IT'S A KNOCKOUT!!!!

FRIULANO PRIMO CARNERA KNOCKS OUT JACK SHARKEY TO WIN THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD - 1933 (Photo courtesy of the 'Canadian Furlan')



Now that I have gotten your attention.......I just wanted to announce that the 'LNostra-Costa Blagga' is two years old. Yes, your old 'Blaggatore' launched it on July 27, 2006. This is my 138th posting on the 'Blagga" My how time flies when you are having fun. And yes, I have had much fun.

Originally the 'Blagga's" purpose was to publicize my book "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast). However, it quickly developed into something much more. This was because many of you submitted articles, photos and stories about your family and friends. Without your support the 'Blagga' would have floundered. I want to especially thank: Gino 'd'Baffi' Campioni the official Italian translator for the 'Blagga', Norma Dinelli Wilson (LaNorma), who submitted numerous articles and photos relating to 'La Costa' [and also her husband Al Wilson, who took many photos at my book signings]; Doriano, the 'Canadian Furlan', historian extra-ordinarier of the Furlan culture; Thelma (Micossi) Gill, who has been my eyewitness to my boyhood memories of Davenport and 'La Costa'; Marvin Del Chiaro, my 'old' college roommate who contributed articles and photos to the 'Blagga'; Reno Cantarutti who keeps reminding me of events that occurred 'su per la costa' that I should have remembered and everyone else who sent articles or made comments. [Speaking of comments: I must not forget to thank Carolina 'Carrie' Cariola for her frequent colorful and insightful comments. Truly a delight 'Carrie'.]

Since there are 138 articles on the 'Blagga' it is sometimes difficult to 'pull' them up for display.
Here is a helpful tip. AT THE UPPER LEFT HAND (YOUR LEFT) CORNER OF THE FRONT PAGE, THERE IS A BLANK SPACE FOR SEARCHING THE BLOG. TYPE ANY WORD (FAMILY NAME, TOPIC, TOWN OR A GROUP OF DESCRIPTIVE WORDS). IF AN ARTICLE HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON IT, THE 'BLAGGA' WILL DISPLAY IT. FOR EXAMPLE; IF YOU TYPE ITALIAN DICTIONARY IN THE SPACE AND THEN 'CLICCA' SEARCH THIS BLOG, GINO'S FAMOUS ITANGLISH DICTIONARY WILL 'POP-UP' AND ALSO, AS A BONUS, HIS ITALIAN FAMILY NAME LIST.

In addition, as you probably already know, the articles published on the 'Blagga' are often picked up by the Google scrawler. As often happens, persons around the world researching family names, etc. are referred to articles on this blog. I have met several interesting people who did just that. Recently, I just heard from a 'Furlana' who lives in the Morgan Hill area. Searching the word 'Furlan' or Friulan on Google she came up with the 'Blagga' and my name. Up to that time she thought she was the only Furlan in the area. Sempre Avanti. ivn0



BTW: You still can order "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast) through the publisher, Authorhouse, by going online at: http://www.authorhouse.com/ or order by phone at 1-888-7715. And, of course, you can order it through your favorite bookstore. I am told that it makes for a great gift and it is an excellent way to spread the word about our life 'su per la costa'.

IL CAPITANO FRANK MICOSSI AND THE FUSARI FAMILY

IL CAPITANO FRANK MICOSSI (right) WITH ZVAN DEL LOSC (center), IVANO'S GRANFATHER; AND A MICOSSI FAMILY RELATIVE (left) IN NIMIS, ITALY, C. 1945. [Photo courtesy of my cousins, Cesare and Anna Maria Comelli. Nimis , Italy.]


JOLENE'S GRANDPARENTS: LUIGI AND RACHELE FUSARI

JOLENE'S GRANDMOTHER RACHELE (PIFFERO) FUSARI AND HER FIRST BORN DAUGHTER, PALMA

GROUP PHOTO OF THE FUSARI FAMILY: FRONT ROW (l-r): RACHELE (MOLLIE) WITH DAUGHTER PALMA; BACK ROW (l-r): RACHELE'S THREE SONS, JOE, DELL, AND SAM.

VINE HILL SCHOOL

FUSARI VINE HILL RANCH

In my book 'La Nostra Costa', I write about the Micossi Family, Tony and Rosie and their children Frank and Rena. [Chapter 12: 'La Strada Per Pescadero (The Road to Pescadero), pages 131-134]. On page 137, I have a photo of Frank Miccosi [c.1945] who was then stationed in Northern Italy as a Captain in the US Army. As I write in the book, Frank or "Franchin" (fran keen') as we use to call him, was a boyhood hero to my brother John and me when we were growing up 'su per la costa'. Il Capitano Frank Micossi was also a hero in Nimis, Italy [his father's as well as my father's hometown]. In the book I write: "While there, (Frank) bought surplus U.S. Army supplies and food, and distributed the items among the war-lorn citizens." He is still remembered there today.

