LA NOSTRA-COSTA DAYS REVIVAL - SUNDAY - OCTOBER 17, 2010

JIM COCHRON AND THE SWANTON BERRY FARM
PRESENTS
LA NOSTRA COSTA DAYS (OUR COAST) REVIVAL
SUNDAY, OCT 17, 2010

Ivano Franco Comelli, Author –Screenwriter of
La Nostra Costa/Turbulent Quest

In his guise as the “Old Rancere,” Ivano will re-create (with stories and songs), historical events as they might have occurred on the North Coast of Santa Cruz (1923-1983).

Come join us for a fun afternoon of food, music, and “tall tales of old.”

Location: Swanton Berry Farm – 2 miles north of Davenport.

http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/


Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00PM

Fee: Voluntary Donations Only

SEMPRE AVANTI

AN AMERICAN STORY BY GINO CAMPIONI

MARY OKAMOTO IN FRONT OF HER PORTLAND, OREGON FRUIT STAND

GINO SAYS:
After reading the current discussion (re: restrictions placed on Italians during WWII) on the LNOSTRA-COSTA BLOG, I feel prompted to share this story with you and your fellow bloggers.

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AN AMERICAN STORY - SUBMITTED BY GINO CAMPIONI
In South East Portland, Oregon, there once was a small but well built fruit stand in front of a nice private home. The fruits and vegetable were always the finest to be found, and arranged in artistic manner. The owners of this business were Mary and Haru Okamoto. Mary was Nisei, a native of Watsonville, California, while Haru, a
Nihon Jin, was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Their several children were all born in the United States.

The Okamoto gained a large following of customers, not just because of the high quality and fair prices of their products, but also by their friendliness and courtesy. Many people called them "Oka San" and "Oto San". (Grandma
and Grandpa)

By the time the war began, two of their older sons were already serving in the U. S. military. One of them later was lost in action. When the family was given short notice that they were to be bussed to a concentration camp in Arizona (because of those WWII restrictions against "enemy aliens"), they took with them all the clothes they could carry, plus a tricycle for the small children, and an electric iron and ironing board. Those three "luxuries" were the only ones at the camp, and they were shared by many families.

After the war they were allowed to return home. They continued the business until one morning a car driven by a drunken driver smashed into the fruit stand, and completely demolished it. Neither the driver nor the fruit stand were insured. Mary and Haru received no help to restore their business. It was over two years before they could resume their work, but somehow they managed to return to normal, with no help from those who should have given it.

On my latest visit there, I found the stand looking nice as before, but being run by a young American man. Haru had passed on, and Mary, now very old, was only working part time. Presumably the Okamoto are now both on the other
side of the "Nihon Hashi" or Japan Bridge.

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GINO SAYS (CONT'D) It has been many years since the times I used to see these people. Their place was on 52nd Ave. in South East Portland, near the Rhododendron gardens, Reed College, etc. I would stop at the fruit stand any time I was scheduled to work on a TV anywhere near it, and buy something, either "ringo", (apple) "sakurambo" (cherries),"budo" (grapes), or "kaki" (persimmon). Note that persimmon is "cachì" in Italian and pronounced the same. It is also khaki in English, for the color of the leaves of the persimmon tree.

LIDO CANTARUTTI PRESENT THE 2010 ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL

SHOWCASE THEATRE IN SAN RAFAEL (TEL: 415-499-6800)

LIDO CANTARUTTI HAS JUST ANNOUNCED HIS FILM SELECTIONS FOR THE UPCOMING ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE SHOWCASE THEATRE IN SAN RAFAEL, CA., OCT 2 to NOV 13, 2010. TO VIEW HIS SELECTIONS, DATES FOR SHOWNG, AND TICKETING INFORMATION GO TO LIDO'S WEBSITE: http://www.italianfilm.com/

IVANO SAYS: Remember Lido is going to be our special guest at the "La Nostra Costa Days Revival" on October 17. Come meet Lido at Jim Cochron's Swanton Berry Farm between 1 and 4 PM. The Film Festival will still be going on and you can ask Lido a bunch of questions. Oh, by-the-way "The Old Rancere" will be there too. That is if he can find his way.

Sempre Avanti

LA NOSTRA COSTA DAYS REVIVAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - LaNORMA

LaNORMA ,pictured above (on the left) with Nunni Radicchi, is an integral part of the 'LA NOSTRA COSTA DAYS REVIVAL
COMMITTEE (LNCDRC). Nunni is the mother of 'LaRosa' Radicchi. LaRosa is also a member of the LNCDRC. Come meet these wonderful ladies at the LA NOSTRA COSTA DAYS REVIVAL EVENT on SUNDAY, OCT. 17 at JIM COCHRON'S SWANTON BERRY FARM BETWEEN 1-4pm. Scroll down on this page to view Event Announcements.

In the meantime, LaNorma has sent us a gem of a story that conjures up many, many memories of the past.

“La Storia del Circolo” (The Story of the Circus) by LaNoma
Circuses are mostly a thing of the past now and most of the ones that do exist do not even have animals.

However, years ago they were magnificent entertainment and everyone looked forward to the circus coming to town. They mostly must have traveled by train (remember the old movie “Greatest Show On Earth” with Cornel Wilde, Betty Hutton, Charlton Heston, etc.)

