Buon Compleanno!

March 2014Vol. XXXIV No. 3

United We Stand

Mark PassalacquaCurtis PerataDominic PorrinoFrank D. Presto IIIMatthew RaimondiTony RiccardiJoe Ricucci,Jr.Gary J. RusselloJohn SandroniChris SchenoneRobert SchubertDerek SciacquaCal ScilacciRich SciortinoRudolph SciuttoJames V. SennecaDaniel TabaccoDonn A. TassanoBrian ThomsenJoseph Van NoyCyril VierraNorb WaldronRobert WoodsPaul YezziJoseph T. Zichich

Kenny Robert FazzioJohn P. FillipucciFrancis J. FurinoGuglielmo GalassoBill GanciAngelo GhigliazzaGilbert M. GranucciMichael J. GuerreroSpencer HarmolaRyan HattersleyFrank HenneferDavid E. HuntJoseph W. HustonVincent LaGuardiaScott LambertKenneth G. MartinEdward J. Matraia, Jr.Darin L. MeadowsSteve MendelsonRaymond MilaniSebastian MorianaJon NicosiaDarren J. OlguinGary PaciniFrank D. PagnuccoLouis A. Pandolfo

Celebrating 94 YearsThe Colombo Club

5321 Claremont AvenueOakland, California 94618

The Isabella Room is Open to Members Monday thru Saturday, 12-3 pm

(510) 653-9716Cancellations: Ext 308

Prepaid Reservations: Ext 307prepaidcolomboclub@gmail.com

FAX (510) 653-9053Please do not use for reservationswww.ColomboClub.org

The Colombo Club Newsletter is published monthly by the Colombo Club of Oakland, California. Suggestions wel-come. Submit ideas in the month preceding publication.Newsletter Co-Editors:Maria Falaschi (maria@

mariafalaschi.com), Carole Lucido (carole@lucidomarketing.com)

Mailing Committee Advisor: Frank BienatiAdvisory Staff: Joe Guerrero, Dave Nardi,

Ray Fratangelo, Rich Puppione, John Banda, David Urbanus, Marie Camara, Joe Ferrara, Tony Tedeschi, Doug Emeldi,

Niccolo DeLuca, Lynne Kessler Design: Lucido Marketing (925) 947-6080

Call for ReservationsThurs., Mar. 6, 510-653-9716 x301Thurs., Mar. 13, 510-653-9716 x302Thurs., Mar. 27, 510-653-9716 x303 To cancel reservations x308 by 7 pm Monday before the dinner

April 2014 Birthday Dinners

April 3, 17, 24 Menu:

Salad, Sausage with Peppers, Pasta Fagioli, Dessert, Wine, Coffee

Salad, Linguine with Pesto, Corned Beef, Dessert, Wine and Coffee

Insalata, Lingine con Pesto, Corned Beef, Dolce, Vino, Caffé

Leo T. AllamannoJames R. AndersonHenry AndreottiRobert Patrick AnzilottiPaul BaldwinAnthony P. Ballestero, PE, LSMark BenedettiBob BerryTom BettiLes D. BianchiLawrence M. BienatiJim BoydClement BrumAnthony N. CapraKenneth CardozaRussel E. CarrelMario ChiodoSteven CorreiaNatale D. Cusumano, Jr.Aldo J. Del SoldatoRichard Del SoldatoDario C. DeVincenziPaul DiandaAntonio DiCandiaMichael EdwardsDuke Evans

Birthday Dinners in March 7:30 pm Dinner

$16 Members; $21 Guests; $10 Boys 6–11 yrsFree, 5 yrs and under

Saturday, March 15

Reservation Form Enclosed • Cioppino Night

BORELLI Italian Band

Celebrate

Saturday March 29 at the Family Dinner

Carnevale Costume Party

Cocktails 4:30 pmDinner 5:30 pmCostume Contest 6:30 pmDancing 7-10 pm

Menu: Salad, Polenta,

“Italian Sunday Sugo” Dessert, Wine, Coffee

Optional Menus Available (see reservation form)

Members $18, Guests $22,

Children 6-11 $10Call for reservations (510) 653-9716 ext 304

(If you must cancel reservations, call x308 no later than 6 pm March 26)

Special

Time!

