AMICA DELLA COSTA - LENA (VIVIANI) LOEZIUS REMEMBERED

Lena (age 18) with Bronco Comelli at his going back to Italy party on the Marina Ranch, 'su per la costa', c. 1931. The man smiling behind the accordion is Cuneo Viviani, Lena's future husband. (Photo courtesy of Tony Franceschini)

As I write in 'La Nostra Costa':

"Circa 1940, the Viviani Family took over management of inn. Lena and Cuneo Viviani, along with their daugher Dolores and son Eddie lived at the Laguna Inn." (LNC: p.232)
- LAGUNA INN NOW-

- LAGUNA INN THEN - CIRCA 1934-35 -

The following Remembrance was published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Lena (Lee) Loezius

Lena Loezius was born on June 1, 1913 in Camby Oregon, the daughter of her Italian parents Edwardo & Menna Stefani who migrated from Lucca, Italy. The family set out moving from Oregon traveling with all 5 siblings at a young age in the mid 20's, settling on the North Coast near Davenport. After the birth of her two children she and her husband, Cuneo Viviani operated the Laguna Inn where it was a place known for so many family, friends and dignitaries to spend time enjoying the outdoors in the picnic grove socializing, eating wonderful food, dancing, playing games and having a marvelous time.
She loved animals and had many. Her adorable kitten Muffin is now with her daughter continuing to being loved and spoiled. When she entered the nursing facility, Muffin would visit frequently which made her happy. She raised a black bird from birth after falling out of its nest. It was never confined to a cage. It flew freely in and out of the Laguna Inn and out to the park and picnic area, but always returned to the loving arms of Lena. She was an avid golfer winning many tournaments while residing on the East Coast. She was an artist in food preparation, working at the Colonial Inn and Loma Linda restaurants for her brother Don Stefani, and then Aptos Seascape where she was loved by all of her employers and coworkers. Her love for music and dancing continued until she was confined to a wheel chair. She was a resident of the Driftwood Healthcare Center for several years with Pat Byrne as the Administrator, including a staff that became like family to her and her children.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Dee Murray and partner Bob Clark, son Eddie Viviani and wife Sandi, sister Nelli Stagi, brother Don Stefani and wife Sandi, Leo Stefani and wife Eva, grandchildren, Linda Lippi and husband John, and Michael Viviani, Christina Viviani, 5 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, her special nieces Teresa Darling, Nilda Salano, Gloria Campos and Antonette De Amico and nephew George Mungai, and their spouses, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews and other family members and friends. She was deceased by her loving sister, Mamie Bertolli and brother Fred Stefani.
A visitation will be held on Thursday June 26, 2008, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St. Santa Cruz, Ca. The funeral will be held on Friday June 27, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
We will miss you so much Mama. The guardian angels are in heaven waiting for you with open arms to share your love.

Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on 6/24/2008.

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IVANO SAYS:

I am certain that by now Lena has been safely guided across "Il Ultimo Ponte" to join her relatives and 'amici" who have gone before her. As you know in "La Nostra Costa" (last chapter), I describe how once over "Il Ponte" all are transformed to being young as they once were. Perhaps on the other side of "Il Ponte" Lena will also find the Laguna Inn, appearing as it once was 'su per la costa". Imagine Lena and all those 'Amici della Costa' listening to "I Cantatori di Laguna" once again singing "Quel Mazzolin di Fiori" in the picnic grove behind the Inn. 'O che bella cosa'. ivn0

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - Buddy Guzman

Photo: "Furlans" picnicking on the Iacopetti Property in Bonny Doon, C. 1952. Back row, L to R: Guido Cantarutti, Evelina Cantarutti, Elena Moro, Giga Taurian, Mary Ferlizza, Ivano Comelli. Front Row: L to R: Louis Iacopetti ??, Mario Taurian, Norma Cantarutti, Lido Cantarutti, Phil Taurian, name unknown, Bronco Comelli, John Comelli, Reno Cantarutti. (La Nostra Costa Photo Archives)

CRAIG KILLE, WHO MANAGES THE BONNY DOON INTERACTIVE COMMUNITY WEBSITE AT: < http://www.bonny-doon.info/ >, forwarded the below request for information from Mr. Buddy Guzman.

Hello, My name is Buddy Guzman. I attended school in Davenport in the early sixties. If I had to guess the year, 1963-or 1966. This is why I'm attempting to locate someone who can help me find a time frame. My sisters and I we're staying at my uncles at the time, Jess Davila. We would charge our lunch at a store right across the school grounds. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I really am just trying to find out about the time I was there. Both of my parents were ill during that time period, and myself and two sisters were sent to live with my Uncle Jess Davila. I believe he owned a labor camp on the outskirts of town somewhere. I do a lot of writing and loved the time I was there. I remember the inside of the school vividly, and I remember it was more than one grade in the classroom. Everyone was very nice to us and I can’t get that time period out of my mind. My uncle had one son, who still resides in Aptos, but he was a baby at that time, Jess "Sonny" Davila Jr.; he has no memory of it. It is such a memory to me; I am just compelled to find out when I was there. My uncle and aunt who we were staying with, are both deceased. My dad is also and my mom doesn't like to speak of it. It hurts her that we were "sent off'", and I understand this, but it leaves me with a blank in my life. It actually took me awhile to get to this point to research it. I love what I read about Bonnie Dooners, I might have the spelling wrong? I don't expect you to go out of your way, but I would very much like some help in this. I also have become a pretty decent wood carver and have a few things at the Mission in Soledad. I was raised in Gonzales.

Thanks again Craig, it took me 52 years of age to face the fact I had to live someplace other than home, but what a place! Just this one response from you reminds me of the two friends that befriended me.

Take care, Buddy Guzman

If anyone has information you can send it to me directly at: ivcomelli@arilion.com or posted it as a comment to this article. Craig and I will get the info to Buddy. And Craig adds the following:

To all Bonny Dooners and people who have contacted me about Bonny Doon, There has been a wildfire in Bonny Doon and many of us were evacuated from Wednesday through Friday, and even today for the Martin Road folks. We still hear the chain saws and helicopters from our place in Pineridge today. Now that I could return, I updated the http://www.bonny-doon.info > website to allow residents, fire fighters and everyone touched by this fire to share their stories and pictures. Please visit the site and see if you would like to contribute. Depending on what I receive, I will organize pictures, links, and stories so we can all share.

Thank you Fire Fighters!!! ..Craig

LaNORMA - MORE 'LA NOSTRA COSTA' FAMILY NAMES

Photo: LaNorma e Ivano con cappelli e 'Shavola' (hats and shovel), Scotts Valley, CA (2006) Courtesy LaNorma and Patty Morelli.)


I RECEIVED THE BELOW E-MAIL FROM LaNORMA (Norma Dinelli Wilson) of "La Nostra Costa" fame. It contains a wealth of information about all those 'Amici della Costa'.