Because of the Internet and the LNOSTRA-COSTA Blog, Jolene Fusari, a cousin of Frank Micossi sent me the following e-mail and photos above:

Dear Ivan,

My name is Jolene Fusari. I do some family genealogy and last night as I was looking up some information on my cousin, Frank Micossi, I came across your (very) interesting blog. I also recognized some of the names that are mentioned.

Frank's Mother, Rosina (Fusari) Micossi, married Antonio (Tony) Micossi. In 1920. Tony and partner Charles Bergamini had a Hotel on Cooper Street in Santa Cruz. Rosie and my Nono, Luigi Fusari, were sister and brother. The Fusari family came from Castiglione, Massacarra, Italy. Nono Luigi married Rachele Piffero (my Nona).
My Nono, Luigi had a brother Edward. Together they had a ranch up on Vine Hill. There they planted grape vineyards, apples, pears, cherries, etc.. They also made Wine. I remember hearing that people used to come out from Santa Cruz to drink wine, eat bread and cheese; then when they left they would take a few bottles along with them to drink on the way home. When the bottles were empty they would just through them out along the way. It is said that if you search (hard enough) along the side of Branciforte Drive, you can still fine some of those old bottles. My father told me that when he was a kid and was in school, (I believe it must have been during prohibition), he saw my uncle Ed driving past….. going like a bat out hell, with the “revenuers” hot on his tail. (The old Vinehill School Is still there, but it is a house now. I remember living in it for a while as a child with my Nona. My cousin Louie still has property on Vine Hill, but it is a lot less than it used to be. I was raised there and I loved it. (I enjoyed) many happy times. )

Amadeo Piffero, my Nona's father brought her to this country; my Nono Fusari brought her brother Francesco (Frank) Piffero, her sister Leopoldina (Polda) Piffero, Vitale Adolfo Piffero and his wife Louigina (they were my Godparents) to this country. The Piffero's, were from, Spoccia, Novara, Italy. Polda married Pete Locatelli. They had two daughters Eva Locatelli (Pini) and Mabel Locatelli. Pete owned a hotel and restaurant on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, I don't remember the name of it, but I do remember going there with my Nona, when she would go to help out.

I (will always) remember the first time I saw my cousin, Frank Micossi. It was in the 1940's and was a little girl then. There was a big party at the Vine Hill School House Lots of people were there and they had music.( It may have been when he came home from Italy after the war, or maybe before he left.) There he was, this tall handsome man in uniform. I must have been bugging him so he finely danced with me. (There) I was, standing on his shoes as we danced and I totally fell in love with him and I have had a crush on him all of my life. No one ever knew but me …… until now. Now you know (my big secret).

Unfortunately, Frank died much too young. I know that he died in Monterey on April 7, 1967. He was only 49 years old.

I was born in Santa Cruz on June 21, 1942, My Father's Name was Joseph Louis Fusari, my mother's name was Dorothy Marie Blake. My Father's brothers names were Augustino (Sam), Adolfo (Dell), His sister was Palma. Sam work all his life for Big Creek Lumber, as did his sons Louie and Augie.

More about Frank: I believe it must have been his dream to become an actor as he attended acting school, 'Pasadena playhouse College of Theatre Arts'. He was in a play called 'Pillars of Society' February 13 to 18th of 1939. He played Johan Tonnesen in the play. I have been to the Holy Cross Cemetery(Santa Cruz) and have taken pictures of Family Head stones, I thought it would be a good way to keep tract of birth and death dates, I have Frank's. I haven't been there in a long time. I live south in a little town called Santa Paula, in Ventura County about 60 miles from Los Angeles. My brother Gary Fusari still lives in Santa Cruz, he a custom home building Contractor. I am sending you a couple photos, one is of my grandmother Rachele Fusari, it is a beautiful Photo, my Favorite. The other a photo of her and from left to right, my dad Joe, Dell, Sam and sister Palma Fusari. I may have one of Frank taken in Italy, I will send it also, maybe you can tell me if it is.


I don't know if you knew any of the people I have mentioned or not let me know. Waiting to hear from you .