Menu:Salad, Pasta, Italian Style Cioppino,

or Optional Crab, Dessert, Wine, Coffee

No Host Cocktails: 6:30 pm Dinner: 7:30 pm

$45 Adults$22 Children 6-11FREE Children under 5

This is a prepaid event. Advance reservations required.

President’s Message

Colombo Club Auxiliary President’s Message

The Colombo Club is truly a magnificent organization. We are always bragging that we are the largest independent Italian American Club West of the Mississippi. With one thousand members, and long waiting lists, I have little doubt that this statement is true - we may even be the largest in America.

I get asked this question every time I am at the Club, “How can I (or a friend or relative) become a member?”

Because we raised our maximum membership to a thousand this year, for Italians who want to become members there is a window of opportunity. The waiting list for Italians is at its lowest point in years. So, if you have a friend or relative of Italian descent (either mother or father) get a membership application card from one of the bartenders. Give it to them to fill out and get the required number of sponsors (you and two others).

Sons and grandsons of current members are given first consideration. The waiting time now for these direct descendants is usually less than a year. For Italians it can take a year or more. Unfortunately for our non-Italian applicants the waiting time is ten years or more. We only allow for 10% of our members to be of non-Italian descent.

In closing, with membership comes responsibility. The Club has not lasted 93 years and grown from a couple of dozen paisanos to the 1,000 members without a lot of “sweat equity.” So when you submit that membership application card, plan on attending a few of the social functions during the year. Hopefully, you will also give us one workday a year - we hold workdays about every quarter. Most of the time workdays are as much fun as many social functions.

Ciao,

Domenicemail me at: Torchia@mlode.com

Our February Auxiliary Valentine’s Dinner, chaired by Maria Falaschi, was a great success. Thank you Maria for your hard work. We had a number of members and their guests attending. A big thank you also goes out to those members who donated gifts for the drawing. They were very nice and contributed to the festivities of the evening.

We had our “Prospective Members Interviews,” with their sponsors, on Saturday, January 25. Barbara Sidari, our Vice President and Chair of this event, did a wonderful job welcoming the sponsors and 22 prospective new members. Thank you to Denisia Trombetta, JoAnn Bruno, and Mary Pandolfo for assisting with the interviews. We had a great group of candidates.

St. Patrick’s Dinner, Tuesday March 11 - All Are Invited!Mark your calendars for the Auxiliary’s second 2014 dinner on Tuesday, March 11th. Chair Lynne Kessler and her co-chair Jean Inferrera are planning our St. Patrick’s Day event. We will serve a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner. Cocktails at 6 pm and

dinner at 7 pm. Hope everyone will try to make this fun celebration. Please bring friends because the more the merrier. Reservations are due by Tuesday, March 4th, by calling Denisia Trombetta at 510-522-2479 or Yvonne Evans at 510-531-2429.

Our next Auxiliary Meeting will be Wednesday, March 19, at 7 pm. Please try to make this meeting so you can find out about things that are going on with our Auxiliary. Our new members are being invited to this March meeting and it would be nice if you could be in attendance. We will have a special Spuntino for them at our April meeting. Also, you will hear about our Luncheon/Tea planned for Saturday, April 12th.Have a pleasant month and we really appreciate your attendance, support, comments, and feedback.

Ciao,Bev Chernoff, abchernoff@comcast.net

Marcia Cronin, wife of member Corky Cronin, and member of the Colombo Club Auxiliary passed away. Marcia was a great help to our Club. She volunteered to set tables, fold newsletters and she donated raffle prizes to the Auxiliary’s monthly dinners. She will be greatly missed.

