AL LORDO HONORED BY UNICO By Marianne Peri Sack Alphonse (Al) Lordo was honored by the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO at its meeting on August 9th at Baldo’s Restaurant.  President Gabriele Lancia presented him with a plaque that noted his 45 years of service to the organization.   During this time Lordo has been president of the chapter and has held a variety of other offices including local, state, regional and national.  He is currently still an active board member. The chapter honored him as Man of the Year in 1983 and recently he received the Vastola Award at a convention from UNICO National.  The Vastola Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a member of the national organization.  UNICO National is the largest Italian service organization in the United States.    The St. Louis Chapter will celebrate 50 years at a banquet on October 30, 2004, at the Chase Park Plaza Starlight Room.    FLORISSANT CELEBRATES MISS USA’S RETURN HOME By Marianne Peri Sack After making history as the very first Miss Missouri to attain the title of Miss USA, Shandi Finnessey returned home to Florissant to a warm welcome from Florissant Mayor Robert Lowery and a host of other notables on July 31, 2004.  The proud city rolled out the red carpet that day with a parade and reception in her honor.   The mayor proclaimed it  “Shandi Finnessey Day”.   Spectators lined the streets along the path of the parade of more than 50 entries to catch a glimpse of the beautiful, young lady as she rode by in a white-horse drawn carriage.  This is where the similarity to Cinderella ended since Finnessey had worked very hard towards this day.  She became a professional model at age six and appeared on the runway, in print, on billboards and on television.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lindenwood University in three and a half years and is multi-talented.  Finnessey plays the violin, the piano, paints and has published a children’s book.   Despite her busy life, she has found time to become an advocate of children and people with disabilities.  Mayor Lowery, who has known the queen since she was a child, noted her dedication to this cause and to other various charities.   Randy Mikolas, principal of Incarnate Word Academy, where Finnessey attended high school, announced that the school theater would be named after her.  Other special guests in attendance included Governor Bob Holden, St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley, Mayor T.R. Carr of Hazelwood, St. Louis County Councilman Mike O’Mara, Senator John Loudon, and State Representative Bruce Darrough.  St. Louis County was happily basking in the light of this lovely and gracious young lady’s success.   HILL DAY RETURNS By Marianne Peri Sack Hill Day returned to the Hill area on Saturday, July 31.  The event was sponsored by Hill 2000 and was held at Berra Park on Macklind and Daggett from 2:00 to 9: 00 p.m.  The booths were lined up along the park selling a variety of foods that wafted through the air tempting everyone from blocks around.  They featured Italian cookies, granita, gelato, risotto, spiedini, meatballs and pizza.   Other booths sold tee shirts, jewelry, masks, puppets, music CDs and other interesting ware.  Two of the Hill’s newest businesses had booths, Anthonino’s Taverna and Pizzeria della Piazza.  Anthonino’s Taverna is a restaurant on Macklind and Dempsey.  The owner Robert Scorato and his son proudly serve gyros and Italian food that represents both his Greek and Italian heritage.  Pizzeria Della Piazza serves a large variety of pizza including the stuffed type.  It is owned by John and Roberta Piazza and is located at 5100 Daggett at the old Fabio Restaurant location.  Besides all that delicious food, those attending the event enjoyed live music.       MISERICORDIA SOCIETY HONORS PATRON SAINT By Marianne Peri Sack The Misericordia Society honored its patron saint, Maria SS. della Misericordia (Our Lady of Mercy), at a Procession and an Italian Mass on August 1 at St. Ambrose Church.  Members and friends of the Society carried a painting of Our Lady that is nearly 100 years old around the Hill area before Mass.  After entering the Church, Ollie Raymand played the Ave Maria on his trumpet accompanied by Don Francois on his accordion. A bouquet of flowers was placed in front of the painting by Marie LoPiccolo. Musical selections honoring Our Lady were sung in Italian by the choir and as usual the director Charlie Garavaglia and his choir received loud applause as the attendees recessed from church. After Mass, members went to LoRusso’s Cucina for a luncheon.   MISS ITALIAN ST. LOUIS IS CHOSEN By Marianne Peri Sack Katherine Antonacci, 18, was chosen Miss Italian St. Louis for 2004-2005 on August 15, at a pageant at Baldo’s Restaurant on Hampton.  A recent graduate of Oakville Senior High School, she is currently enrolled at Meramec Community College.  She is the daughter of James and Dianna Antonacci and the granddaughter of Sam and Odile Antonacci and Robert and Pauline McGee. Her school activities included Drama Club, Choir including All Suburban Honors Choir and her community activities included over 120 hours as a volunteer at St. Alexius Hospital, a 5-year participant in the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, kindergarten summer school tutor and a member of Backyard Kids Community Theater that raises funds for Edgewood Children’s Home. Honors received included membership in suburban honors choir, Tri-M Music Society, and International Thespian Society with two stars and guard awards, Choir Honor Cords for Graduation, multiple dance trophies and second place medals for solo and ensemble choir competitions. Miss Antonacci will be honored at the Columbus Day Recognition Dinner on Sunday, September 19, at Christy’s Banquet Center along with this year’s other honorees, Grand Marshalls John, Bart, Jr., Mike and Chris Saracino and the winner of the Spirit of Columbus Award Valerio Bianco.