By Joseph “Sonny” Scafetta, Jr.

(Editor’s Note: Professional wrestling, with its colorful characters and slam bang action has attracted a loyal fan base for decades. The Notiziario’s Joseph “Sonny” Scafetta, Jr., profiles two legends of the sport who hailed from Abruzzo.)

“Baron” Michele Leone

Michele Leone was born on June 8, 1909, to Giovanni and Anna Leone in Pettorano sul Gizio, (population 1,376 in the 2015 Census) which is a town along the Gizio River just south of Sulmona in the province of L’Aquila in the region of Abruzzo. Despite his parents’ disapproval, he began wrestling at an early age under the tutelage of his uncle, Michele Leone, and became the town champion at age 14. He graduated from the local high school in 1927.

In 1933, he began to travel the European circuit. In early 1938, the 28-year-old Leone immigrated to New York City where he continued to wrestle. In June 1940, he relocated to Washington, D.C., and wrestled there too. When Italy declared war on the United States on December 8, 1941, he became an enemy alien and an instant “bad guy”. He was viewed as such a bad guy that he was even booed in a match against a German wrestler named Hans Kampfer. Nevertheless, before a match with Duke Keomuka, an “evil” Japanese wrestler, he gave a speech which so impassioned the crowd that they bought $2,000 in U.S. war bonds. He also appeared at charity events to sell U.S. war bonds at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. After World War II ended in August 1945, he started wrestling up and down the east coast and began to draw big crowds.

In October 1949, he moved to Los Angeles and adopted the nickname “Baron”, portraying himself as an Italian aristocrat. The advent of television converted the journeyman into a super star. As he climbed the pro wrestling ladder, he defeated Italians Leo Garibaldi and Antonino Rocca before facing Mexican Enrique Torres for the World Heavy Weight Championship in the Olympic Auditorium on November 22, 1950, in front of 10,400 fans. The “Baron” pinned Torres in two out of the three falls to win the match and the world title. During his time as the champ, guest spots on TV shows raised his name recognition and appearances at department stores often drew more than a thousand fans. As an eligible bachelor, he attracted many women to whom he each gave an orchid and an autographed photo of himself. 

On May 21, 1952, the 43-year-old Leone lost the title to Lou Thesz at the Gilmore Field in Hollywood. The match attracted more than 25,000 fans and was the first pro wrestling match to take in more than $100,000 at the gate. Four months later, on September 23, 1952, fellow Abruzzese Rocky Marciano won the World Heavy Weight Boxing Championship. In 1954, the “Baron” married Billie. They had no children. After losing his third rematch with Thesz in 1955, he retired at age 46. On May 17, 1963, the World Heavy Weight Wrestling Championship was won by another Abruzzese, Bruno Sammartino, who held it until April 30, 1977.

Since he had become independently wealthy because of his prize money, Leone bought an apartment building in Santa Monica which he moved into with his bride after retiring and where he lived quietly off his rental income and investments. While he was crossing a street near his home on November 14, 1988, he was struck by a speeding automobile and was taken to the nearby UCLA Medical Center. He died there from his injuries 12 days later. He was 79 years old.

In 2000, Billie Leone donated $100,000 in her husband’s memory to the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum for construction of the museum at a new location. This donation was the same amount as the gate at Leone’s last championship match. “Baron” Michele Leone was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019 during which he would have turned 110.

Sources, all accessed February 26, 2023:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Michele_Leone
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pettorano_sul_Gizio

Bruno Sammartino

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born on October 6, 1935, in the community of Pizzoferrato (population 1,163 in the 2004 Census), in the province of Chieti in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. He was the youngest of seven children born to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino. After World War II started on September 1, 1939, his father fled Italy for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When Italy switched sides and Germany invaded Italy in 1943, Emilia hid her seven children in a cave in a nearby mountain called Valla Rocca while she sneaked into the village at night for food and supplies. Before the war ended in Europe in May 1945, four of Bruno’s six older siblings had died due to various causes. Finally, in 1950 when Bruno was 15, his father was able to send money for his wife and three surviving children to join him in Pittsburgh.