Caro Ivano & Gino:
I am addressing this to you Ivano but it is also for Gino. In response to e-mail of Nov. l7, 2007
(sorry it took me so long but I filed it in a safe place and forgot it and came across it today!!)
Scusa!! First of all I really want to acknowledge and say how much I appreciate and enjoy
Gino’s Italanglish and of course the Italian. I have forgotten so much and you both bring it
Back out of my “storage computer”. I miss speaking Italian and of course miss the “oldtimers”
So much. I love talking to Flora Bargiacchi Anecito as she is a wealth of info on the old days
And of course we speaka Italiano.


I had some names and info to add to the list of Nostra Costa familynames. I made a few
Corrections as I thought they might be - between us all we will get it l00%. It is so great having
Such teamwork. Our folks are very proud of us all – I am sure!!


Bargiacchi, Giulio and Emma – parents of Don but also Mary Bargiacchi Condon.
Bertacca, Teresa (Patty Morelli’s great grandmother and grandmother of Evelyn Morelli)
Same name as her daughter Evelyn Morelli Tambellini Marchi (Augusto)
Teresa was very instrumental in a suit against the Cement Company with several ranchers
Because of the cement dust. They won the suit – can furnish details and also a foto of her at
Laguna with several Italians including the Battistinis when she became a UScitizen .
Bertolli, Italo and Mamie (Stefani ?) – parents of Teresa Darling and Nelda
DeLuca, Amerigo etc. - I think it is spelled with only one C not two.
In reference to the tragic accident – in addition to the DeLuca’s deaths – also their two
Neighbors died – husband and wife – think they were Portuguese – name escapes me at the
Moment.
Costella, ? cement contractor (many sidewalks in Santa Cruz have their name stamped on them)
Daughter Irene Costella married Penniman – mother of Warren “Aldo” Penniman
Del Chiaro, Pia and “Tripoli” – parents of Diana Petrolino and son Fred.
Dell”Orfanello, Landa & ? - parents of Eva Quilici and Betty DelChiaro
Franceschini, Francesco – remember my parents talking about his injuries.
In reference to the Marina Ranch - Did Alessandro DelChiaro and Dante Dinelli have a share at one time?
When? It is located above the hill where the S.Grossi Ranch was on the Coast Rd.
Garibotti, Dr. - Was the story that he ate the mushrooms at a dinner at one of the ranches? His son is still in
Santa Cruz – Patty Morelli talked to him last year. He was a building contractor. Also Mary Joan Rodriguez
Worked for Dr. Garibotti and/or Dr. Franes McKay his wife. She lives in Scotts Valley and has some info about them.
Puccinelli, Armando – nickname “Fumetto” Was cook for the S. Grossi Ranch (partner D.Dinelli and Bruno Rodoni)
Moceo is spelled with o not an a – father of Ralph Moceo
Marchi, Augusto and Evelyn (Bertacca) – Teresa’s daughter – also Ali Bertacca and Patty’s grandmother Gilda (Evelyn Morelli’s
Mother) Married Collins and then divorced.
Morelli, Mac and Evelyn – parents of Mac and Patty and also Margo and Carol. (Margo died in l964?) at a young age.
Neri, Quinto and Elvira parents of Laura. Also owner of property at Gulch Ranch with Joe Antonetti.
Quinto Neri and Pete Rinaldi and Americo Presepi started what is now known as Rodoni Ranch. They brought Dante Rodoni in as a partner as he was married to Andreina who was Pete’s niece. Rina Rinaldi is Dante Rodoni’s
Sister.
Pieracci I think is spelled this way – think I am correct – check it out – always a possibility I am wrong!!
Perlino – the chicken people – when his wife died in 2002 she left 4 million dollars to many charities. Chickens
Paid off!!!
Pollastrini – can’t remember their first names – parents of Christine Walker (Ray Walker’s wife)
Pera, Alberto – there were two by the same name: nickname: “il Brown” (don’t know the Italian spelling)
Worked for the Pianavillas
Nickname: “Villa” worked for S. Grossi and Lorenzi ranches
Grossi, Settimo and Inez Fistolera – parents of Ida and Lea (Lambert)
Presepi, Amerigo and Luisa – also partners in what is now known as Rodoni ( see Neri)
Rinaldi, Ulisse – father of Martha Oneto and ? (divorced wife Bruna)
Scoppettone – Harpers Bizarre member was Dick. His brother Jim (Painter) lived in house in Scotts Valley
Where Alfred Hitchcock lived – (either Jim or Dick?)
Chiesa, ? and ? - parents of Ann Moye(?) - caretakers for Alfred Hitchcocks place in Scotts Valley
Tori – yes Il Trovatore Hotel was place for all occasions including weddings, lst Communions, Confirmation, etc etc.
Ivano asked about a bar on Pacific Ave. named Manhatten – yes it was across from Zoccoli’s and owned by
Danny Cavadias – a Greek – father of Marios and Georgia who were Holy Cross students
Gino – do you remember the bridge going across the railroad tracks from the Coast Road at the Lorenzi Ranch?
I think this is it – I will think of the names I couldn’t come up with or maybe when you see the info the names will
Come to you.
I sure appreciate the list – what a memory – I could fill in the blanks but that was a great job and memory work compiling
Such a treasured list. Thanks again for sharing – thank you Ivano and Gino for all your info. LOVE IT!!!
Grazie – be in touch.
Ciao per ora – La Norma

MEMORIES OF SOME POLICE OFFICERS I KNEW - BY GINO CAMPIONI

Photo courtsey of Marvin Del Chiaro. Top row (l to r): Damon Knight, Ron Daugherty, Marvin Del Chiaro, Donald ??, Jerry Mungai, David McCabe, name forgotten. Middle row (l to r): Ivan Comelli, Jim Ceragioli, Dennis Soo Hoo, Neil ??, Mario Rodoni, Louis Costa, Gay-lea Morse. Bottom row (l to r): Barbara Jean Smith, Barbara Silva, Jeanette Benedetti,
Shirley Machado, Ellen Herrman, Marion Hagler, Marcia Pori.

FOR THIS MEMORIAL WEEKEND, I THOUGHT I WOULD PUBLISH AN E-MAIL I RECEIVED FROM GINO CAMPIONI. IN IT HE REMINISCES ABOUT SOME POLICE OFFICERS HE KNEW DURING HIS LIFE TIME. ONE IS CHARLES DERBY WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE SANTA CRUZ POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN 'LA NOSTRA COSTA', I WRITE HOW INFLUENTIAL OFFICER (LATER SERGEANT) DERBY WAS ON MY OWN POLICE CAREER. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO OF CHARLES DERBY, OR I WOULD HAVE PUBLISHED IT WITH GINO'S ARTICLE. AS A SUBSTITUTE I CHOSE TO PUBLISH A PHOTO OF WHAT WAS CERTAINLY PART OF OFFICER DERBY'S LEGACY, THE TRAFFIC BOYS AND GIRLS OF LAUREL SCHOOL. AS I WRITE IN THE BOOK, OFFICER DERBY SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TRAINING US FOR OUR ENDEAVORS AT THE SCHOOL. IT PAID OFF! WE WON TWO FIRST PLACE TROPHY'S AT THE YEAR END BBQ HELD AT DELAVEAGA PARK IN SANTA CRUZ. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES OFFICER DERBY AND YOU ALSO GINO.

