LITTLE ITALY NEWS APRIL 2012 EDITION

www.littleitalytroy.org

troylittleitaly@gmail.com

South Central/Little Italy

News
The Record, March 25, 2012.
Community Fresco project calls
for entries; top prize a trip to Italy,
by Kathryn Caggianelli. Informative article about the Bella Vita
Fresco and Mural Project, originated by Fourth Street restoration
artist Andea Daley.
The Record, March 18, 2012. She
never forgot her hometown, by
Mike Esposito. Maureen Stapleton, a gifted Broadway, film, and
television actress from First Street
in Troy was known as a Troy
Booster and had a distinguished
career spanning over sixty years.
Daily Gazette, February 24, 2012.
McLoughlin Take 2: Stapleton is
South Troys Oscar legend, by
John McLoughlin. A long time fan
and friend of Maureen Stapleton,
John shares personal stories of
their relationship.
Times Union,, March 28, 2012.
Its not delivery, by Leigh Hornbeck, photo by John Carl DAnnibale. Rocco DeFazio, owner/
operator of DeFazios Pizzeria and
DeFazios Import Store rates frozen pizza for consumers and gives
his professional opinion.
We Remember . . .
Peter A. Ricci, son of the late Angelo and Frances (Sands) Ricci,
beloved husband of Carole Ann
(Mullin) and father of Lorraine
Robichaud, died on Sunday,
March 25, 2012. Peter, born in
Troy and graduated from St.
Marys School and Troy High
School, was a well known bartender for many years at the
Camelot Restaurant and the OTB
Teletheater in Albany, Marios in
Troy, and the Turf Inn in Latham
and owned and operated Petes
Circle Diner in Latham. At the
time of his death he was a Sales

Associate at Home Depot in

Latham. He proudly served with
the New York Air National Guard
109th Airlift Unit in Schenectady
and was an active member of the
Colonie Elks #2192 and the
American Legion, Joseph E.
Zaloga Post #1520. Our condolences to Carle Ann, Lorraine, and
his siblings, Adeline Lee Styno
and Michael Ricci.
Edward J. Mazzarillo, formerly of
Fourth Street, son of the late Frank
A. and Mary E. Ennis Mazzarillo
and life-long companion of the
late Margaret McAvoy, died Sunday, March 25, 2012. Edward was
a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving during the Korean War conflict. Brother of the late Joseph,
John, Frank, Patrick, Anthony,
Dorothy, Phyliss, Tessie and Gloria Mazzarillo, he is survived by
his son George and step-children
Catherine, Richard, Mary Lou,
Pamela, Deborah and Candace and
the late John Edward as well as
twelve grandchildren and seven
great grandchildren. Edward was
employed as a machinist at General Electric prior to his retirement. Our condolences to the
Mazzarillo and McAvoy families.

April Meeting
4/18/2012
Neighborhood Watch
6 pm
Little Italy 6:30 pm
233 Fourth Street
Corner of Washington
and Fourth

Pictures of a few dishes

you might find in an
Italian household on
Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday at Aunt Claras

By Mike Esposito
For the first thirty years of my life, Easter Sunday was spent with family at the home of my aunt and uncle, Clara
and Michael Terribile at 30 Havermans Avenue (corner of Washington Street). The first floor dining area was the
largest room in the house. Usually by Holy Saturday, two, six foot folding tables would be set up adjacent to the
huge ornate dining room table to form a configuration that used three quarters of the rooms space. Chairs for seating around the expanded table included the sturdy, cushion seated chairs regularly assigned to the dining room,
well worn kitchen chairs, several wooden and metal folding chairs, a stool or two when needed, and usually a highchair for a child under three. Youngsters sat at the furthest corner, sometimes two to a chair. When they finished
their meal, they would scramble underneath the tables to reach walking space. Everyone made do. No one seemed
concerned about the need for a quick exit in case of an emergency.
The kitchen, located on one side of the spacious basement area, also contained a hot water tank and a huge furnace.
These two necessities were both spotless - cleaned as often as any other appliance in the kitchen. The other half of
the basement (separated by a wall) was the cellar portion which, depending on the season, was the storage area for
bushels of apples, bins of potatoes and other produce, cheese and peppers hanging from the ceiling, and shelves of
canned goods. Aunt Clara never bought a few of these and a couple of those! The cellar also contained barrels
and winemaking paraphernalia.
The meal began at 2 pm but the table was set hours before with trays of biscotti, Italian cheese pie, Italian Easter
ring cake, tarralli (both sweet and savory), a couple bottles of wine and at least one full bottle of anisette to welcome relatives, paisans and neighbors who would visit after attending Easter Sunday mass, Easter being the most
important celebration of the church year.
Youngsters were enlisted to help the adults in transporting food from the kitchen up a narrow set of stairs to the
eating area. Usually two trips by the brigade would be sufficient. At the beginning of the meal, Zia Michela, Aunt
Claras mom and the senior member of the family, would rise from the table, dip a few stalks of celery in Holy
Water and bless the gathering. Her grandson, Vince Cavallo, was always the recipient of a special, heavy dousing.
A tray of sliced boiled eggs and sopressata (curried sausage) would be passed around the table to break the fast.
The main course was homemade ravioli, cavatelli, polpetta (meat balls) and bragiole (rolled steak). There were
many other items on the table as well, including baskets of pane (bread), finocchio (fennel), stuffed artichokes, and
a gigantic bowl of insalada with a mixture of romaine, ice berg lettuce, and veggies tossed with a dressing of virgin
olive oil and wine vinegar. We always ate our salad after the main course rather than before because we were told
it helped the digestion.
Following the main course there were baskets of fruit (including fresh dates and figs) and shelled, mixed nuts (but
never enough nut crackers). Aunt Claras sister, Assunta Cavallo, presented each youngster with their own delicious dessert cookie made from the dough of anginette in the shape of a wheel, covered with a glazed frosting,
colorful sprinkles, and a hardboiled egg in the center. Assuntas baked creation was a work of art. There were also
thick, brick like pieces of Torrone (nugat candy). They would be covered in cloth and hit with a hammer to form
smaller pieces. Expresso with anisette would be served with a variety of sweet dessert cakes and cookies (cannoli,
sfingi, strufoli, pignoli, cucidati).
All through the Easter meal family stories were retold, many about our dearly departed. Some tales were in Italian,
but always translated into English. These stories become a part of our collective memory bank. One year cousin
Donna Cavallo, a West Virginia beauty who married into the family, hid a cassette recorder in the room but there
were so many loud simultaneous conversations that the output was impossible to decipher. Pokeno was a popular
family game to pass the time but it never interfered with the multiple conversations. A non-Italian friend told me
once that joining us for dinner was like a scene from a Woody Allen movie. I took it as a compliment. Buona
Pasqua!