Upon arrival, Bruno spoke no English and was a 90-pound weakling due to the deprivations of the war years. Thus, he was an easy target for bullies at Schenley High School. To build himself up, he started lifting weights and wrestling. He graduated from high school in June 1953. After six more years of body building, he set a world record in early 1959 by bench pressing 565 pounds. He then married his wife Carol with whom he had three sons: David and twins Daniel and Darryl. Bruno’s world record attracted the attention of Rudy Miller, a local professional wrestling promoter. Bruno made his pro debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, by pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds. Bruno’s first match in Madison Square Garden in New York City occurred on January 2, 1960, when he pinned “Bull” Curry in five minutes. In March 1962, Bruno made his Canadian debut in Toronto which had a large Italian population at that time.

On May 17, 1963, Bruno won the Heavy Weight Championship of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) by pinning the reigning champion, “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, in 48 seconds. Bruno held the championship belt for seven years and eight months until January 18, 1971, when he lost to Ivan Koloff in Madison Square Garden. However, on December 10, 1973, Bruno regained the championship belt by defeating Stan Stasiak. His second title run lasted three years and almost five months until April 30, 1977, when Bruno lost to “Superstar” Billy Graham. He then became a color commentator for the syndicated programs of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) which had replaced the WWWF.

In 1985 when Bruno was 50, his son David, who also had become a pro wrestler, convinced Bruno to join with him as a wrestling tag team. Bruno’s final match occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 29, 1987. Afterwards, Bruno became an outspoken critic of the WWF because it permitted the use of steroids. Then, while working as a color commentator for the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), he also occasionally acted as a referee.

On March 25, 2010, Bruno was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Dapper Dan Dinner in Pittsburgh. On April 6, 2013, in Madison Square Garden, he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame. Bruno agreed to be inducted only because the WWE, which had replaced the WWF, banned the use of steroids. Six weeks later, May 17, 2013, was declared Bruno Sammartino Day in Pittsburgh. After two months in the hospital, he died on April 18, 2018, in Pittsburgh at age 82 due to multiple organ failure caused by heart problems. He remains the World Heavy Weight Wrestling Champion with the longest stint totaling eleven years and almost one month over two reigns.

Sources, all accessed July 27, 2020:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Sammartino
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzoferrato

The D’Andrea Family Celebrates 90th Birthday of AMHS Founding President

By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers

On Friday, March 31, 2023, 29 members of the D’Andrea (Pitassi) family gathered to celebrate Lucio’s 90th birthday. The D’Andrea children hosted the family celebration at Osteria da Nino in Shirlington, Va., where owner Nino Pino and his team took exceptional care of the group with food, wine, and celebration. In attendance were Lucio’s loving wife, Edvige; his six children Candida, Maria (Sam), Sandra (Rial), Lisa (Dave), Laura (Lenny), and Paul (Susanna); his seven grandchildren Angela (Daniel), Sydney, Mikayla, Chiara, Justin, Tyler, and Gabriel; his great granddaughter Lillie (and Sam’s children Mara, husband John, and daughter Lauren); and nieces Rebecca (Russ) and Leda (Jeff), who celebrated Lucio’s life, love, and longevity, and made it a birthday to remember, “one for the ages.”

Lucio’s Brief Immigrant History & the Founding of the Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society (AMHS)

Lucio was born on March 28, 1933, in the village of Roccamandolfi, province of Isernia, in the region of Molise. He immigrated to the United States in 1948 along with his brother Joseph and Mother Candida to join his father, Gaetano, who lived in McKees Rocks, Pa., (just outside of Pittsburgh). Upon completion of his secondary school education, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering and a commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Following his military service, he moved to Wyoming to work for an oil company. He later accepted a position with the Federal Power Commission in Washington, D.C. He served in a number of government agencies and, in 1986, he accepted an appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to serve as Senior Economic Officer with the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in Geneva, Switzerland, becoming Deputy Director of its Energy Division. He retired from the ECE in 1983 and entered private practice as an energy consultant.