Hello Ivano,

I am coming to the end of reading La Nostra Costa for the second time, and last night read the part about your police career. That prompted me to send you some thoughts about some lawmen I have known.

I do remember officer Derby, having seen him several times at school. I may have been in a class on traffic safety or something. He made frequent appearances at Mission Hill School.

Did you know Officer Dennis Finnegan? He made an imposing figure riding his police Harley, sitting straight in the saddle as if he were in a parade. I certainly admired
him.

Another policeman who lived just up the street from me was Officer Ray Carpenter. He rode bikes too. One day he was after someone and drove down a hill and had to make a wide right turn onto Beach Street, and ran head-on into a pickup driven by his neighbor John Strohbien. (air raid warden years before) Ray was thrown over the windshield and into the bed of the truck. He suffered a back injury and could not ride motorcycles afterward.

I know I already told you of my meeting with Captain Klein at the corner of Race and Park in San Jose. Partly because of his understanding and partly from my apologetic behavior, my failing to see the stop light only resulted in receiving a request from the traffic court of "Fine $1. Bail $1". I paid it with gratitude.

Bob King was a member of Santa Cruz Police Dept. I met him at the Santa Cruz County Model Airplane Club. I had built a model Piper Tripacer airplane, and wanted to give it a fine finish. Bob offered to paint it for me, and did a fine job. He lived not far from me, perhaps on Seaside St. One day, while driving on Bay St. past Seaside, I had a police car behind me with flashing lights. On stopping I found that it was Officer Bob. (nothing wrong. He just wanted to talk about model airplanes)

You would not know this one, but may have known of his doings: Stanley O. Nicolayson was a member of California Highway Patrol in Los Angeles. He rode police motorcycles. He had an accident while riding his bike, and severely injured his back. He was not able to continue as a CHP Officer. While recuperating, he pondered what he might do to earn a living by other means. He had always liked Mexican food, and decided to make it more available to the general public at reasonable prices. He started a restaurant which became popular so he added others and these spread throughout the Western United States. He called his business, "Taco Bell".
Stan also has other businesses in Oregon. (S.O.N. Enterprises) He is involved in many operations. I first met him when he and I were members of the Salem Fourth Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I used to sit next to him at choir rehearsals. More recently he was called to be a member of the presidency of the Portland Temple.

This one you might have known: Merlin Ellis was a tall and heavy officer. (I don't think he would have done well on motorcycles) He was an expert on firearms, and rented a room in the shop where Gerhard Schreiber and I worked. He rebored and balanced police pistols so that (in his own words) they became WEAPONS! He also was keen on home built helicopters. He built one with a Lycoming engine, parts from a wrecked Piper Cub, bits and scraps, etc. It never flew, which was fortunate. A ground test of the thing nearly did him in.

I used to take my lunch to work in a paper bag and leave it on a counter. Occasionally I would come back from service calls at noon and find my lunch gone. Merlin was hungry! I got a bit tired of that trick, so knowing he did not like pickles, I fixed a lunch with a sandwich loaded with peperoncini. That day I came in for lunch and found a sandwich with one bite out of it. He never stole my lunch again.

Merlin drove his police car onto my driveway one day. He said that a lady several blocks away was having severe TV interference from my radio. I don't know how it was determined that it was my radio that was causing the problem, but we went to look. (my only ride in a police car) It was a customer of Paul Pay's Rainbow TV shop. I had worked on that TV shortly before. I checked the service information for that set. (an ancient GE black & white table model) It had a main amplifier string operating on 21 Megahertz. Exactly the frequency range on which I ran my radio. (legal frequencies for amateur radio, no longer being used for any other purpose) There was no way to keep a 21 MHz signal out of a 21 MHz receiver. The customer did not understand and was very upset. The TV solved the problem. Shortly thereafter, it self-destructed. She couldn't blame me for that. (although she might have thought so)

Saluti Gino

LA SHAVOLA (scia'vo la)

IN 'LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST) I WRITE HOW THE ITALIANS 'SU PER LA COSTA' (AND I PRESUME ELSEWHERE) ITALIANIZED CERTAIN AMERICAN WORDS. FOR INSTANCE, THE RANCERI CALLED THE SHOVEL 'LA SHAVOLA' (scia'vo la). I HAVE SINCE ADOPTED 'LA SHAVOLA' AS THE SYMBOL OF THE BAGNATORI WHO USED TO IRRIGATE THE FIELDS UP THE COAST BY THE HAND AND SHOVEL METHOD. THE ARTICLE BELOW, "BORROWED" FROM: http://www.policybers.com/ TELLS YOU ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT 'LA SHAVOLA".

Shovel with wide blade - especially appropriate for lifting snow or coal
A shovel is a tool for lifting and moving loose material such as coal, gravel, snow, dirt, or sand. It is usually a hand tool consisting of a broad blade with edges or sides that is fixed to a medium-length handle. The term "shovel" is also applied to larger excavating machines, such as steam shovels, which are designed for the same purpose—lifting and moving material, see Loader (equipment).
Hand shovels have been adapted for many different tasks and environments. They can be optimized for a single task or designed as cross-over or compromise tools to perform multiple tasks. For example:
A coal shovel typically has a wide, flat blade with steeply turned sides, a flat face and a short D-shaped handle.
A snowshovel often has a very wide sideless blade that curves upward attached to a long, straight handle. It is designed as much for pushing the snow as for lifting it.
A spade is designed primarily for breaking up ("spading") clumps of soil. A spade usually has a point and is designed to be pushed into the soil with a foot. Spade blades usually have a rounded face without sharply upturned sides.
A gardening trowel is a small single-hand implement for breaking up clumps in soil. Gardening trowels typically have strong, narrow blades with sharp points.
An entrenching tool is a collapsible shovel designed for the military. It may have a spade-like point or even serrated edges for secondary use as an axe.
A regular, but dirty, spade shovel.
The traffic signs warning of a Work zone or Construction site generally show a person operating a shovel.
Toy shovels are common playthings on sandy beachs or in sandboxes.
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shovel news and shovel articles
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Some divine intervention in real estate
Akron Beacon Journal - 2 hours, 17 minutes agoRandy Moore jumped on the shovel with both feet, and the blade pierced the earth. ``It's supposed to be buried 8 inches deep and upside down,'' said Carla Herbert, owner of Harvest Home Realty, who has Randy and Beth Moore's $149,900 Cape Cod on the market.
Kids flourish as blossoms flower
Bar Harbor Times - Oct 09 10:25 PMTREMONT Tiny Alahna Mild wields a shovel almost as long as she is tall.

