ITALIAN CULTURAL PRESENTATION SPONSORED BY IL PENSIERO AND FIAO By Marianne Peri Sack The Il Pensiero Newspaper and the Federation of Italian American Organizations (FIAO) combined their efforts to enhance the Ellisville Elementary first grade studies of world cultures.  A representative was sent to the school on January 25 to give an Italian Cultural presentation to four classes totaling 110 students in two separate sessions. Using a show-and-tell approach, the young children were shown an array of items that are symbols of the Italian heritage such as maps, Venetian masks, sugar Paschal Lambs, pictures of famous Italian art work, a poster of St. Joseph’s bread, colorful costumes, a miniature Sicilian cart, wedding favors and La Befana. They learn a few words in Italian such as numbers from one to ten, names of family members, ice cream, dog, cat and other words and phrases.  They also learned some of the famous inventions the Italian people gave to the world and some places in the United States named after Italians. Ms. Katie Letourneau was the contact teacher on the project and she already had a nice display of Italian objects in her classroom that were given to her by her Nonna from the Hill area.  Her Nonna, Josie Holland, is a member of the Grana family and was born and raised on Cooper Street (now Marconi).  The family owned a grocery store on Macklind and Magnolia and a barber shop across the street from St. Ambrose. Ellisville Elementary is in the Rockwood School District.  The district utilizes its Partners in Education program to bring to their very young students the flavor of the diverse cultures, which we are privileged to enjoy in our country.      MISERICORDIA SOCIETY CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MEMBER By Marianne Peri Sack The Misericordia Society celebrated the 100th birthday of its oldest member, Jennie Eritreo, at its meeting on Sunday, February 6.  Before the meeting, more than 35 family members attended Mass with her at St. Ambrose’s Italian Mass at 11:00 o’clock.  At the end of Mass, Father Vince Bommarito congratulated her and brought her communion.  A luncheon was held in her honor in the church basement after the meeting that day. Jennie Eritreo was born and raised in St. Louis and her father, Giovanni Geraci was one of the founding members of the Society in 1920.  She is the last of his 11 children.    The youngest of her family members there that day was a 5- month-old great-great-grandchild.  Some of the family members had come from Houston and Chicago to celebrate the occasion.     One of Jennie’s sons, Dick Eritreo, presented the Society with a $100 donation on behalf of her family.  The Society chose to give the donation to St. Ambrose Church in honor of Jennie and her 100th birthday.  May God bless her with many more.     SICILIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION HOLDS CARNEVALE By Marianne Peri Sack Whether you refer to it as Mardi Gras, Carnevale, Carnival or Fat Tuesday, the idea behind it is all the same.  It is the “last blast” before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season that means for Catholics 40 days of fast and abstinence.  The word “carnevale” actually means to put away meat.   Traditionally, parties, masquerades, music, dancing and, of course, plenty of food mark these special days before Ash Wednesday.  The Sicilian Cultural Association’s celebration was held Sunday, February 6, at Christy’s Banquet Center on Christy Boulevard and Gravois.  Contests for the best costume and the best hand-decorated mask were held.  Elvis was spotted at the affair and actually won the best costume award. What’s Happening BIRTHS 1)        Nina Marie Balassi 2)        Gabriele Ogle BAPTISMS Vito Randazzo, Lia Randazzo, Vincenzo Onorfrio Randazzo, Vince Serra and Joseph Serra Weddings Steve and Elizabeth Palms MISERICORDIA society Centenarian Jenny Eritreo and Family Sam Gallo, Dick Eritreo, Jenny Eritreo, XXX, Tony Campanella CARNEVALE Costume Winners: Rosanna Kowdys, Franca Badalamenti, Mike and Karen McCoy Decorated mask winners: Gino Morello, Lidia Morello, Tina LaScola And the Judges were:  Joe Boccardi, Antoinette Vitale, Joanne Pisciotta