Opera Night 2014This is Opera for Everyone! Our own Maestro Cesare Curzi introduces each Aria with background on the scene and story. The audience is drawn to the characters by the talented singers that the Maestro has selected just for the Colombo Club performance. Don’t miss this once-a-year event! Bravo!

Saturday May 3Cocktails 5 pmDinner 6 pmProgram 8:30 pm

Salad and Antipasto, Roasted Chicken, Vegetables, Pasta a la Anna, Italian Rum Cake, Wine, and Coffee

$30 per person / Prepaid EventUse the enclosed form to make your reservations today!

Please remember the Colombo Club Dress Code (see reservation flyer)

January Birthday Dinner DonorsThank you to the following businesses and individuals who supported our January birthday dinners with their generous donations: Joseph Brignole Jr. from Brignole & Ghiri Insurance & Real Estate, the Colombo Club, Bob Molinaro from Garre Winery, Lou Mascola from Molinari and Sons, Dan Foster, Peter Scalise and Tim Tomei.

Work Around the ClubThank you to:

8Jim Scalise who repaired and installed a new microphone and cable.

8Don Dickson who built a new cash box for reservations.

News & Notes

In MemoriamRaymond Androtti (member since 1965)

Nat Tony Grecco (member since 1994)

Anthony DeCicco (member since 2008)

Colombo ClubSTORESupport and show your pride for our Club!

Colombo Club Hats • Colombo Club Shirts • and more!NOW OPEN at Birthday Dinners in the

Tillie Rainieri Cloak RoomNear the main bar in the Ballroom

Sunshine CornerOur condolences to the families of Raymond Androtti, Nat Tony Grecco and Anthony DeCicco. Please call Ray Fratangelo, Chairman of the Sunshine Committee, if you hear of a member who is ill or has passed away, (510) 326-6705.

Work PartyThe next Work Party for all members will be Saturday March 1st beginning at 8 am. A nice lunch will be served. Contact Jerry Pittore for details at (925) 829-9103.

It’s Time to Get Those Dues in…Be sure your 2014 dues are mailed and postmarked by March 1. Dues billing were mailed to all members in early December. Please call the Club, Dues & Member Records, (510) 653-9716 Ext. 354 if you have questions regarding your dues or did not receive a bill. Thank you!

Scholarship Applications Deadline March 15Applications are available at the Club for students who are children and grandchildren of members of the Colombo Club and Women’s Auxiliary. Completed applications for 2013 Scholarships are due by March 15, 2014.

House Chairman Position AvailableEd Ciminello has retired as House Chairman. Our thanks to Ed for the innovations and positive changes he has brought to the Club during his tenure. Ray Fratangelo has kindly agreed to act as interim House Chairman until a replacement can be found. Please call Cyril Bonnano (925) 202-9576 or email him at cyril1@comcast.net if you know of a Club Member who may be interested in the House Chairman position.

New Start Time for Family DinnersThe Saturday Family dinners for the months of February, March and April 2014 will occur at earlier times. Cocktail hour will begin at 4:30 and dinner at 5:30. We hope that more of you can join us as we are planning new activities for these dinners. Please make it a priority for your family and friends to join the fun in 2014. Grazie.

Colombo Club Baseball SundaySunday June 22, 2014 at 1:05 pm. A’s vs World Champion Boston Red Sox. $28 all ages. To reserve, mail checks to

the Colombo Club, 5321 Claremont Ave., Oakland, CA 94618, Attn. Baseball Sunday. For more info call Billy Castell, (510) 524-1830.