Son of Italian immigrants farms background for book
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Oct 09 5:08 AMWith shovel in hand and old-country hat on head, Ivano Comelli re-enacted a scene of what it was like to be an Italian farmer in Santa Cruz County at the start of the Depression in the late 1920s.

Rake now because snow is in the forecast

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GUGLIELMO'S CORK EQUITY DAY NUMERO XX

Ivano Diavolino Got His Girls by bottling his own Guglielmo Wine

(Photo from the 'La Nostra Costa Photo Archives, Bonny Doon c.1938)

ATTENTION BLAGGA FANS!! IF YOU WANT TO GET THE GIRLS, YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE TO GO! IVANO DIAVOLINO RECOMMENDS THE GUGLIELMO WINERY, SATURDAY,MAY 17,2008. SEE DETAILS BELOW:

BOTTLE YOUR OWN RED WINE: GUGLIELMO’S CORK EQUITY DAY #20,SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 – 10 AM – 3 PM. ‘RAIN OR SHINE.’CORK EQUITY n: Definition: A method of saving big money by getting hands on involvement assisting in the bottling, corking and labeling of your own premium wine. Nearly six thousand wine lovers have turned up at our cellar door on Cork Equity Day looking for a great bottle of wine at a great price. Few have been disappointed! Don’t miss your chance to meet some friends, have some fun, hear some great Italian music, enjoy our complimentary bread and cheese, plus earn access to our Chef's Table featuring or famous grilled sausages with purchase of a case or more.

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IVANO SAYS: AS AN ADDED BONUS, THE ‘OLD RANCERE’ SAYS THAT HE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE PRESENT TO SELL AND SIGN COPIES OF “LA NOSTRA COSTA” (OUR COAST), AND POSSIBLY SING A FEW ITALIAN SONGS OF OLD.

GUGLIELMO ‘S

1480 EAST MAIN AVENUE

MORGAN HILL, CA 95037(408) 779-3166
http://www.guglielmowinery.com/

DIRECTIONS: FROM SAN JOSE TAKE HWY 101 TO E.DUNNE AVE OFF RAMP. TURN LEFT ON E.DUNNE AVE. PROCEED ACROSS HWY 101 OVER-PASS TO CONDIT RD.(2ND STOP LIGHT). TURN LEFT ON CONDIT RD AN PROCEED NORTH 0.8MI TO E.MAIN AVE.(NEXT STOP LIGHT). TURN RIGHT ON E.MAIN AVE. AND PROCEED APPROXIMATELY 1/2MI TO WINERY ON YOUR RIGHT. (LIVE OAK HIGH SCHOOL IS ACROSS THE STREET.)
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FROM: SANTA CRUZ-WATSONVILLE-SALINAS-GILROY, GET ON HWY 101 AND PROCEED NORTH TO E.DUNNE AVE. OFF RAMP. TURN RIGHT ON E. DUNNE AVE TO CONDIT RD (FIRST STOP LIGHT). TURN LEFT ON CONDIT RD. AND PROCEED NORTH 0.8MI TO E.MAIN AVE.(NEXT STOP LIGHT.) TURN RIGHT ON E.MAIN AVE. AND PROCEED ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO THE WINERY ON YOUR RIGHT.
BUONA FORTUNA E SEMPRE AVANTI.

DAVENPORT JAIL: PHOTOS PLEASE

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING REQUEST FROM 'LNOSTRA-COSTA' HISTORIAN

ALVERDA ORLANDO:

Hello Ivan
I am looking for photos of the Davenport jail taken between 1910 and 1945. We are trying to restore it to its original condition. That has become a small controversy because no one really knows what the original was like. It has been "repaired" many times. In particular we need a good photo of the door.
Could you send out an SOS to your contacts to see if anyone took a photo of the jail, maybe with Aunt Mary or little Gino standing in front of it. We can deduce quite a bit from even a snapshot.
Thank you
Alverda

The article below article and the photo above was borrowed from the following website: www.cruzio.com/-scva/davenjail.html

The Davenport Jail Museum

2 Davenport Avenue Davenport, CA 95017 Voice: (831) 429-1964
The Davenport Jail Museum is administered by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.
Hours: Weekends, 10 am - 2 pm, and by appointment.

Built in 1914, this two-cell county jail was used only once before being abandoned in 1936. Fifty years later it was given a new purpose when it was converted into a museum of North Coast history in 1987. Its intriguing permanent exhibition explores aspects of the North Coast story such as native settlements, the natural environment, major industries, early families, and community life. Davenport Jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town of Davenport is 11 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. The Jail Museum is next to the Davenport Cash Store.
Santa Cruz Visual Arts

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SPEAKING OF DAVENPORT HISTORY,ETC: Last Saturday, April 19, was the 62 Anniversary of Joe 'Pino' Brovia's ("The Davenport Destroyer') mighty homerun at Seal Stadium. In "La Nostra Costa" I write the following regarding the event:

".............Jim Sargent, in his excellent article on Pino, credits him with hitting the longest home run in the history of Seal Stadium.* Estimates had the ball traveling some 560 feet, up and over the center field wall. (Unknown to me at the time , Pino's "blast" occurred on my ninth birthday, April 19,1946.) Because of its significance, a star was place at the top of the wall marking the spot where the ball had left the stadium. After arriving in San Francisco circa 1958, Willie Mays, the legendary center fielder for the Giants, was alleged to have said of Pino's home run. "Hey, that's a five-dollar ride in a taxicab. (Five dollars took you a long way in 1958.)**

----------------------------

*Mr. Sargent's article,dated 9/1/2001, appeared on the website:

www.baseball-almanac.com/hero

**"La Nostra Costa (Our Coast), page 120, copyrighted by Ivano Franco Comelli, and published by Authorhouse: http://www.authorhouse.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY; JOE PALOOKA E IVANO

Joe Palooka Looka Like 1944
(La Nostra Costa Photo Archives)

Above image copyrighted by Estate of Ham Fisher and appears on Toonpedia website;

www.toonpedia.com/palooka.htm

Well what do you know? Another year has passed and your ‘Grand Blaggatore’ will be celebrating another one of ‘them thar birthdays’. Guess what? Another famous character, of which I mention in ‘La Nostra Costa’ P.152, is also celebrating a birthday on April 19. Of course he is much older than I; however, I understand that he is still in very good physical shape. Happy Birthday to us, Joe Palooka.

The following was taken from the website: www.geocities.com/jnevins/pulp .