Jolene

IVANO SAYS: Thanks Jolene. What a wonderful story to remind all of us of Frank. Yes, he died much too young. I miss him a lot. Hopefully, my fellow 'blaggatori' will recognize the names you mentioned and will come forward with some additional information. Also, thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with us. 'Con un bacin d'mor'. Ivano

Jolene also sent the above photo, however, she was unable to ID the two persons in it. It was such a beautiful photo that I decided to publish it anyway. Perhaps someone might recognize the man and the women in the photo. First prize is a guided tour of 'La Nostra Costa' by that noted author Ivano Franco Comelli.

MESSAGE/INQUIRY FROM ANDY

Most likely they have some information for Andy.....don't you think?
(See comments for photo IDs)

IVANO SAYS:

ANDY LEFT A MESSAGE ON ONE OF MY EARLIER POSTS. I THOUGHT I WOULD POST IT HERE AT THE TOP OF THE 'BLAGGA' . ANY INFORMATION CAN BE POSTED AS A COMMENT TO THIS MESSAGE OR SEND DIRECTLY TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS.

ANDY has left a new comment on your post "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIOVANNI PRIMO":

HI,MY GREAT GRAND FATHER WAS PIO SCARONI, THE DAIRY BEFORE KATY SCARONI PLACE, MY MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME WAS DOROTHY ANNAND. I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON S.K. ANNAND WHO TOOK OVER THE DAIRY AFTER PIO MOVED INTO TOWN ON LAURENT STREET - HE ALSO MARRIED MY GRAND MOTHER. COULD YOU HELP ME OUT ON WHERE I COULD FIND SUCH INFO.THANKS,ANDY CARCELLOPS. MY FATHER OWNED MISSION PHARMACY FOR 57 YRS. LENA BROVIA WORKED FOR US.

Posted by ANDY to lnostra-costa at 3:44 PM

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA FREDDIE DEL CHIARO; FIGLIA DELLA COSTA NEVA RINALDI ONETO -Remembered

THE FOLLOWING REMEMBRANCES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL THIS WEEK.

- FREDDIE -

Alfred Louis Del Chiaro

Services will be Sunday for Alfred Louis Del Chiaro who passed away July 8, 2008 at home in Santa Cruz surrounded by his loving family. He was 79 years old.
He was born in Santa Cruz on December 23, 1928, the son of Giuseppe and Pia Lombardi Del Chiaro. He grew up in Santa Cruz where he attended local schools and was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School, Class of 1946. Following high school he attended Hartnell College for two years and then went to work for the Bank of America for a short time. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his return from the service he worked with his father in farming at the Gordola Ranch. He later worked as a foreman for John Ingles Frozen Foods and Pfyffer Bontadelli Associates.
Freddie was a member of the Marconi Club, Italian Catholic Federation, Sons of Italy and the Santa Cruz Elks Club. He enjoyed traveling with his son David and his best friend, Tony Franceschini. He loved farming, gardening and also enjoyed woodworking. He made many beautiful bird houses and shrines.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Betty Del Chiaro of Santa Cruz; son, David Del Chiaro of Santa Cruz; mother, Pia Del Chiaro of Santa Cruz; sister and brother in law, Diana and Danny Petrolino of Santa Cruz; sister in law and brother in law, Eva and Albert Quilici of Santa Cruz; aunt, Lena Passarino of Santa Cruz; nephews, Gary Quilici and Randy Quilici and his wife, Roxann; nieces, Elaine Padilla and her husband Frank and Patricia McNeal all of Santa Cruz and Cori Gabbert and her husband Mike of Granite Bay, CA. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family in Santa Cruz and in Italy.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA Sunday July 13, 2008 at 7:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the church Sunday evening from 6 pm to service time. A private entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Tracy Maclay, Dr. James Glancey, Dr. Patrick Shields, Hospice of Santa Cruz, Dr. Thomas Larson and Fr. Mike Cross.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr. Scotts Valley, Ca or your favorite charity.Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 7/10/2008 - 7/11/2008

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- NEVA -

Services will be Tuesday for Neva Oneto who was taken by the Lord to eternal happiness. She passed away July 6, 2008 after a long and courageous battle with cancer with her loving family by her side. She was 77 years old.
Neva was born November 17, 1930 in Santa Cruz. She was the daughter of Rinaldo and Maria Rinaldi. As a child her family and extended family worked in agriculture and as a result Neva grew up living on the coast road. She was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School.
In her younger years she worked in banking and later worked for Santa Cruz City Schools in food service for over 20 years. She was a life long member of Holy Cross Church. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother and was always there to help members of her family and friends. She enjoyed family activities, gardening, crossword puzzles, music, movies, socializing and travel. She was an avid lifelong San Francisco 49'er and Giants fan.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph Oneto and her parents, Rinaldo and Maria Rinaldi.
She is survived by her sons, Steve Oneto and Dan Oneto of Santa Cruz; brother, Reno Rinaldi of Salinas; granddaughters, Jenny Oneto and Erin Oneto and her great grandson, Philip all of Santa Cruz. Neva will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew her.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St, Santa
Cruz, CA Tuesday July 15, 2008 at 2:00 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA. A private entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley or Heartland Hospice, 2511 Garden Rd., Monterey, Ca.Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 7/10/2008 - 7/12/2008

ADDIO FREDDIE AND NEVA. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ACROSS 'IL ULTIMO PONTE.

SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL -Fund Raiser

Santa Cruz High School - 2006. Photo taken by Roger 'Ruggero' Princevalle

Photo: Memorial Field with the City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz High School in the Background.
(c. 1954)

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I received the f ollowing e-mail and accompanying Santa Cruz Sentinel article from Len Klempnauer, SCHS Class of '54 Alum:

As you probably know, the Rotary Club is currently undergoing a campaign to raise $750,000 in community donations to rehabilitate the Santa Cruz High track and football field.

The SCHS Class of 1954 already has contributed $1,000 to the fund-raising drive, and I have been told the Class of 1956 also is considering make a class donation.
I was wondering whether your Class of 1955 might be interested is making a donation.
In our case, we were going to donate $250 from our class general fund (money we've saved up over the years from reunions) and ask if any of our classmates would individually like to contribute the remaining $750. As it turned out, four of my '54 classmates each contributed $250, so we didn't have to take the money from our fund. (Instead, we'll be able to add that amount to the perpetual Class of 1954 Scholarship administered by the alumni association that we set up this year.)
If you're interested, the Rotary contacts are Jon Sisk, senior vice president of Lighthouse Bank, and Ken Whiting of Whiting's Foods. Sisk can be reached at jsisk@lighthousebank.net and Whiting at ken@whitingsfood.com.
I'm sure many of you have email contacts with other members of the Class of '55, so you may want to send this suggestion to them.
Below is an article about the campaign that was published in the Sentinel.
-- Len Klempnauer, Capitola
P.S. Wouldn't it be great if all of the SCHS classes from the Fifties would contribute $1,000 apiece? If you have any contacts in other classes, could you pass on this information. I've already sent a similar email to Bob Lemmon of the Class of 1957.

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The following story about the Memorial Field fund-raising drive was published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on Sunday, May 4, 2008.Headline: Santa Cruz High Track and Field Project Needs $750K. More than a decade has passed since Santa Cruz High School -- home to a dusty, narrow dirt track -- has hosted a meet on its own turf, forced instead to play at other schools or area parks that offer better facilities.Speaking of turf, the adjacent infield at the school's Memorial Track and Field has more craters than the moon. The football and soccer teams can host the occasional competition, but the bumpy battleground is a potential minefield for twisted ankles, errant passes and broken hearts. With no real "home field," students are far less likely to support their peers by traveling to other schools to watch them compete, say supporters of the effort to improve facilities."There'd be a lot more school spirit" if the facility at the 113-year-old school was in better shape, said junior soccer player and track team member Kelsey Johnson.If the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club is successful in raising $750,000, 10 years worth of dreams for a new track and field might actually come true by next year. Thanks to a $500,000 boost from Rotary charity bike rides, a $750,000 investment from the school district and other community pledges totaling nearly $500,000, a planning committee has cobbled together about three-quarters, or $1.7 million, of the project's estimated $2.5 million cost.Committee leaders Ken Whiting, former Rotary Club president, and brother-in-law Jon Sisk are launching a big push to raise the final amount by this fall so the district can put the roughly 200,000-square-foot project out to bid while the construction market is still favorable due to the downward demand for new houses. The preliminary design plan was OK'd by the school board in December after several community forums, but the project can't move forward without all the money. "We want to leverage the monies we made through the bike rides into a complete project that would serve the school and community and stand there for the test of time," said Whiting, who, like wife Renee, graduated from the school in 1974. The couple's three daughters also are graduates, with the youngest, Jenny, running track for the school several years ago.Santa Cruz architect Steve Sutherland, whose daughter graduated from the school last year, said the "state of the art" project would take at least four months to construct after a contractor is chosen through a district bidding process. Though his firm, SSA Landscape Architects, has designed plans to eventually build new softball fields, expanded bleachers and a concession building, the track and field upgrades are all the district can afford right now.The new field would be made of polyethylene carpet supported underneath by an infill made of recycled tires. The track surface would be made of polyurethane, also supported by recycled rubber. Though there have been some community concerns about using artificial turfs, he said the synthetic materials are safe, reduce injuries and don't require watering, fertilizers and the maintenance hours the district can ill-afford.Assistant Cardinals track coach Bob Sanders, whose children Elle and Zeke are on the team, looks forward to the day when "finally there won't be bare spots" in the field."Whenever we travel to other school districts, they have really a nice track and field," Sanders said. "I always wondered why we couldn't offer our children the same type of facility."The track team uses the existing track for practice, but not to compete because the facility isn't regulation size and has no marked lanes. "That's a shame -- the kids deserve to have home track meets," he said. The district's assistant superintendent for business, Dick Moss, said parents and community members had to raise most of the funds privately because there is only so much money to go around for facility improvements, especially in tough budget times. This year, schools are bracing for at least 2.5 percent in state funding cuts thanks to the state's growing multibillion dollar deficit."A lot of facilities have needs in the district," Moss said, adding that Harbor High's track facility is also deteriorating. "Things like that tend to take a lower priority."Erik Redding, the boys athletic director at Santa Cruz High, applauded the efforts of Rotarians and others to get the project under way."Every year, we try to get things going," he said. "Finally, we just got to the point that we had some people wanted to take the bull by the horns."Those interested in donating to the project can make corporate gifts from $15,000-$20,000 and get advertising on bleachers or the scoreboard. Individual donors of $1,000 or more will receive a plaque on what will be called the Cardinal Wall of Fame at one of the entrances to the field.Freshman Elena Venable hopes enough donors chip in so she can run on the new track next spring and perhaps the rest of her athletic career at the school."It's kind of upsetting because my friends can't watch because they can't go to San Lorenzo Valley or Aptos," she said. "I'd like not having to drive somewhere, and it would make it easier to practice.”

