SANTA CRUZ RECOLLECTIONS - BY LaNORMA

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LaNORMA (IN FRONT) WITH (L-R) UNCLE QUINTO NERI, MOTHER DIANA AND FATHER DANTE DINELLI AND AUNT ELVIRA NERI
THIS PHOTO TAKEN IN FROM OF SERAFINA'S [BELTRAMI'S] 'SU PER LA COSTA', C. 1946

NORMA DINELLI WILSON:

I was born in the old Sisters Hospital in l940 although then it was the Handley Hospital
(the Sisters bought the hospital in l94l).

Now it is gone – it is the Dream Inn parking lot. Where the Dream Inn is now was a cliff
with paths that we walked down to Cowell’s Beach. We always parked on Bay St. by the
big barn – where the condos are now. I am sure many of you remember how it was.

There are so many things to remember and so many things have changed and with us
all sharing – so much comes back to our minds – how cozy and laid back Santa Cruz and surroundings were.

One high school – SCHS – buses coming from everywhere in the county –
north from the Summit, south from Aptos and from Davenport, Bonny Doon
and from Felton and Ben Lomond. In l953 San Lorenzo High School was opened
(before that it was in Boulder Creek). There was Holy Cross but it was a small school.
Our big rival for football was Watsonville.

We walked everywhere even at dusk and nighttime without worrying as we do today.
I remember Madeline Perrona Crews telling me that she and a friend worked at
the Boardwalk in summer and after it closed they would walk home to Encinal Street –
think she said that sometimes they walked through the tunnel under Holy Cross!!

In those days there was no highway from Mission Street to River Street behind Holy Cross.
Some of the houses that were located where the intersection of Mission & Chestnut Sts are
were moved to the corner of Mission and Chestnut. It is worth checking out photos at
Covello & Covello (which was Vester Dick Photography years ago)

One big change to Santa Cruz was the l955 flood. Our town was never quite the same
after that and then l0 years or so later in l965 the University was begun and changes really escalated.

The flood was sad and devastating. We lived up the Coast (where I grew up after we moved
from Davenport). On Dec. 22 (I think?) we were visiting my aunt and uncle on Dufour and
we left later that night driving the old Coast Rd. – when we got to Wilder’s Ranch – it was all
flooded. My Dad was really brave and took a chance driving slowly through the raging water.
My Mom and I and my Dad were really scared and probably did more praying getting through
there than all our life combined!! Luckily we got to the other side safely and home. It was a
treacherous night of rain. The next day my Dad and I drove his big 4-wheel drive from the
ranch as he had to bring something to the packing house in Santa Cruz. After that we decided
to drive down to Lincoln Street Bakery for a treat --- lo and behold as we came off the hill by
SCHS everything was under water almost all the way up to Chestnut St.
Cars were topsy turvy - it was tragic! We drove a little further and we could see debris of all
kinds rapidly going down the river – it touched me so as I saw Christmas trees and gifts among
other things going down the river. Of course we didn’t know anything about what had happened
in the night as our electricity had been out all night and we did not have a phone in our house –
the nearest phone was in our cookhouse across the street. Also there was no TV – only a few
people had TVS especially up the Coast as reception was bad. But it wouldn’t have mattered –
we were without electricity.

We just couldn’t believe what we were seeing---was it the “beginning of the end” of
Santa Cruz as we knew it?!

Guess we all could go on and on with so many memories. I know I could
but we’ll have to stay tuned for the “rest of the stories”………………………

THOUGHTS FROM IL BUCO - GULCH RANCH-SU PER LA COSTA

THE 'OLD RANCERE' IN IL BUCO. THE OLD SHEDS IN THE BACKGROUND ARE THE ORIGINAL (ALTHOUGH MOVED AROUND).

VIEW OF 'IL BUCO' FROM THE COAST ROAD. THE OLD BARN IS ON THE LEFT. THE PATH UP THE HILLSIDE FOLLOWS CLOSELY THE PATH THAT MY FATHER, GERVASIO "BRONCO" COMELLI TOOK EVERY MORNING FROM OUR HOUSE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL (NO LONGER THERE) TO THE RANCH 'COOKAHOUSA' (NO LONGER THERE)

PILE OF LUMBER INDICATING THE LOCATION OF THE 'OLD COOKAHOUSA' BEFORE IT BURNED DOWN, c. 2002.

THE 'OLD RANCERE' WITH JEAN AND ANDREW HSU, CURRENT OWNERS OF 'IL BUCO'

IVANO SAYS: Received the below e-mail from Michael Feldman, current resident of 'Il Buco'

Dear Ivano,

I am currently reading your book "La Nostra Costa (Our Coast)" and am so intrigued that I had to e-mail you before I could even finish. My roommate Scott lent me the book after he read it and was equally inspired. As you know by now we both live in your former residence at 'Il Buco' and have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here over the past two years. This property is truly one of a kind, given its beautiful surroundings, proximity to the ocean (all of us happen to be avid surfers by the way) and relative isolation.