Palooka, Joe. Created by Ham Fisher, Joe Palooka debuted on 19 April 1930 and ran through 1984, one of the most successful comic strips of all time. Palooka, a genuinely nice man, was a poor man whose skill was boxing, and who used that skill to become the "undefeated heavyweight champion of the world." Actually, that's not quite correct. Palooka's greatest skill was in being human. Very much a working class hero (it's something to be), he was humble without being craven, shy without being withdrawn, laid-back without being a slacker, easily embarrassed without being a stiff, and genuinely likable. To quote one critic, "Joe personified the ideals of the American majority of old--the simple life, the virtues of the Boy Scout code, and goodness for its own sake. He also exemplified toughness and power and could be moved to intense anger when his or someone else's toes were stepped on." He really was a good guy. Palooka fought his way to the top of the fight game, and then, when war was declared, entered the Army as a private and fought through the war at that rank. Joe was assisted by Knobby, the small, nervous, twitchy and argumentative fight manager, and by Smoky, whose vocabulary and appearance was that of a racist stereotype but who was always treated by Joe as an equal and friend. (Joe, like I said, was a good human being)


In “La Nostra Costa”, I write: “Joe Palooka never lost a fight and I thought he was a great funny-book Champion. However, there was another, rival “Funny Book Heavyweight Champion” at the time. His name was Curly Kayoe. He, also, was white and he, also, never lost a fight. My greatest wish was that the two champions would one day slug it out in the same ring, and resolve once and for all the disputed “Funny Book Heavyweight Championship.” Then we would know for certain who the best fighter really was. Much to my disappointment, they never did.” *


* “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast), copyrighted by Ivano Franco Comelli, 2006. Order on line:

www.authorhouse.com or through your favorite bookstore.

AMICO DELLA COSTA: LUIGI 'MORO' DEGLI ESPOSTI

Top photo: Luigi 'Moro' Degli Esposti (right) with brother-in-law Dante Rodoni, on the Rodoni Ranch, 'su per la costa', c.1950.

Bottom photo: Luigi Degli Esposti (center-front)in his Italian Cavalry Uniform, c. 1920s.

Photos courtesy of Roberto and Deanna Degli Esposti.

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SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM GINO CAMPIONI ARRIVED IN THE MAIL TODAY:

'AMICO DELLA COSTA; LUIGI 'MORO' DEGLI ESPOSTI IN ITALIANO. THANKS GINO.

Nel libro "La Nostra Costa" scrivo della famiglia Degli Esposti. Il seguente appare in pagina 204:

Un giorno, al solito, feci una camminata con mio fratello al rancio Rodoni per aspettare l'autobus per andare à scuola. Quando siamo arrivati Mario Rodoni ci ha portati dentro la cucina ed in una camera dietro. La, sempre nel letto, appena svegliato, era un uomo sorridente. Un uomo scuro di complessione. Era la prima volta che vidi Luigi Degli Esposti. Poi fu conosciuto dal nome "Moro".

Questa occasione era in 1948. Da quel tempo la famiglia Degli Esposti sono sempre stati buoni amici. In tutto questo tempo non sapevo quello sotto scritto da Roberto, figlio maggiore di Moro (assistito da sua bella sposa Deanna).

Ivano:

Luigi Degli Esposti, cioè "Moro", il 29 Marzo sarebbe stato suo compleanno.

I genitori di Luigi erano Pasquale e Maria, ambidue di Bologna. Quando si sposarono, sono andati à Sao Paulo in Brasile per operare una piantagione del caffè, dunque era qui che nacque Luigi con un fratello ed una sorella in Sao Paulo.

Mio padre parlava spesso di andare à cavallo sulla piatagione da ragazzo. Uno dei cavalli gli calpestò un piete, schiacciandogli un dito. Quando Luigi aveva circa 8 anni, sua madre muorì, e suo padre tornò in italia, lavorando in una fabbrica della carta in Lucca.

Quando Luigi era un giovane di circa 18 anni, era nella cavalleria italiana. Poi andò in etiopia, lavorando da chauffer per una compagnia d'ingegnieri che facevano strade.

Tornando in italia lavorava da barista alla bottega locale in Ponte à Moriano. Ogni mattina arrivava un uomo per ordinare un caffè reale per sua moglie, e Luigi lo portava à loro casa, ben che era pochi passi dalla bottega. Questo uomo e sua moglie erano genitori di una bella fanciulla dal nome Vanda. Così moro ha fatto la conoscenza di Vanda, che sarebbe mia madre nel futuro.

Nel 1939, 1940 Luigi fu chiamato di nuovo nel esercito italiano. Questa volta era cuoco.

Mi ricordo giocare con i nipotini di Mussolini nella piazza. Egli (Mussolini) aveva una casa estiva vicino à Ponte à Moriano. Mi ricordo essere nascosto in una caverna per 18 giorni durante la seconda guerra mondiale, con 20 altre persone. Questo era durante il ritiro dal' italia dell'esercito tedesco verso nord.

I primi Americani che vidi erano Americani neri. Credo che erano dalla tersa divisione del'esercito degli Stati Uniti. Questi tempi erano molto difficili per tutti. C'era pochissimo da mangiare perche i tedeschi nel ritiro avevano preso tutto. Le cose buone, se si poteva trovarle, erano farina di neccio e polenta, niente di carne.

Dopo Mussolini muorì tutti sono tornati à loro case.

Miei genitori volevano migliorarsi e fare una vita buona per me e mio fratello. Dante ed Andreina (Rodoni) fecero venire prima Luigi, poi mia madre (Vanda) con mio fratello Fabrizio siamo arrivati "su per la costa". (LNC: Andreina era sorella di Vanda.)

Arrivato in America nel 1948, Luigi lavorava nel Rancio Rodoni, per suo congnato Dante Rodoni. I lavoranti lo chiamavano Moro, per sua complessione scura. Poi in 1949 noialtri siamo arrivati da Ponte à Moriano, viaggiando in bastimento à New york, poi via treno traversando gli Stati Uniti, arrivando in San Francisco. Non sapevamo nemmeno una parola inglese, ma grazie à tanti parenti ed amici su per la costa, mio fratello ed io imparammo la lingua presto.

Luigi (Moro) ha sofferto una serie d'attacchi cerebrali nel 1982 a l'età di 76. Dopo il primo era in ospidale per circa una settimana. Vanda ci disse, "lo porto à casa e lo faro confortabile e lo tengo in cura", non sapendo che lo avrebbe dovuto fare per tanti anni. Mio pardre ha vissuto fino 1988.

A mia madre, Luigi mancava molto. Essa lo raggiunce in morte 2 anni dopo. (Venerdi Santo 1990) Miei genitori sono sepolti al Cimitero Holy Cross, vicino la sopoltura di Andreina e Dante, e non tanto distante da Bronco e Valentina (Comelli).

Grazie a voi, Pa, per averci portato à "L'America". Saremo sempre gradevoli per tutto che avete fatto per noi.

Ed ora, Ivano, sai il restante della storia. Roberto (e Deanna).

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IN 'LA NOSTRA COSTA' I WRITE ABOUT THE DEGLI ESPOSTI FAMILY. The following appears on page 204.

