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Featured Class

Italian
Date: January 18, 2019
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Length: 8
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Rita Sicilliano
Location: Game Room
Description: We welcome back an old class, Italian. The class is taught by Margherita Sicilliano. Margherita, who also goes by the names Margo or Rita, and is from the old country. Born in Caserta, Italy, she was actually born in the Italian Royal Palace (the Reggia di Caserta). Her mom was touring the palace when she went into labor. Not many people can say that they were born in a royal palace, much less a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Raised and educated in Italy, she was still in college when she came with her family to the United States. She continued with her education getting a Bachelor's Degree. She then went back to Italy to get her Master's Degree. Her teaching experience spans 42 years and includes teaching high school French, Spanish, and Italian in New York, as well as French and Spanish Advanced Placement classes at the local Aquinas High School. After retiring some friends told her about the center. She took a trip here and discovered a fellow Italian, Virginia Kautzman, and the two became friends. Margo also found out about our University Language classes, and decided to get back into teaching. She approached us about teaching here, and after offering a choice between Italian and German, everyone decided that Italian would be perfect. Now it is the only Italian class being offered in the area. Student’s need to bring only a pencil and paper to class. There is a work book students can purchase through Amazon for $16, but it is not necessary. The class is open to absolute beginners and those who wish to keep up their Italian. A presto! See you soon!

Featured Activity

Scrapbooking
Time: Thursdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Sun Room
Description: When we were younger, scrapbooking normally meant pasting pictures or newspaper articles about yourself or someone you knew on some paper. It has become something much more than that. While they still have photos and printed media, scrapbooks, or albums, are also part journal, with handwritten notes, borders, vellum covers, and lots and lots of decorations. One can put as much or as little time and effort into it as desired. Scrapbooking can be done by itself, but is best when done with friends. It becomes a social get together where people trade techniques, and share equipment and supplies. Our scrapbooking group meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. So if you're looking for something fun, creative, and social, come on down and get ready to share your memories.
St_ Patricks Day Party 2013
By: Mike Sylva
Once again it was that time of year when every one claims a bit o’ Irish heritage, as we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick, the priest who drove the snakes from Ireland, among other things, so we celebrate by drinking green beer, pinching those who aren’t wearing green, and eat corned beef!

Here at the Center we celebrate with in a slightly different, but just as fun, way. We actually did it a few days ahead as it fell on a Sunday this year. That just meant the party could last for three days! As people showed up in their finest greenery, Claudia Wrona got people in the mood through great Irish jigs as well as some non-Irish tunes, but no one seemed to mind. As people arrived they reached into a crock to pick out a shamrock. Minnie Gray had the luck of the Irish about her as she won the 50/50 contest.

There was also a trivia contest, where contests tried their best (and some their worst) to answer questions about Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. Not everyone knew the answers, but at the end of the contest, they walked away a little smarter.

However, if there were one memory that was going to stick out in people’s minds it is going to be the food. The father/daughter team of Jim Imbriorski and Martha McGrew spent two days preparing and cooking corned beef, cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes for the feast.

Thanks to Don Davis and Aetna for sponsoring the event, as well as volunteers, Linda Brian, Marge Booth, Joan Brieten, Virginia Kautzman, Sally Gomez, Brenda Adams, and Helen, Bridgewater, as well as everyone who came out to help us make it such a fun-filled event.