Reading your book and gaining insight into the surrounding history of the property, along with other areas of the North Coast, has made our stay in il buco so much more rewarding. I can honestly say that we are tending to the land and property as best we can, planting a large organic garden, adding an herb garden in the front of the house, keeping the house in prime condition and maintaining the qualities that have made our stay so special. This place has felt like paradise from day one and the feeling has not been lost in the time between. I hope you know that you have an open invitation to stop by anytime you'd like to meet us and reconnect with the property that has provided you with such a rich and lively upbringing. I'm sure you'll be surprised to see how its changed, as well as how much it has remained the same. I look forward to meeting you someday and receiving a tour of the place that has continued to give so much to all of us. Much thanks to the history and inspiration you've provided. -Michael Feldman

FALLEN OFFICERS - OAKLAND POLICE

SGT. DANIEL SAKAI, AGE 35

SGT. ERVIN ROMANS, AGE 43

SGT. MARK DUNKIN, AGE 40

IN WHAT THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE CALLED THE WORST

POLICE KILLINGS SINCE 1970, THE ABOVE THREE SERGEANTS

WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

SATURDAY, MARCH 21,2009

THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS CAN BE

FOUND AT: WWW.SFGATE.COM

L'IMMIGRANTE (THE IMMIGRANT)

THE ABOVE PHOTO WAS BORROWED OFF ONE OF THE 'FURLAN' BLOGS.( I FORGOT WHICH. ) IT SYMBOLIZES QUITE WELL THE THOUGHTS EXPRESSED IN 'THE CANADIAN FURLANS' ELOQUENT E-MAIL POSTED BELOW.

Ivano "Mio Caro Amico": I am so ever greatfull to you for allowing me to be a part of "La Nostra Costa".There are times I feel as if I actually grew up with all of you "Su per la Costa"!! And to make things even more realistic I have recently been in contact with my other caro amico Reno Cantarutti. As all of you may or may not know I knew Reno's aunt Luigina (Reno's Mother's Sister) and his uncle John, who was the founder of the Fogolar Furlan in Windsor Ontario. So we have a significant connection. And as I stated in your "Blagga" and will state it until my last breath; we cannot ever thank our parents enough for their visionary dreams to make a better life for themselves, leaving their land of birth and in many cases sacrificing beyond our worst nightmares. As I mentioned to Reno and I know most of you on the "Blagga" most of the Italian immigrants here in the Niagara Region are primarily from Southern Italy, Abbruzzi, Calabria, Napoli. These Italian immigrants most of whom came across the Atlantic after WWII from 1949 - 1960. Most of these people have never left their villages, let alone embark on a ship to cross the Atlantic. Many were taken advantage of, some taken advantage of by their own paesani that were already here for years. Some were paid $0.50 a day in 1950 to work as a farm hand, can you believe this ? As the years passed by many of these people landed jobs in the fast emerging industrial growth of the late 50's and 60's. Many Italian immigrants were able to land good paying manufacturing jobs primarily because of their unconditional work ethic. And I can state this since I saw this with my own eyes; many of these factory workers worked all the over time they could get many taking advantage of working double shifts. They never took holidays except for two weeks a year when the factories closed during the summer heat wave. And you think during the two week factory shut down these paesani would take a holiday? Not a chance they all went to work at seasonal jobs that were in abbundance, especially in the local farms. In the Niagara area we are blessed to have many fruit farms; strawberries, peaches, pears, cheeries and now recently on the lower escarpment bordering Lake Ontario grapes and the wine industry. So many of our Paesani worked non stop for years, many years. And they were frugal some never learning to drive, growing enormous gardens with fig trees that they would bury to protect during our sub zero winters. Now as I mentioned to Reno what do you think happened to the children of these hard working immigrants? Some emulated the work ethic of their parents and went on to become pillars of our community as lawyers, doctors, etc. And some well amounted nothing but spoiled take and never give back type of individuals. I can say most of my friends who's parents have immigrated from Italy have all thanked their parents first of all for giving them opportunities and most have gone on to contribute where their parents have left off.

Ciao e Mandi

Doriano "The Canadian Furlan"

PRIORITIES

A RANCERE'S LAMENT

IVANO SAYS: Today is March 15, 2009. It is my father's (Gervasio "Bronco" Comelli) 109th birthday. It is also marks the third year that "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast") has been in publication. The 'Lament' (hopefully) capsulates the hard times that the ranchers faced "su per la costa", during the Great Depression. In my father's honor I publish below the "Rancere's Lament" as translated into Italian by my good friend Gino Roberto Campioni. Those of you who have the book can go to the back cover to read the English version. Sempre Avanti.