"One morning, as usual, my brother and I walked to the Rodoni Ranch to wait for the school bus. When we got there Mario (Rodoni) told us that his uncle had just arrived from Italy. Andreina (Rodoni) then took us inside the cookhouse and led us to a small room in the back. There still in bed, just waking up, was a very thin dark-skinned man, with a big smile on his face. This was the first time I saw Luigi Degli Esposti. Later his friends gave him the nickname Moro. Italians often use the word moro to describe a man with dark skin." *

The above event occurred in 1948. I have known the Degli Esposti family since then. In all this time I did not know what is described below, as written by Moro's eldest son Roberto (with help from his lovely wife Deanna).

Ivan0:

Luigi Degli-Esposti, AKA, 'Moro', March 29th would have been my dad's birthday.


Luigi's parents were Pasquale & Maria, both of them born in Bologna. When his parents married they went to San Paulo,Brazil to run a coffee plantation,thus he was born there along with a brother & sister in San Paulo.

My father always spoke of riding horses as a child at the plantation. One of the horses stepped on one of his toes which flattened it out. His mother passed away when he was 7-8 years old and his father went back to Italy,working in a paper mill in Lucca.

When Luigi was a young man 17-18 years of age ,he was in the Italian cavalry; after that hitch, he went for 2 years to Ethopia working as a chauffer for an engineer company, that was building roads.

Upon his return to Italy he was working as a bartender at the local coffee house in Ponte A Morino. A man would come every morning an order a coffee royal for his wife and Luigi would then deliver it, since it was only 1 block from the coffee house. The man and his wife were the parents of a lovely girl named Vanda. Thus, did Luigi meet Vanda, my future mother.

In 1939-40 Luigi was called back into the Italian army. This time he was a cook.

I remembers playing with Mussolini's grandchildren in the plaza. He (Mussolini) had a summer house close to Ponte A Morino. I remember spending 18 days in a cave during WWII, with 20 other people. This was when the German Army was retreating north out of Italy.

The very first Americans I saw were Black-Americans. I think they were from the 3rd US Army Division. Those were very difficult and hard days and times for everyone. There wasn't much of anything to eat because the Germans had taken everything as they retreated. The good staples if they were available were chestnut flour and polenta, no meats.

After Mussolini was killed everyone went back to their homes.

My parents wanted to better themselves and make life better for my brother and myself. Dante & Andreina (Rodoni) had sent for Luigi first; later my mother (Vanda) with my brother, Fabrizio and me arrived 'su per la costa'. (LNC: Andreina was Vanda's sister.)

Coming to America in 1948, he worked in the fields on the Rodoni Ranch, for his brother-in-law Dante Rodoni. The field workers called him Moro because of his dark complexion. Then in 1949, we arrived from Ponte Morino, travelling on a ship into New York and then on a train across the United States arriving in San Francisco. None of us spoke a word of English,but thanks to all the relatives and many friends up La Nosta Costa, my brother and I certainly learned the language very fast.

Luigi (Moro) suffered a series of strokes in 1982 at the age of 76. When he first had his stroke he was in the hospital for a week or so. Vanda said to us, I'll take him home and make him comfortable and take care of him, not knowing that she would do that for so many years. My father passed away in 1988.

My mother missed my father dearly. She passed away two years later on Good Friday (1990 ). My mother and father are both 'buried' at the Holy Cross Cemetery, very close to where Andreina and Dante are 'buried, and not to0 far from Bronco and Valentina (Comelli).

Thank you Pa, for bringing us to "L'America". We are forever grateful to you and Ma for all you have done for us.

And now Ivano, you know the rest of the story. Roberto (and Deanna).

IVANO SAYS: AND QUITE A STORY IT IS. IT IS THE STUFF THAT MOVIES ARE MADE OF. THANKS, ROBERTO AND DEANNA. HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE.

*As it appears in Ivano's book: 'La Nostra Costa', published by Authorhouse, http://www.authorhouse.com/, copyrighted 2006.

WELCOME GABRIELE CARMINE FALVO-CITRIGNO

-'Clicca' on photo to enlarge. Identifications (at the top of photo) can be seen more clearly.-

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IVANO SAYS: AS MANY OF MY READERS KNOW, I SPENT 30 YEARS WITH THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THE CITY OF SAN JOSE QUITE WELL AND ACTUALLY DESCRIBED HOW I REMEMBERED IT BACK THEN IN THE BOOK.

I RECENTLY RECEIVED THE BELOW E-MAIL FROM GABRIELE . NOT ONLY DID HE E-MAIL ME, HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND ME A 194I PHOTO OF THE STAFF AT THE NAPOLI CAFE, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON 1ST IN SAN JOSE. THE PHOTO APPEARS ABOVE. WELCOME ABOARD THE 'BLAGGA' TRAIN GABE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION.

Dear Ivan,
My name is Gabriele Carmine Falvo-Citrigno. I recently saw your article on Gilda in the internet and I discovered your web page. I like you am 1st generation Italian American. Both my parents met each other in San Jose my father originally from Calabria and my mother originally form Abruzzo. My father came to this country in 1952 thru adoption from his aunt and uncle Marietta Falvo & Carmine Citrigno who had owned the Napoli Cafe on 1st street in San Jose. Carmine's relatives were the Felice's of San Martin Winery fame. Thus my father worked in the wine industry for over 30 years with San Martin, Felice Winery with San Jose Distributing, Regal beverages and most recently with Weibel, Mirassou and Savanaeh Shannel in Los Gatos... I myself am still single at 41. I had gone to work in Florence Italy from 2001-2005 and worked as an interpreter/project manager for a private American middle aged couple who wanted to buy and restore a villa in Florence. The villa is situated just above the hills of Florence and is named after my family's surname Villa Falvo. Unfortunately, although the business was/is named after me, I didn't own it. I decided after 3-4 years in Italy and after many false hopes and promises made to me, I decided to come back home to San Jose. At any rate, you have a very interesting web site and I'm glad I found it.
Tanti auguri!
Gabriele

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4-12-08

And this just in from Gabe:

Ok famiglia ...........cugini friends Romans, countrymen lend me your ears & eyes! How about this Gabe has now become an author on an Italian web site . I was approached about writing a weekly article about the earthquakes MLS adventures in Italian and this is the first....... here is the article and the link,,,Avete capito? Gabriele e' diventato anche giornalista........quei 3 anni di firenze hanno servito.......cave canem cave canem est est est! bohhhhhh? MAHHHHH? LEGGI E VEDRAI! --GABE .....
http://www.playitusa.com/articolo.php?id=7513
San José in cerca d'identità
di Gabriele Falvo Citrigno

VINO ROSSO DAY AT GUGLIELMO WINERY - SAT. FEB. 23

Top photo: "The Old Rancere" signing 'La Nostra Costa' books at Guglielmo Winery. Bottom photo: "The Old Rancere" with retired San Jose Police Officer Stan Tice. Both photos taken by retired San Jose Police Officer Peter Graves, last year at 'Cork Equity Day #18)

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BOTTLE YOUR OWN RED WINE: GUGLIELMO’S CORK EQUITY DAY #19,
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2008 – 10 AM – 3 PM. ‘RAIN OR SHINE.’

