New Hall of Fame in New Jersey
Yogi Berra, Vince Lombardi and Frank Sinatra, legends in sports and entertainment, are among the first 15 inductees of the New Jersey’s new Hall of Fame. The recipients were chosen through an online vote after 25 finalists were announced in 2006. The inaugural class also includes Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and General Norman Schwarzkopf. All inductees must have lived in the state for at least five years.

Although the Hall of Fame exists only as a virtual entity, officials are raising money to build a permanent museum. Berra and Sinatra were honored during NIAF’s Anniversary Awards Gala in 1996 and 1985, respectively. Visit www.nj.halloffame.com.

Fare un passeggiata - to take a walk
The Italian custom of taking a stroll with friends or family is alive throughout Italy and continues to bring generations together. Courting couples, families and teenagers alike meet up on Sunday morning or late in the afternoon and stroll around the main square. They may stop to say hello to friends and acquaintances or have an aperitif and pastries for dessert.

Ferragosto
August 15, the feast of the Assumption, is a national holiday in Italy and marks the peak of the holiday season. The Italian name “Ferragosto,” comes from the Latin “feriae augustae,” meaning “August holidays.” Italian cities become ghost towns, as families and groups of friends flock to the coast, mountains and lakes. In fact, most factories and businesses close down.

Valente Italian Library
The Valente Family Italian Library Collection is one of the most prominent treasures of the Walsh Library at Seton Hall University. The Collection, a library containing more than 24,000 volumes devoted to Italian history and culture, has become a nationally recognized resource for scholars and researchers.

The Collection was established in 1997 with a substantial gift from Sal Valente as an expression of love and gratitude to his parents. It has grown with recent acquisitions of new and rare books, spanning topics from 400 A.D. to the present, and documenting the history and culture of Southern Italy and Sicily. NIAF recently awarded Seton Hall and the Valente Collection a $2,500 grant toward the purchase of books concerning Italian American history and literature.

To build on its strong base, the Valente Collection encourages individuals to donate books and manuscripts. According to Mr. Valente, “It’s a tragedy that so many wonderful items—such as books, memoirs, diaries—that help connect us to our Italian roots are often discarded.”

For more information about the Valente Collection or the Italian Studies program events, contact Dr. William Connell at (973) 275-2928, or connelwi@shu.edu. Visit the University Library’s Web site at library.shu.edu.

Venice bans piazza pigeon feeding
As of May 1, tourists may no longer feed the pigeons in Venice’s Piazza San Marco. Visitors will no longer find corn scattered on the square or vendors with their carts that dispense cones of corn.

The city center has 20,000 birds per square kilometer, making it almost 40 times the official limit, due to tourists feeding the pigeons. The overpopulation compelled Mayor Massimo Cacciari and the city council to pass a bylaw stating that feeding the birds is an offense. The issue now facing the local government is the fate of the Piazza’s vendors and their carts.

Web Sites to Explore
Ciao!
Ciao.it is an online community where subscribers share their opinions and reviews on a wide range of products and services. www.ciao.it
Virgilio
The Italian equivalent to Google, virgilio.it is a search engine that finds online Web sites, images, news and videos. www.virgilio.it
Pagine Bianche
Pagine Bianche, “white pages,” is a research tool to find phone numbers and addresses of those living in Italy. www.paginebianche.it
Quattroruote
A site to find anything about cars and motors: new and used cars, estimates and historic cars. www.quattroruote.it
2008 Presidential Scholars
The Department of Education’s Presidential Scholars Program is for high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. Congratulations to Luke A. Ginocchio of Clark, N.J. who is a 2008 Presidential Scholar recipient. www.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html.

West Coast Publication Celebrates Anniversary
In Buona Salute, a magazine of Italian American culture in Sacramento and the California Bay Area, celebrates its one year anniversary this summer. Rob DeFeo, its publisher and founder, is proud of the response the magazine has received. “In our first year, we have reached our initial subscriber goals and touched thousands of people in our community through our stories and coverage.”

The magazine features authentic recipes, products and trends, and includes sections on youth, history, family, traditions and hard-hitting politics.

To learn more information about the publication, visit www.saluteitalianmagazine.com.