Lamento d'un Rancere*

In una mattinata particolarmente nebbiosa, un rancere era nel campo, faticosamente cambiando direzione dell'aqua che mandave alle piante di cavolini. Era profondamente dipresso. Appoggiato alla sua sciavola, ha dato uno sguardo al cielo scuro. Con voce di tristezza e se forse aspettasse quache cosa o qualcuno di essere lassu, ha cominciato suo lamento:

"Lavoro ogni giorno in questi campi, sprofondo nel fango, sento nessun' odore altro che pattume, ed in un paio d'ore il vento mi soffiera sabbia e detriti in faccia. Il prossimo mese quando pioverà, mi bagnerà i panni, e dovrò portare quei sacchi bagnati su e giu per i sorchi in fango. Lavoro dieci o dodici ore ogni giorno per pochissimi soldi. Mio figlio giovane è malato e non posso pagare il medico. My mogliettina è incinta e presto arriverà nostro secondo figliolo. Dove troverò la moneta per governare unaltra bocca? Ho promesso my bella sposa una vita facile in America. Ha trovato soltanto lavoro duro e tempi disperati. Se c'è un Dio lassu, perche non si fa vedere? Perche non mi aiuta? Ho bisogno di piu moneta! O Dio, se Voi siete lassu, perche non fate cenno e con Vostra mano per migliorare la mia vita?"

Veramente, non aspettando risposta, il rancere abbassò sua testa e con sua sciavola pian piano tornò à lavorare. Poi dalla nebbia fitta ed arcana, gli parve sentire una voce, gentile e sincera:

"O rancere mi. Non lo sai? Vivi su per la costa--non in paradiso."
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*Translated by Gino Roberto Campioni (with the exclusive permission of the author) from the copyrighted English version, as it appears in "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast), published by Authorhouse, 2006: http://www.authorhouse.com/

MICHAEL NANNA REMEMBERS SANTA CRUZ

IVANO SAYS: RECEIVED THE ABOVE PHOTO AND E-MAIL (BELOW) FROM MICHAEL NANNA. THE SANTA CRUZ HOSPITAL (WHERE 'LITTLE IVANO' AND MICHAEL WERE BORN) IS NOW PART OF THE BRANCIFORTE PLAZA ON SOQUEL AVENUE.

Signor Ivano,

I just received your book 'La Nostra Costa (Our Coast) Wednesday (a paperback copy). Now I am looking forward to getting a hardback copy of this book. I'm still digesting much of what you say (and don't say). I will write a comprehensive sketch sometime in the future. I will say this….. your book speaks straight to my heart.

Please note that my wife Tania (of 20-years this April), and I left California over 10-years ago. The last time I visited the Santa Cruz area was in 1997, to see my maternal Grandmother, Ruby Violet Strong (only weeks before her death). She was born in San Fransisco in 1906. Needless to say, I've been out of the area for quite a spell now. Your book, however, does bring back sweet memories.

A little about me. I was born at Santa Cruz Hospital in 1956. Of course this is the same hospital that you were born in (only 19-1/2 years apart). I am the grandson of Ermanno Vincenzo Nanna ( Herman Vincent Nanna Sr.) who was born in 1906 in Massa Cararra (Commune di Fivizanno, Italia.) I am the second son of Herman Vincent Nanna Jr. who was born 1932 in Hollister California. My Grandfather was a Santa Cruz Police Officer. My Great-Grandfather, Gustavo Nanna worked at the cement plant in Davenport and lived with his wife Maria on Garden St., Santa Cruz in the 1950s and 60s.

Gusatvo was also from Fivizanno, however; (for some unknown reason) he was not deemed to be an Italian citizen. Of coarse, this is a matter of interest to me and I am still investigating. A possibility is that Nanna was not his real surname, rather a Catholic name given to him as a newly converted immigrant.
Today, my wife and I live in Alexandria, Louisiana (located near the center of the State). My wife is from Brazil (Brasileira, della estado de Parana, a cidade de Curitiba) and speaks fluent Portugues. I do enjoy the colloquial Italian expressions in your book -che bello- they are so much like Portuguese from the south of Brazil. By the way nice touch with the off-color Italian expressions. I think that you are making a statement here.


BTW: Do you remember the Locatelli's Mahia ranch just up the road from the CHP office…. off of Soquel Ave. (I can't remember the name of the street).Old man Locatelli had the best cherries and apricots this side of heaven.


Tchau,

Michael Nanna

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IVANO FURTHER SAYS:

My credentials for being born at the Old Santa Cruz Hospital are recorded in "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast), Page 3:

"I was born Ivano Franco Comelli on April 19, 1937, at the old Santa Cruz Hospital on Soquel Avenue. (Presently, this is the site of the Branciforte Plaza.) Dr. Norman R. Sullivan was the doctor in charge, and it was he who suggested the name Ivano [ee vah no] to my mother.)

Also, please visit the La Nostra Costa Website:

www.lanostracosta.com-a.googlepages.com