CORK EQUITY n: Definition: A method of saving big money by getting hands on involvement assisting in the bottling, corking and labeling of your own premium wine.

Nearly six thousand wine lovers have turned up at our cellar door on Cork Equity Day looking for a great bottle of wine at a great price. Few have been disappointed! Don’t miss your chance to meet some friends, have some fun, hear some great Italian music, enjoy our complimentary sausages and cheese, and get some very tasty wine in the bargain.

FEATURING THE STROLLING ITALAIN ACCORDION OF RENO DI BONO.

IVANO SAYS: AS AN ADDED BONUS, THE ‘OLD RANCERE’ SAYS THAT HE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE PRESENT TO SELL AND SIGN COPIES OF “LA NOSTRA COSTA” (OUR COAST); AND POSSIBLY SING A FEW ITALIAN SONGS OF OLD.


GUGLiELMO ‘S
1480 EAST MAIN AVENUE
MORGAN HILL, CA 95037
(408) 779-3166

http://www.guglielmowinery.com/

DIRECTIONS: FROM SAN JOSE TAKE HWY 101 TO E.DUNNE AVE OFF RAMP. TURN LEFT ON E.DUNNE AVE. PROCEED ACROSS HWY 101 OVER-PASS TO CONDIT RD.(2ND STOP LIGHT). TURN LEFT ON CONDIT RD AN PROCEED NORTH 0.8MI TO E.MAIN AVE.(NEXT STOP LIGHT). TURN RIGHT ON E.MAIN AVE. AND PROCEED APPROXIMATELY 1/2MI TO WINERY ON YOUR RIGHT. (LIVE OAK HIGH SCHOOL IS ACROSS THE STREET.)

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FROM: SANTA CRUZ-WATSONVILLE-SALINAS-GILROY, GET ON HWY 101 AND PROCEED NORTH TO E.DUNNE AVE. OFF RAMP. TURN RIGHT ON E. DUNNE AVE TO CONDIT RD (FIRST STOP LIGHT). TURN LEFT ON CONDIT RD. AND PROCEED NORTH 0.8MI TO E.MAIN AVE.(NEXT STOP LIGHT.) TURN RIGHT ON E.MAIN AVE. AND PROCEED ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO THE WINERY ON YOUR RIGHT.

BUONA FORTUNA E SEMPRE AVANTI.

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - WILLIAM CAIOCCA REMEMBERED

Photo: Davenport c. 1930, where Bill and Leo Caiocca grew up and their parents Gilbert and Maria Caiocca, had their Davenport Bakery. (Photo: Courtesy of Len Klempneur).

THIS REMEMBRANCE OF WILLIAM "BILL" CAIOCCA WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL. BILL, HIS BROTHER LEO, AND THEIR PARENTS GILBERT AND MARIA CAIOCCA, WERE A BIG PART OF THE 'LA NOSTRA COSTA' STORY.


William "Bill" Caiocca

"Life's been good to me. I've done everything I've wanted to do, within reason. I have no regrets." -William B. Caiocca 12/23/2007

William "Bill" Caiocca passed away 2/06/2008 in Roseville, CA at the age of 92, following complicates of a recent stroke. William was born in Davenport, CA on July 10, 1915 to Gilbert and Maria Caiocca, who had immigrated from Switzerland and Italy. He attended the Pacific School in Davenport and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1934. William and his younger brother Leo helped their dad run the Caiocca & Sons Davenport Bakery as well as a grocery store in Santa Cruz. William served in the Army during World War II rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and served in the Army Reserves until 1953. During the war he served in military transportation and supervision of prisoners of war.
After the war William returned to Santa Cruz. With his long time business partner Joe Costella, they owned several businesses which included: The Bubble Bakery, Costella and Caiocca Hardware, Costella and Caiocca Appliances, and the Palomar Hotel with five other partners. William was also sales manager with Starr Oldsmobile until his retirement in 1976. He was a life time member of the Santa Cruz Elk's Club and held membership in the Rotary Club, the Marconi Club and the Santa Cruz County Swiss Club.
William's hobbies included duck hunting, shooting pool and making many trips with his wife to the casinos in Lake Tahoe where he enjoyed playing black jack.
William was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years Elaine in 2005 and his younger brother Leo, two months ago. He is survived by his son David & wife Lucy of Roseville, CA and three grandchildren Kelly, Tara and Patrick; sister-in-law Nara, nephews Fred and Gilbert, their families and cousin Louise Presepi. We will all miss his warm smile and sense of humor.
On Saturday March 1, 2008, 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. a memorial and celebration of life reception will be held for William at DeLaveaga Lodge Branciforte to Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz. To be preceded by a private family grave site service at Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to the Alzheimer's Association of Santa Cruz, 1777 Capitola Rd. #A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 2/13/2008 - 2/17/2008.

ADDIO, BILL CAIOCCA. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN....ACROSS IL ULTIMO PONTE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADA

PHOTO ABOVE: ITALIAN PASSPORT PHOTO OF ADA MARIE CAMPIONI - C.1930. TOP PHOTO: ADA [FOREGROUND] WITH HER GOOD FRIEND VANDA DEGLI ESPOSTI, SANTA CRUZ, CA., C.1955. (PHOTOS COURTSEY OF GINO CAMPIONI.)

Ciao Ivano,

On the 13th of February it will be the 112th birthday anniversary of my mother, Ada Maria (Berti) Campioni. Her passport gives her name as Maria Ada. She was never sure which way it should be, but always signed "Ada Maria".

She used to say that she was born just one day after Abraham Lincoln. She always bemoaned the fact that she was born on the 13th, claiming that it was unlucky. Perhaps she was right, as she had a very hard life. She worked full time from the age of 9 until she was unable to work any more.

You are well aware of the labors our parents endured. They gave all they had for us, their children.

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, around 1947, while waiting for the city bus at the corner of Bay and Mission Streets, I met a lady sitting on the bench. She told me that as a small girl, she once sat on the lap of Abraham Lincoln. She was in her late 90s when I met her. We span a long time, amico mio.

Saluti, Gino

THE FAMILY QUILICI BY NANCY (QUILICI) JACOBS

IVANO SAYS: NANCY (QUILICI)JACOBS WAS BORN AND RAISED ON A RANCIO "SU PER LA COSTA".
SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING THE STORY OF THE QUILICI-JACOB FAMILIES. WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW SHOULD GIVE YOU A HINT OF WHAT IS YET TO COME.