THE STORY OF 'BONZO' DA DEERHEAD

Charlie Bella's Ocean View Hotel in Davenport (c 1950)

Mac's Office in Wyoming (Photo courtsey of Patty and Mac Morelli)

Hello, Ivano...

I thought you might want to put this on the 'blagga'. Some people may remember the story.
This story started many, many years ago when my brother, Mac Morelli, Jr., was a teen and worked summers and weekends in the woods with our Dad (Mac Morelli) and uncles Elmer (cat skinner) and Lewis (faller and choker setter) Morelli. One day, our Uncle Elmer killed a deer while working in the woods. Mac had such strong memories of the whole thing that he has always hoped that the deer head might eventually be passed on to him. About two months ago, Aunt Donna, Elmer's wife, passed away. (Uncle Elmer passed about 10 years before.) She left the mounted deer head, named Bonzo, to Mac.....at our Uncle Elmer's request. Aunt Donna's daughter, Sue, and I worked together to get 'Bonzo' to Mac, who is now living in Wyoming with his wife, Holly.

The e-mail below is Mac's thank you for our efforts in getting the deer head to him. I've attached a picture which shows where he hung 'Bonzo'.....Read on.

Patty (Morelli)

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Hi everyone,
I would like to thank you all for getting Bonzo to me. Patty did a great job in shipping him here. This is the story of Bonzo as I know it:

Elmer (Morelli) was working with our Dad (Mac Morelli, Sr.) logging up Gazos Creek in San Mateo County. The year was either 1953-1954. Elmer always carried a 32 special rifle on the cat with him and one day he was building road when Bonzo jumped up and out from behind some brush. Elmer jumped off the cat and onto a stump and had a chance for one shot and luckily hit the deer in the neck. Dad paid to have the deer head stuffed and in the late fifties he was displayed on the wall of Charlie Bella's Bar at the Ocean View Hotel in Davenport. I think that's when they named him Bonzo.

He was a magnificent animal. The normal coastal black tail deer field dressed @ 100 lbs. and a big buck would be 120lbs; Bonzo field dressed @ 172 lbs. (they weighed him at the old Linda Vista butcher shop on Mission St.) Bonzo's heavy weight was attributed to eating flax which was grown in the area at that time. I had a small picture of Elmer with the buck in the back of a pickup but I'm afraid the photo got lost in our moving. I still have the rifle which was our dad's, a pretty Winchester 32 special with an octagon barrel, which I will hang under Bonzo. I included a couple of pictures of him on the wall of my shop/office. I'm so proud to have him even though he has aged and does look to be at least 54 years old.

Thanks again all; have a great weekend.
Mac (Morelli)

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Thanks Mac and Patty. Patty as you know the LNostra-Costa Blagga is dedicated to keeping the memories of 'La Costa' alive. It's stories like this that do exactly that. Please keep them coming. ivn0

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