During his long professional and military career, Lucio received numerous awards and recognitions. One which he is particularly proud of is the “Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy,” which he received in 1972 for his involvement with the Italian Cultural Society in promoting Italian culture in the Washington, D.C., area. He has maintained a steadfast commitment to the promotion and development of Italian culture, traditions, and values. A testament to this commitment is Lucio’s creation and launch of AMHS.

In 1999, Lucio and his wife, Edvige — long-time members of Holy Rosary Church, along with Lucio’s brother Joseph, attended the “Primo Congresso Mondiale di Molisani di Nord America” (the First World Congress of Molisani in North America). The Congress was an occasion for Molisani in Canada to celebrate their success and achievements. Lucio, Edvige, and Joe were impressed and inspired by what they saw. It prompted Lucio and Edvige to explore the possibility of establishing a heritage society in the Washington, D.C., area.

To launch the Society, Lucio sought the help of Father Charles Zanoni, who was Pastor of Holy Rosary Church at that time. He agreed to place a notice in Voce Italiana, inviting readers to respond to the idea of establishing an Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society. The response was encouraging. A core group of Abruzzesi and Molisani that Lucio and Edvige had come to know in their encounters at Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana was asked to join this initiative, namely Mario Ciccone, Ennio DiTullio, Tony D’Onofrio, Sergio Fresco, Gloria Sabatini, and Omero Sabatini. They all shared a common purpose for the creation of a society, to promote and perpetuate a common cultural heritage.

In June 2000, the inaugural meeting of the AMHS was held at Casa Italiana. Present were about 70 potential members including Joseph D’Andrea, President at the time of the Molisani Societies in the United States, Father Charles Zanoni, and First Counselor of the Embassy of Italy, Giampaolo Cantini. From a modest beginning, the society has grown and has pursued a host of activities and programs, becoming one of the most highly regarded Italian-American organizations in the Washington, D.C., area.I hope that the members of AMHS will send Lucio their congratulations, not only for celebrating a milestone birthday, but also for founding the society. Without Lucio, most likely, AMHS would not exist. Buon compleanno Lucio!

The picturesque small town of Roccaraso is located in the province of L’Aquila. It has approximately 1,524 inhabitants, known as Roccolani. The town, in the Alto Sangro ski area, is the largest ski resort in the central Apennines, 195 kilometers from Rome. It is among the most renowned mountain resorts in central and southern Italy, and it offers tracks for cross-country and downhill skiing.

Roccaraso is the most popular ski resort in Abruzzo, considered as good as the most beautiful ski areas in northern Italy. Thanks to the efficient links to the other ski resorts, such as Rivisondoli, Pescasseroli, Pescocostanzo, Barrea, and Castel di Sangro, the resort of Roccaraso is part of a wider area, called “Comprensorio Sciistico dell’Alto Sangro e dell’Altopiano delle Cinque Miglia,” thus offering more than 150 kilometers of ski slopes and 60 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. The different resorts are linked by more than 30 modern ski lifts and are accessible by using the same ski pass.

This ski area is said to be perfect for all level of skiers, with slopes for beginners, intermediates, or advanced. These slopes are also the site of many national and international ski competitions and are equipped with snowmaking systems in case the weather does not ensure a perfect snow condition, as has happened recently. The 1,000-meter difference in altitude from the town to the peak, called Toppe del Tesoro, provides skiers with an awe-inspiring view of the charming surroundings. 

In Roccaraso, there is a popular ice-skating rink and the area is equipped with two snow parks, a children’s area with a playground, and other areas for different activities–snow tubing, sledding, bobsledding, snow-racket walks, stationary biking on the snow, and Nordic walking.

Roccaraso is important historically, too. The town is on the site of a route through a nearby mountain pass, where Hannibal’s army is recorded to have travelled. The great strategic importance of the area since antiquity is shown by the presence of Caracini (an Italic population) as indicated by tombs from the 5th-4th centuries B.C. 

