3 pm.
Stop in to say hello, have a cup of coffee,

tell us about your concerns for the

neighborhood, bring us pictures and
articles for the monthly newsletter.
If your unable to come in. we can be
reached by phone at 519-326-0415, or
send us your pictures via e-mail to
littleitaly visitor center@gmail.com
A few ideas that were discussed to keep
us busy during the winter months are a
scrabble tournament or doing exercises
with a Wii Fit lus. If you have any other
ideas, we would like to hear them. Stop in
anytime, everyone is welcome. You do
not have to live in the area to join us.

Free Income Tax

Weed and Seed will be conducting their
VITA Site again this year at the Italian
Community Center, 1450 Fifth Avenue,
Troy N.Y. Parking and handicap
accessibility are available. The program
runs from the beginning of February until
the first week of April.
Check next months issue for income
requirements and hours of operation.
Last years program was very successful.
Over a hundred people had their taxes
done which returned a large sum of
money to our area.

The passing of a great lady

Josephine Cioffi DeFazio died Thursday December 3, 2009 at her residence surrounded
by her loving family. Josephine loved most working with her husband and family in

their business, A. DeFazios Imports in

Troy Little Italy for more than 57 years.
Josie will be remembered for her generous heart. She worked to support Italian
immigration laws in the 60s and 70s,
was a proud member of the Siena College
Mothers Club during the 80s and active
member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. Josie was a communicant
of St. Anthonys Church in Troy, where
she volunteered extensively by organizing
spaghetti suppers and baked ziti dinners,
for which she was well-known. She also
organized and planned the annual Feast of
St. Josephs Dinner, which fed thousands
of underprivileged and disadvantaged in
downtown Troy and raised money for the
Boys Town of Italy and Earthquake Relief for both Naples and Sicily.
The city of Troy, the Rensselaer County
Legislature, the Rensselaer County Historic Society and the Albany Symphony
Orchestra honored her as a business
owner and for the many charitable works
she did for the community she so loved.
She is survived by her beloved husband
Anthony P. DeFazio, whom she married
December 22, 1940, and four children,
eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Her grandson, Michael, wrote and delivered the following moving eulogy which the family shares with our readers:
Good Morning.
Mother Theresa once said It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much
love we put in the giving. Josephine DeFazio put more love into what she did and gave to us more than we could ever imagine. She
loved working with her husband, sons and grandchildren everyday and making food for her friends. Josie did not have customers; she
only had family and friends. Josie considered every person who walked through that door on 4th street a friend or part of her family.
Josie was there to offer helpful advice or just to have a nice conversation. Her advice and lessons she shared will stay with us the rest
of our lives. She gave such comfort in that beautiful smile that would never leave her face whether you were speaking to her or if you
just exchanged glances. Family, to Josie, was everything. It was the source of her love that enabled her to do and give so much to others.
The love that she instilled in us is shown through our familys active role in Troys community. She taught her family to spread that love
to others so we can carry on her legacy.
But she loved no one more than her husband, who she simply referred to as T. Behind every great man there is a greater woman and
yes I know it may be a clich but it has never applied so well. With a woman like Josie by his side my grandfather must have felt like he
could conquer the world, which to us seems like he did. This is a man who met with several Presidents, Popes, Bishops and Senators.
On one of her many trips back to Italy my grandmother acquired this Cornicello necklace. She wore it for years around her neck and
never took it off. Then for my 15th birthday she gave this necklace to me. She said to me this is my heart Michael; you must always
keep it close to you. I realized though that this was only a part of her heart, because she gave a piece of her heart and soul to every
person that ever walked into her life. Any person that ever met her still has the slightest piece of her heart with them that they will carry
forever. Josie will always live on with every single one of us because she touched us so deeply and profoundly. So please spread that
love that Josie gave you. Its what she would have wanted. Thank you. We love you Nana.