Kudos to Andrea Daley for

her Bella Vita project and
the wonderful presentation
of how Frescos in Little Italy
could bring awareness of our
rich Italian Heritage through
art. For more information:
www.diyrestoreit.com
diyrestoreit@gmail.com

Neighborhood Watch
We want to advise everyone that our area has been assigned a new Community Police Officer. Officer Wade did an excellent job helping out our area and he has transitioned into another
unit. We wish him well in his new position and thank him for his work.
Our new Community Police Officer is Kevin Sessions. Both Officer Sessions and Officer
Wade will be at our next meeting for the transition. At this point, if you have any new concerns, please send them to Officer Sessions at kevin.sessions@troyny.gov or reach him at his
desk phone (518) 270-4683.
Thanks and Be Safe
South Central Troy Neighborhood Watch

Sunny 1 Bedroom,
Completely remodeled
113 Jefferson St, Troy, NY
Located on second floor, 1
bedroom, living room, office
space, dining room, kitchen,
and large bathroom. Very
clean. Energy efficient appliances. New fixtures, carpet,
and flooring. Convenient
location, within walking distance of Sage College,
banks, restaurants, and cafes.
Easy access to I-90 and 787.
Available now.
$675.00 a month. Utilities
separate. Water, trash and
recycling included. First
month and security deposit
($675.00). Lease. No pets.
Non-smoker.
Contact Denise or Larry.
Phone: 518-786-3181.
saintonge@verizon.net

For Sale by Owner

108 Adams Street
1 Family
$137,00
Vic 1 917 693-7430
Troy Little Italy
2 bedroom, heat and hot
water included, excellent
condition, hardwood floors,
Old world charm, enclosed
porch and yard. Non smoker.
Security deposit and references required. $850 plus
Electric. For information
Contact Harriet at
419-304-7854

Apt. for Rent

Special Offer
Proud little Italy landlord wants
to do something special.
On the corner of 4th and Adams sits vacant a beautiful
storefront in a community in
need of a local, responsible,
participant business owner. As
the landlord of this property he
is looking for a person that is
eager to build a profitable business at this location both for
themselves and for the
community. Rent: Waived for
an agreed period of time to get
going. For info call Marion
518-266-1406 or
mvf1406@aol.com

1bdrm, 80 Division St., 2nd fl.,

850sf., balcony and backyard, convenient location on bus rte. Above
Allblues sewing Service. No
smoking on premises. Single preferred, references rqd., adults only,
no dogs, $550/mo + gas, elec. First
moth's and last month's rent plus
$200. cleaning and damage deposit due upon signing of rental
agmt. Call 518 867 5023 for info

Little Italy Real Estate

For Sale
1 FAMILY
261 Liberty Street
333 Fourth Street
164 Second Street
96 Ida Street

$198,000
$89,900
$235,900
$129,900

Judith
Marion
Louis
Joan

821-7284
266-1406
330-1979
423-3360

2 FAMILY
177 Hill Street
1038 Sixth Avenue
6 St. Mary's Avenue
8 St Mary's Avenue
121 Adams Street
1032 Fifth Avenue
190 Third Street

$89,900
$64,500
$76,760
$74,740
$85,900
$199,900
$75,000

Jeffrey
Sandra
Diane
Diane
Jeffrey
Jeffrey
Judy

817-2477
429-7595
496-4145
496-4145
817-2477
817-2477
428-4642 ext. 319

MULTI UNITS
5,6,7 Hill Street
132-36 Hill Street
199 Second Street
263 Fourth Street
170 First Street

$515,000
$139,900
$350,000
$65,900
$279,900

Thomas
Lisa
James
Jeffrey
Julia

640-4533
489-7476
272-6597
817-2477
439-4923 ext 21

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Troy Little

Italy

Summer Projects
Tuesday Market
2 to 6 pm
We are looking for vendors, crafters,
food and garage sale items
$10.00 Table Fee
Must have own tent, table and chairs
For more info call:
Marion 266-1406 or Jean 867-5023
This is the wall surrounding the bocce court. It is in
need of repair. Members have donated money and
offered their time to teach volunteers how to point
up the bricks. If anyone has any ideas or would like
to help, contact Marion 266-1406 or attend our
April meeting on 4/18 to discuss your ideas.

A couple of years ago the Circle K group from RPI

helped us paint the gates going into the Marketplace. b
We would like to do the same with the fence on
Liberty Street. We have the paint and the brushes, all
we need is manpower and the right weather conditions. Same info as above, call or attend the meeting