Contact the Club’s Catering Manager, Frances Bienati for your next private event or a Party-within-a-Party at a Family Dinner. Use the Isabella Room for private pre-dinner cocktails!Frances Bienati (510) 531-3407

Plan Your Party at the Club! Colombo Club Bocce Days at the Martinez Marina are scheduled for May 17 and August 30. Dave and John Nardi, pictured above with John’s daughter Gianna, host a great event. Use the enclosed reservation form to sign up.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayM

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Officers & Board of Directors Meeting 6 pm

Birthday Dinner7:30 pm $16 Members $21 Guests

Mark Your Calendar

Apr 12 Auxiliary Tea/Luncheon . . . . . . M&GApr 26 Family Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . M&GMay 3 Opera Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M&GMay 4 Scholarship Awards Dinner . . . M&GMay 13 Ladies Auxiliary Dinner . . . . . . M&GMay 15 Opera Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M&GMay 17 Club Bocce Tournament, Martinez Marina . . . . . . . . . . . M&GMay 20 Assembly Dinner & Meeting . . . . MJun 22 Baseball Sunday at A’s vs. Boston Red Sox . . . . M&GAug 19 Assembly Dinner & Meeting . . . . MAug 30 Bocce Tournament, Martinez . M&G

M - Members Only, M&G - Members and GuestsM&R - Members and Relatives Only Please

8 am Colombo Club Work Party - All Members Invited

Our Cultural Heritage and Our Club Today by Carlo Tamburrino, viacarlo@aol.com, (510) 520-6732, cell

Ready for Sunday Sugo and Carnevale?Come to the Family Dinner on Sat. March 29th

Ladies Auxiliary St. Patrick’s Dinner, 7 pm $18 Members, $20 Guests

Last year marked a return of the clas-sic Sunday Sugo to our Family Dinner menus. It was well attended and had great, great reviews so by popular de-mand we will hold again. What is it? You remember…

Sundays in Italian homes… what was happening? A Sunday ritual. For me, and I am sure for many of you, I was awakened by the sweet aroma of Mam-ma busy in the kitchen. After a lot of preparation, cutting, chopping, etc. there were these incredible aromas – onion sautéing, meats braising, sweet tomatoes simmering. Grazie a Dio (thank God) for this memory! As a child I wondered about all the casino (commotion), and as a teen I welcomed as help with getting over a late Satur-day night. As an adult, I revel in the meaning of it all… love, famiglia, and un bel pranzo (beautiful lunch).

Called sugo, bolognese or ragu and often gravy among Italian Americans – Italy’s long-simmering meat sauces are amazing. Most of the time the reference was to this ‘Sunday sauce’ among Ital-ian-Americans (and ‘il ragù della do-menica’ among Italians)an expression

from back in the days when the main event of every Sunday was a grand, multi-course meal. When everyone was expected to come home and eat an ab-bondanza of all the traditional Italian favorites. Then everyone would nap or chat, take a walk around the yard, play bocce or cards, tell stories about the old days to the kids, and then return to the table for dessert.

Coupled with this great Sunday Sugo dinner, we will celebrate a Venetian style Carnevale. This famous start of Lent celebration focuses on the gran-deur of the Renaissance as well as the antics of the characters from the Com-media dell’Arte. Leave the world be-hind and dawn your best creative cos-tumes for a fun, festival atmosphere. You are all encouraged to use the Vene-tian theme for your costumes, for ideas check out: www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/commedia.html.

To make the event even more exciting, we will have a special collaboration with Caterina Winkelman of Gioia Ital-ian Art and Products that features masks

House Committee Meeting 2 pm

Birthday Dinner7:30 pm $16 Members $21 Guests

Bambini Ciao10:30 am–Noon

Cioppino & optional Crab Night 7:30 pmPrepaid Event

of Award Winning Artist Carla Alman-za-de Quant. Venetian Masks, Jew-elery, Sculptures, Murano glass, and other Artisan items will be available for sale with a portion of proceeds to ben-efit our Club. (http://goiacompany.com/home) In addition, Venetian style face painting will be available for the kids! Remember that the fun, festive Borrelli Band will make their first performance at the Club.