In the Middle Ages, Roccaraso was under the control of the Benedictine monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno. Later, Saracen raids obliged the local inhabitants to build castles where they could take refuge. 

But the plague in 1656 wiped out one-fourth of the population. There is a legend that a miracle by San Rocco saved the rest of the inhabitants and, miraculously, the church they built in his honor is the only building that survived the destruction of World War II. The town was destroyed by the bombing, which caused the loss of “Interalia,” a theater built in 1698 and one of the oldest in Italy. 

Earlier, a flourishing textile economy had developed over the centuries and created prosperity, but the decline of the agricultural and pastoral economy in the latter part of the 19th century started a mass emigration. 

The darkest moment in the town’s history came in 1943 when the Germans established their headquarters there. A massive bombing by American forces destroyed 98 percent of the place. For revenge, the Germans destroyed nearby Pietransieri, killing 127 civilians. 

After the extensive destruction by WW2 bombings, today the small center has been completely modernized, except for the district called Terra Vecchia (the ancient fortified borough) with remains of a tower, and in the lower part, the small church of San Rocco.

However, since the beginning of the 20th century, a steady recovery began with the tourism industry, thanks to a favorable position on the railway line to Naples. The first ski race was held in 1910 and the first ski lift was built in 1936. 

Roccaraso was in the news recently when a wild bear known affectionately as Juan Carrito died after being struck by a car. The incident occurred on a highway leading to Castel Di Sangro, near the Roccaraso tunnel. Known as the “biscuit-loving bear,” Juan Carrito was famous for his playful nature and raids in search of food.

The animal’s increasingly daring forays into urban areas in search of food prompted park authorities to relocate him — twice — to a remote area of the mountains. However, Juan Carrito surprised everyone by making the 150-kilometer trek back to his stomping ground of Roccaraso. Tracked by a radio collar, the Marsican bear was noted for his lack of fear of humans and his playful nature towards dogs.

Aside from the region’s sentimental attachment to Juan Carrito, his loss is a further blow to the critically endangered Marsican bear, a subspecies of the brown bear. There are reportedly only about 30 of the animals left in existence, compared to 100 in 1980.

What to See

• Church of Santa Maria Assunta
• The Church of San Rocco was built in 1656 to give thanks to the saint who saved the population from a terrible plague

Important Dates

• August 13 — Feast of Sant’Ippolito of Rome, the patron saint.

   

Italiano

   

Tradotto da Ennio Di Tullio

Provincia dell’Aquila, Regione Abruzzo

Il pittoresco paesino di Roccaraso si trova in provincia dell’Aquila. Conta circa 1.524 abitanti, detti Roccolani. La località, nel comprensorio sciistico dell’Alto Sangro, è la più grande stazione sciistica dell’Appennino centrale, a 195 chilometri da Roma. E’ tra le località montane più rinomate del centro e sud Italia, e offre piste per lo sci di fondo e di discesa. 

Grazie agli efficienti collegamenti con le altre località sciistiche, come Rivisondoli, Pescasseroli, Pescocostanzo, Barrea e Castel di Sangro, la località di Roccaraso fa parte di un comprensorio più ampio, denominato “Comprensorio Sciistico dell’Alto Sangro e dell’Altopiano delle Cinque Miglia”, offrendo così più di 150 chilometri di piste da sci e 60 chilometri di piste per lo sci di fondo. Le diverse località sono collegate da più di 30 moderni impianti di risalita e sono accessibili utilizzando lo stesso ski pass. 

Si dice che questo comprensorio sciistico sia perfetto per tutti i livelli di sciatori, con piste per principianti, intermedi, o avanzati. Queste piste sono anche sede di numerose gare sciistiche nazionali ed internazionali e sono dotate di impianti di innevamento programmato nel caso in cui le condizioni meteorologiche non garantissero un innevamento perfetto, come è accaduto di recente. Il dislivello di 1.000 metri dal paese alla vetta, denominata Toppe del Tesoro, offre agli sciatori una vista mozzafiato sull’incantevole paesaggio circostante. 