My Dad used to talk about the circus coming to town by train. I recently talked to Sharon Watson and she also remembers the circus coming to Santa Cruz by train – they would disembark at the depot and then the elephants and horses would pull the cages and wagons and all the equipment trailers down Pacific Avenue to what is now 550 Water Street Medical Buildings (across from the old Adolph’s). This was quite an adventure. Everyone would come down and it was literally a parade that everyone enjoyed until the circus was put up and going!

I cannot remember when this stopped happening – Sharon and I are in the same age category and can remember it but the oldtimers remembered it vividly as well so it must have been going on for a long time!

My Dad talked about the circus coming to town and this one episode happened in the late 20’s or early 30’s.

Again – why oh why didn’t I (we) pay more attention to these wonderful stories and remember details!

Anyway the circus had stopped at the depot and all the cages, etc. werw lined up; d the horses and elephants started pulling the wagon, cages, etc. down Pacific Ave. It was a grand parade with both sides of Pacific Avenue being packed with excited people, especially the kids! THE CIRCUS WAS COMING TO TOWN !

About half way down Pacific Avenue, as everyone was excitedly watching the grand parade, a Mother apparently took Her eyes (and hands) off her toddler for just a second. As the elephants got closer to her location - everyone gasped in horror! The little toddler had wandered out right in front of the elephants – probably thought WOW – these guys are huge! No one knew what to do except gasp. A few seconds probably seemed like an eternity. All of a sudden one of the elephants picked up the child with her (or his) trunk. He paused then turned slightly closer to the crowd and gently placed the child next to the mother. Everyone gasped again in sheer disbelief.

Wish I knew more details but that must have been quite and adventure. Guess things change and now the circus hardly comes to town and as I said mostly without animals if it does come……but our memories shall always go on even if some are bit 'fuzzy".

LaNorma

IVANO SAYS: Great Story LaNorma. And to all our "blaggatori" out there we thank you.
If you all come to the "La Nostra Costa Days Revival" on October 17, I'm sure you will here many more stories like this. And NO!! The Monkey is not a LNCDRC member. SA (Sempre Avanti ) ivn0

PHIL NETTO - FIGLIO DI SANTA CROCE- REMEMBERED

Phil Netto passed away Wednesday evening, Sept. 1st after a sudden illness, with his family at his side.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marie, his two girls Kelly and Kristy Netto, his granddaughter Whittaker Miller and his faithful companion Sulley. He is also survived by his brother David Netto of West Hills, Ca., and many nieces, nephews and Godchildren.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Edith Netto and his sister Loralee Kingdom.
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Phil graduated from SCHS in 1957. He attended Hartnell College, Cabrillo College and San Francisco State College. He then was drafted into the Army in 1962 and proudly served until 1964. His proudest memory was standing Honor Guard at President Kennedy's funeral, where he stood at attention for 16 hours straight. After serving his country he returned to Santa Cruz and began working for Lone Star Industries in Davenport, Ca. where he continued to work for 33 years. He met his wife to be Marie Maranta in 1964; four months later they were married at Holy Cross Church.
Phil's involvement in sports spanned over 40 years. He coached basketball at every level, girls and boys, sharing his knowledge of the sport that he loved, with patience, passion and a voice that could be heard throughout any gym in Santa Cruz. His involvement with Special Olympics was also very important to him and his family. After retirement he enjoyed tending to his flower garden, feeding his birds and being tortured by his beloved Giants. He had the gift for storytelling; even if you had heard once, he always made you want to hear it again. Phil also enjoyed riding around the Westside with his granddaughter Whittaker in his Chevy pick up.
Known to so many as "Coach" or "Big Phil", this gentle man, with a big heart, strong hands will be missed by all the people whose lives he touched.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, September 6, 2010 at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St. in Santa Cruz at 11:00 a.m. The Rosary will be held on Sunday, September 5, 2010 beginning at 7:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church. A committal service will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at Holy Cross Mausoleum, 2271 7th Ave. in Santa Cruz beginning at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Holy Cross Elementary School, 150 Emmet St. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060 or Cabrillo College Woman's Basketball Program, 6500 Soquel Dr. Aptos, Ca. 95003.
Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz. Please visit our web site www.pacificgardenschapel.com to sign the online guest registry.
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel on September 3, 2010


IVANO SAYS: In my book, “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast), Chapter 27 (Rancio Di Bronco, Casa Di Valentina) page 307, I write:

A second-hand Willy’s Jeep Truck was one of Bronco’s first purchases. Bronco (my father) and John (my brother) would park the truck (usually facing the wrong way) along the curb
next to our new house (729 Seaside St.). Phil Netto, the son of Edith and Manuel Netto, had the dubious privilege of attending Santa Cruz High School with me. Along with his parents, brother David, and sister Laurie (Loralee), Phil lived across the street from our house at 722 Seaside St. Phil often told me that he "cursed that infernal truck", for waking him up so early in the morning (when Bronco and John left for the ranch). Sorry, Phil if we had had more money we could have bought a less noisy truck.

And in a Chapter Endnote on Page 315 I add: "Phil Netto was a star basketball player at Santa Cruz High School, circa 1956 to 1957. Credible reports have it that his father Manuel, who worked for many years at the Portland Cement Plant, had been even a better player than Phil."

Addio Phil. Until we meet again "Across Il Ultimo Ponte"