All promises to be an evening steeped in sapori e tradizioni (flavor and tradi-tion), just like the sugo! Do not miss it! Buon divertimento! (Have fun!)

Birthday Dinner7:30 pm $16 Members $21 Guests

Family Dinner5:30 pm $18 Members $22 Guests

St. Patrick’s Day

Please complete this reservation form and return to the Club as soon as possible. Sorry, telephone reservations cannot be accepted for this event. 5321 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, California 94618. To change, cancel (within 72 hours of event) or verify your prepaid reservation, please call the Club (510) 653-9716, Extension 307 and leave a message. You may also email us at: prepaidcolomboclub@gmail.com.

Colombo Club Prepaid Events

The Club now accepts Charge Cards for Prepaid Reservations!CHARGE CARD AUTHORIZATION I acknowledge that the information below is true and correct. My signature authorizes the release of the information below for a charge amount of $____________________ to the referenced card. Signature:____________________________________________________ Date: _______________________

The Colombo Club accepts the following Cards: VISA / MASTERCARD / DISCOVER(Note: for security reasons, we will NOT keep a record of your card on file. This portion of your reservation will be shredded after the charge is completed.)

Name on Card: __________________________________________________ Type: (circle one)

Address on Card: ________________________________________________ Zip Code:_______________________Card Number: ___________________________________________________ Expiration Date:__________________Security Code: __________ (3 digits usually on back of card)

Colombo Club Boccé DaySat., May 17, at the Martinez Boccé Federation Courts,

near the Marina 8:30 am arrival, 9:30 am start timeEveryone Plays (guaranteed)

• Boccécompetitionon15beautifulcourts,boccéballs,scoreboards,coveredpicnictables

• Enjoyafunlunchcookedby“IFratellidiNardieiloroamiciColombo.”EnjoySalsicciaCalabrese,pasta,insalata, e molto altro!

• Bottledwaterincluded,beerandwineavailableforpurchase

• AnunforgettabledaywithyourColomboClubfriends

$25 per person, $12.50 for age 12 and under and those who do not play.Spendarelaxingdayplayingboccé,eating,andsocializingwithotherColomboClubmembersandguests.Noboccéexperienceisnecessary.Bringateamof4,comewithsomeoneelse,orcomealoneandwewillplaceyouonafriendlyteam.Men,women,families,kids,andguestsarewelcome.

_____ticketsforBocceplayers(includeslunch)@$25eachonSat.,May17,2014_____ticketsforkidsorAdultsforlunchonly@$12.50eachIamenclosing$_______________

Location: Martinez Boccé Courts, near the MarinaArrive: 8:30 am; Play Begins: 9:30 am; Lunch: around NoonQuestions? Contact Dave Nardi, (925) 899-9516 or John Nardi, (925) 366-6962Check and Reservation form MUST arrive at Colombo Club by May 10. Mail to: Colombo Club, 5321 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618, ATTN: Spring Boccé Day 2014

Member Name: Phone:

Address: E-mail:

>>See reverse for another great Colombo Club event! >>

Opera Night, Saturday, May 3

AlTErnATE dinnErs for vegetarians must be pre-ordered with your reservations. special dinner requests received at the dinner (without prior notification) will be denied.

Prebook & Prepay Reservation FormI am enclosing $______ for ______ tickets @ $30 each on Saturday May 3, 2014

Name: Phone:

Address: City:

If possible, please seat me in the dining room with:

Check and Reservation form MUST arrive at Colombo Club by May 1 2014 Mail to: The Colombo Club, 5321 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618, ATTN: Opera Night. Reservations will be recorded by postmark dates.O

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Menu: Salad, Antipasto, Roasted Chicken, Vegetables, Pasta a la Anna, Italian Rum Cake, Wine, Coffee

Cocktails 5 pmDinner 6 pm Program 8:30-10 pmOpen seating in ballroom

Club Dress Code: Business Casual. No shorts. Thank you for removing your hat in the Dining Room.