A Roccaraso è presente una rinomata pista di pattinaggio sul ghiaccio e la zona è attrezzata con due snowpark, un’area bimbi con parco giochi e altre aree per diverse attività: snow tubing, slittino e bob, passeggiate con le ciaspole, cyclette sulla neve , e nordic walking. Roccaraso è importante anche storicamente. La città si trova sul sito di un percorso attraverso un vicino passo di montagna, dove si dice che abbia viaggiato l’esercito di Annibale. La grande importanza strategica dell’area fin dall’antichità è dimostrata dalla presenza dei Caracini (popolazione italica) come testimoniano tombe del V-IV secolo a.C.

Nel Medioevo Roccaraso era sotto il controllo del monastero benedettino di San Vincenzo al Volturno. In seguito le incursioni saracene costrinsero gli abitanti del luogo a costruire castelli dove rifugiarsi. 

Ma la peste del 1656 spazzò via un quarto della popolazione. Narra la leggenda che un miracolo di San Rocco salvò il resto degli abitanti e, miracolosamente, la chiesa da loro costruita in suo onore è l’unico edificio sopravvissuto alla distruzione della seconda guerra mondiale. Il paese fu distrutto dai bombardamenti che portarono alla perdita di “Interalia”, teatro costruito nel 1698 e tra i più antichi d’Italia.

In precedenza, una fiorente economia tessile si era sviluppata nel corso dei secoli e aveva creato prosperità, ma il declino dell’economia agricola e pastorale nell’ultima parte del XIX secolo diede inizio a un’emigrazione di massa. 

Il momento più buio nella storia della città arrivò nel 1943 quando i tedeschi vi stabilirono il loro quartier generale. Un massiccio bombardamento da parte delle forze americane ha distrutto il 98% del luogo. Per vendetta i tedeschi distrussero la vicina Pietransieri, uccidendo 127 civili. 

Dopo le ingenti distruzioni causate dai bombardamenti della seconda guerra mondiale, oggi il piccolo centro è stato completamente rimodernato, ad eccezione del quartiere denominato Terra Vecchia (l’antico borgo fortificato) con i resti di una torre, e nella parte inferior, la chiesetta di San Rocco.

A ll’inizio del ‘900 iniziò una costante ripresa dell’industria del turismo, grazie ad una posizione favorevole sulla linea ferroviaria per Napoli. La prima gara di sci si tenne nel 1910 e il primo impianto di risalita fu costruito nel 1936.

 Roccaraso ha fatto notizia di recente quando un orso selvatico noto affettuosamente come Juan Carrito è morto dopo essere stato investito da un’auto. L’incidente è avvenuto sull’autostrada che porta a Castel Di Sangro, nei pressi della galleria di Roccaraso. Conosciuto come “l’orso amante dei biscotti”, Juan Carrito era famoso per la sua natura giocosa e le sue incursioni in cerca di cibo. Tuttavia, Juan Carrito ha sorpreso tutti facendo il viaggio di 150 chilometri per tornare al suo terreno calpestante di Roccaraso. 

Seguito da collare radio, l’orso marsicano era noto per la sua mancanza di paura degli umani e per la sua natura giocosa nei confronti dei cani. Si dice che siano solo trenta degli animali rimasti inesistenti, rispetto ai 100 del 1980. 

Le attrazioni del luogo:

• Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
• Chiesa di San Rocco fu costruita nel 1656 per ringraziare il santo per aver salvato la popolazione dalla grande peste

Date da ricordare:

• 13 agosto — Festa di Sant’Ippolito di Roma, patrono

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roccaraso https://www.italyheritage.com/regions/abruzzo/laquila/roccaraso.htm https://www.touring-italy.net/tours/tour-details.php?recordid=68 https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-abruzzo-juan-carrito-bear-dead.html

Province of Campobasso, Region of Molise

The small town of Acquaviva Collecroce is located in the province of Campobasso, between the Biferno and Trignorivers. It has approximately 644 inhabitants, known as Acquavivesi. The town is known for the cultivation of small, dark zerniza figs, as well as fennel and white celery.

Acquaviva Collecroce is one of the three municipalities in Molise of Croatian origin (Montemitro and San Felice del Molise are the other two). The presence of Slavic peoples was first noted in the 16th century. They arrived in Italy at the same time as the Albanians, between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, coming perhaps from the valley of the Neretva River, in current Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia. 

Most of the Molisani Croats speak a particular Croatian dialect (known as simply na-našo or naš jezik, meaning “our language”) as well as Italian. There are differences in the dialects of the three towns, but they all descend from the Shtokavian–Ikavian dialect of Dalmatia. Linguists consider the dialect to be an endangered diaspora language.

Earlier, in the 12th century, Acquaviva was a base for the Knights of Malta. Although there is evidence of an earlier Slavic settlement in 1297, it is believed that the current inhabitants are not their descendants, but rather come from later migrations in the 15th and 16th centuries. Historians think these migrations may have been caused by Ottoman incursions into the Balkans.

The presence of abundant fresh water had evidently determined both the choice of the site for the settlement and the name of the town Acquaviva, which subsequently added Collecroce to distinguish it from other towns in Italy with the same name.

The village has preserved some beautiful traditions of its Slavic heritage. On the first of May, there is the Festa del Maja, when a puppet (the pagliara maja) is carried along the alleys as a good omen for the harvest. A large straw basket, decorated with green fronds, fresh flowers, and first fruits, parades through the streets of the village bringing good wishes accompanied by songs and dances. At Christmas time, the Slavic custom of the Smarceka is repeated, when a torch is lit on a huge tree trunk near the door of the parish church.

Many of the town’s inhabitants emigrated in two flows during the 20th century. The first emigration took place between roughly 1900-1920, with the emigres heading towards the United States and Argentina. The second major flow took place in the 1950s, chiefly to Australia. 

What to See

• A medieval stone, of unknown origin, with the famous “magical square” containing the five-letter words “Rotas Opera Tenet Arepo Sator”, can be read right to left, left to right, top to bottom, and bottom to top. 
• Santa Giusta is an ancient church that was the refuge of Abruzzese shepherds. 

Important Dates

• May 1 — Festa del Maja
• September 29 — Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

   

Italiano

   

Tradotto da Ennio Di Tullio

Provincia di Campobasso, Regione Molise

Il piccolo comune di Acquaviva Collecroce si trova in provincia di Campobasso, tra i fiumi Biferno e Trigno. Conta circa 644 abitanti, detti Acquavivesi. Il paese è noto per la coltivazione di fichi piccoli, neri zerniza, oltre a finocchi e sedani bianchi. 

Acquaviva Collecroce è uno dei tre comuni molisani di origine croata (Montemitro e San Felice del Molise sono gli altri due). La presenza di popoli slavi fu notata per la prima volta nel XVI secolo. Arrivarono in Italia contemporaneamente agli albanesi, tra la fine del XV secolo e l’inizio del XVI secolo, provenienti forse dalla valle del fiume Neretva, nell’attuale Bosnia ed Erzegovina e Croazia. 

La maggior parte dei croati molisani parla un particolare dialetto croato (noto semplicemente na-našo o naš jezik, che significa “la nostra lingua”) oltre all’italiano. Ci sono differenze nei dialetti delle tre città, ma tutti discendono dal dialetto stocavo-icavo della Dalmazia. I linguisti considerano il dialetto una lingua della diaspora in via di estinzione.

In precedenza, nel XII secolo, Acquaviva era una base per i Cavalieri di Malta. Sebbene ci siano prove di un precedente insediamento slavo nel 1297, si ritiene che gli attuali abitanti non siano i loro discendenti, ma piuttosto provengono da migrazioni successive nel XV e XVI secolo. Gli storici pensano che queste migrazioni possano essere state causate dalle incursioni ottomane nei Balcani.