Please complete this reservation form and return to the Club as soon as possible. Sorry, telephone reservations cannot be accepted for this event. 5321 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, California 94618. To change, cancel (within 72 hours of event) or verify your prepaid reservation, please call the Club (510) 653-9716, Extension 307 and leave a message. You may also email us at: prepaidcolomboclub@gmail.com.

Colombo Club Prepaid Events

The Club now accepts Charge Cards for Prepaid Reservations!CHARGE CARD AUTHORIZATION I acknowledge that the information below is true and correct. My signature authorizes the release of the information below for a charge amount of $____________________ to the referenced card. Signature:____________________________________________________ Date: _______________________

The Colombo Club accepts the following Cards: VISA / MASTERCARD / DISCOVER(Note: for security reasons, we will NOT keep a record of your card on file. This portion of your reservation will be shredded after the charge is completed.)

Name on Card: __________________________________________________ Type: (circle one)

Address on Card: ________________________________________________ Zip Code:_______________________Card Number: ___________________________________________________ Expiration Date:__________________Security Code: __________ (3 digits usually on back of card)

>>See reverse for more great Colombo Club events! >>

Name:

Address:

City:

Phone:

If possible, I wish to be seated with:

Menu:Salad, Pasta, Italian Style Cioppino, or Optional Crab,

Dessert, Wine and Coffee

AlTErNATE diNNErs for vegetarians and those allergic to seafood or gluten must be pre-ordered with your reservations. Requests made at the dinner, without prior notice, will be denied. For this event, the alternate menus are Pasta with Butter and Cheese, Baked Chicken or alternate at discretion of the chef.

remember! COlOMBO ClUB drEss COdE: Business Casual. No shorts. Thank you for removing your hat in the Dining Room.

Adults Children (Age 6-11)

Cioppino

Crab

Total #

@ @ $45 each $22 each

Enclosed $ $

Payments & reservation Forms must arrive at the Club by March 8, 2014. In the event of a sell out, reservations will be recorded by the postmark date. To check on your reservations, (510) 653-9716 x 307.

No Host Cocktails: 6:30 pmDinner: 7:30 pm

$45 Adults$22 Children 6-11FREE Children under 5

Cioppino / Crab Night Prepay Reservation Form – Saturday, March 15, 2014

Men, Women and Children are welcome.

BORELLI Italian Band

Celebrate

WITH THE

AT THE

COLOMBO CLUBSaturday March 29 at the Family Dinner

Carnevale Costume Party

Cocktails 4:30 pmDinner 5:30 pmCostume Contest 6:30 pmDancing 7-10 pm

Members $18 / Guests $22Children 6-11 $10

Menu: Salad, Polenta,

“Italian Sunday Sugo”

Dessert, Wine, Coffee

Optional Children’s, Vegetarian or Gluten-Free Menus available,

however alternate menu must be requested at the time the

reservation is made. Requests made at the dinner, without prior request, will be denied. Alternate menus are at the discretion of the

chef.

Call the Colombo Club for reservations (510) 653-9716 ext 304(If you must cancel reservations, call x308 no later than 6 pm March 26)

The Borelli Italian Band performs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at corporate events to weddings to intimate affairs, Their fabulous repertoire includes Italian Favorites, American and Jazz standards, Opera, Motown and classic Rock and Roll. Hurry, make your reservations now!

Products from Gioia Italian Art will be available for sale at this event. Choose from Venetian Masks by award-winning Artist Carla Almanza-de Quant, Jewelry, Sculpture, Murano glass, and other Artisan items. A portion of proceeds will benefit our Club.

Venetian-style face painting will be available for the kids!

Earlier Start Time!

Club Dress Code: Business Casual. No shorts. Thank you for removing your hat in Dining Room.

(Traditional Braised Meat

Sauce)