La presenza di abbondanta fresca acqua aveva evidentemente determinato sia la scelta del sito per l’insediamento, sia il nome del paese Acquaviva, al quale successivamente si aggiunse Collecroce per distinguerlo da altri paesi in Italia con lo stesso nome.

Il paese conserva alcune belle tradizioni del suo retaggio slavo. Il primo Maggio, si svolge la Festa del Maja, quando un fantoccio (la pagliara maja) viene portato lungo i vicoli come buon auspicio per il raccolto. Un grande cesto di paglia addobbato con fronde verdi, fiori freschi, e primizie sfila per le vie del paese portando gli auguri accompagnato da canti e balli nel periodo natalizio si ripete l’usanza slava della Smarceka, quando si accende una torcia su un enorme tronco d’albero vicino alla porta della chiesa parrocchiale.

Molti degli abitanti della città sono emigrati in due flussi nel corso del XX secolo. La prima emigrazione è avvenuta all’incirca  tra il 1900 e il 1920, con gli emigrati diretti verso gli Stati Uniti e l’Argentina. Il secondo grande flusso ebbe luogo negli anni ’50, principalmente in Australia. 

Le attrazioni del luogo:

• Una pietra medievale, di origine sconosciuta, con il famoso “quadrato magico” contenente le parole di Una pietra medievale, di origine sconosciuta, con il famoso “quadrato magico” contenente le parole di cinque lettere “Rotas Opera Tenet Arepo Sator”, possono essere lette da destra a sinistra, da sinistra a destra, dall’alto in basso, e dal basso a superiore.  
• Santa Giusta è antica chiesa che fu rifugio dei pastori abruzzesi. 

Date da ricordare:

• 1 maggio — Festa del Maja
• 29 septembre — Festa di San Michele Arcangelo

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquaviva_Collecroce https://www.italyheritage.com/regions/molise/province-campobasso/acquavivacollecroce.htm https://www.e-borghi.com/en/village/Campobasso/397/acquaviva-collecroce

New Members
We warmly welcome the following new members: Clara Cuonzo, Sofia DeLuca, and Peter Tompa.

Birthdays
Compleanni a Maggio Michael Iademarco, May 1; Rose Marie DeMarco-Evans, May 6; Joseph Scafetta, Jr., May 10; Amy Antonelli, May 15; Kathlyn Nudi and Victor Ferrante, May 16; Marcella Finelli, May 17; Robert Woolley, May 19; Peter Bell, May 20; Rocco Del Monaco, Giulia Michonski, and Abby Cuviello, May 21; Aldo D’Ottavio and Cora Williams, May 22; Cristina Scalzitti and John Dunkle, May 25; Ennio DiTullio and Richard Leiobold, May 29; and Renato Orcino, May 30.
Compleanni a Giugno Rev. Frank Donio, June 3; Joseph Lupo and Jo-Ann Pilardi, June 9; Alberto Paolantonio and Robert Tobias, June 10; Ruth Bergman Spellane, June 14; Sharon Moran, June 17; Harry Piccariello and Joan Galles, June 24; Justin Smith, June 25; Omero Sabatini, June 26; Barbara Bernero and Rita Orcino, June 28; and Laura Gentile, June 30.

Anniversaries
Anniversari a Maggio Francesco & Anna Isgro, May 19; Mario & Carmen Ciccone, May 27: and Carmine Spellane & Ruth Bergman, May 29; Ordination of Rev. John V. DiBacco Jr., May 13.
Anniversari a Giugno Omero & Belinda Sabatini, June 6; Jeff & Macarena Clark, June 16; Anthony & Elodia D’Onofrio, June 25; Lucio & Edvige D’Andrea, June 27; and Roger & Joan Galles, June 30.

Membership Information
Category                          # of Persons Associate (Couple):         4 x 2 = 4 Associate (Individual):    38 General (Couple):           50 x 2 = 100 General (Individual):       80 Honorary:                         9 Scholarship:                     2 Student:                            6 Total Membership:         239