PHOTOS: ALL PHOTOS APPEARING ABOVE ARE COPYRIGHTED;ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: COURTESY OF NANCY (GUILICI) JACOBS. TOP PHOTO: ALESSANDRO QUILICI (FATHER) IN ITAY 1925. PHOTO SECOND FROM THE TOP: PIA MARIE DIANDO QUILICI (MOTHER) IN ITALY 1925. PHOTO THIRD FROM THE TOP: PIA MARIE DIANDO QUILICI IN SANTA CRUZ 1960. PHOTO FOURTH FROM THE TOP: GUILIANO QUILICI (BROTHER) US ARMY 1940S. PHOTO FIFTH FROM THE TOP: NANCY QUILICI, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION,SANTA CRUZ 1960S. PHOTO SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM: DONALD LEE JACOBS AND NANCY QUILICI, WEDDING DAY 1960S. AND BOTTOM PHOTO: PIOLET DONALD LEE JACOBS,59TH STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND, FLYING HIS T-116 JET AIRPLANE,'BANSHEE', KOREA 1952. DONALD LEE JACOBS WAS A VETERAN OF OVER 100 COMBAT MISSIONS AND WAS WOUNDED OVER KOREA.




The Family Quilici

If one digs and digs one comes up with a Roman family that during Roman times moved from Rome to Pompeii and then north again and finally travelling to Lucca where they settled and stayed.

In Lucca,Italy, the family was awarded a Coat of Arms for their accomplishments.

At some point the family must have fallen on hard times. I suspect because the church wanted the families to have children and not practice birth control. I know this because my great grandmother had a fight with the church over this subject. She just wanted two or less children.

In the 1900's the family started to emigrate to America. At this time they were living in San Pietro a Vico, Italy. There were four brothers. Two of the brothers emigrated. Their father was already in America. The two brothers were Joe and Pete.
The youngest brother was Alessandro Quilici. In 1916 he sailed to America and settled near Fort Churchill with his brother Pete.

In the early 1920's Alessandro sold his share of the ranch to his brothers and went home to Italy. There he married Pia Maria Dianda of Lucca. The first born child died. But they had three more children who lived, Mario, Giuliano and Giuliana.

Pia Maria was left in Italy with the three chidren. Alessandro went back to America settling in Davenport, California. There he farmed the Modelo ranch with Modelo and then moved across Scott Creek to the Foothill Ranch and farmed there. Louis Poletti was his partner, possible part owner or full owner. My mother was a white widow which means that she was without her husband from 1926 to 1935. In 1935 Pia Maria boarded the ship Rex with her three children and landed in New York where her brother drove her acrosss the country in what I believe was a Hupmobile car. The family was taken to the Modelo Ranch. My mother did not like America at first but later loved it.

I was born in Davenport in the 1940's. My brothers and sister were more like parents than siblings. I was born Feb 17. My mother said that I was born at 1 a.m. and that they had to drive to Santa Cruz during one of the stormiest nights for me to be born. So I am a stormy weather baby!

I grew up around these things:

My father checking the dam's water level, my dad checking the water pump at Scott's Creek and my dad checking the stability of the bridge at Scotts Creek. My brother Giuliano and I driving to the Big Ranch to get hay. I loved this. I would put on my over alls and go. His name for me was Butch. My brother used to take me to the Lombardi Ranch which was not far from our own and she would serve the most delicious pudding with fresh cream and strawberries. After all these years I can still taste it! It was good! But now if you drive there there is nothing where there used to be a two story white house with a picket fence, a barn and cows.

My brother Giuliano was in WW11 and his military branch of service is ironic and has to do with La Liberte. When I write the book you will see what I am talking about!
My dad taking me to the Cash Store in Davenport and Charlie Bella's and to Louis Poletti's office. My mother cooking and cooking and cooking and washing and cleaning. Every now and then if she was happy she would sing the Italian stornelli or Italian folk songs.

On Saturday we would often go to town and I would go to a movie matinee. I remember watching numerous John Payne movies at the old Santa Cruz theatre.

I liked the barn and the horses and spent a lot of time with them but I also liked to hike to the top level of the ranch which I did on a regular basis. I loved to read and one of the first books that I read was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. I was also a little daydreamer which sometimes got me into trouble but may have also led me to my husband.

My first experience with school was when I attended Pacific School in Davenport, California. The teachers were Mrs. Thompson and Mrs Embree. At first, I did not like school but later I came to love going and learning and they could not keep me away.
It was a small school with two rooms. It tended to be windy and cold and foggy at the school. The students were from diverse backgrounds. I can remember Paul Della Santina and Antonette Stagi. I know that they were Italian. All the teaching was done in the old fashioned way. The alphabet was up above the chalk board and if a student misspelled a word they had to correct it by writing it ten times. I loved to read and kept reading and reading and reading.

Eleanor Gregory was one of my little friends as was Rosanne Franklin and her brother John Franklin.

I liked to play with the tether ball or sometimes the "teeter totter". I can still see Mrs. Thompson eating her lunch which consisted of a sandwich and an apple and whatever she had in her thermos.

My mother never had to worry about me because at a very young age I hated alcohol and cigarettes etc., but I liked to eat. I have always had a weight problem. So, all my life I have had to watch what I eat. Absolutely hate alcohol. For me the worst was "grappa" because I think it must be 98% alcohol. The adults would talk about it as if it was something special. I sneaked a peek and a small taste on my little finger when I was little. It made me feel queasy. It made no sense to me to drink something that would make you sick. EVEN AS A SMALL CHILD Nancy did not do what Nancy did not want to do! Period, Period Period! I kept to myself and tended to be very quiet.

In high school I did like to play tennis and I liked to walk for miles and miles and miles. I loved a gentle wind. On a walk like that I was in heaven!
On the ranch we had large ceramic containers filled with brine for curing olives which was another sort of distasteful thing to me. I did like the olive oil. We always bought in large quantities. I am not sure of the man who came to the ranch to sell the olive oil. His name may have been Martinelli. Panattone, the peddler also came to the ranch. That was a big event because we always needed something. I still have a black shawl that my mother bought to go to a funeral. She wanted solid black but he did not have a solid black one. He was sold out so she had to get one with gold threads sparsely mixed in. Our ranch was one of the last on his route from Santa Cruz. We were a good ten miles north of Santa Cruz!


I loved the ranch because it was so unspoiled and so unbelievably simple and beautiful. I loved exploring the abandoned barn on the third tier of the ranch. Maybe that is why to this day antiques fascinate me because they have a story to tell.


In 1955 it all came to an end. We moved to Santa Cruz. I helped design the house. I don't know why but my mother decided I should have a say in it but I did. This was ironic because when my brother died in 2002 he left me the house and I redesigned it again. I do not know what got into me but I decided to make it a sexier house using color and curves which it already had. For 1955 it must have been an impressive house because it actually impresses me today as well. George Wilson was the builder. Originally, it had wood roof shingles but someone took them off along the way and it now has asphalt tile shingles.

ABOUT ME:
I attended Santa Cruz high School, my Davenport friend there was John Franklin
I attended Cabrillo College, my friends there were and still are: Larry Wallace, Judy Nielsen and Sandy Mundt
I attended San Jose State
I attended Monterey Peninsula College, my friend is Marilyn Vassallo
I used the knowledge from Monterey Peninsula College the most
I studied art, design, law, and real estate. I have a real estate license which I maintain by doing continuing education classes.

I married Lt. Donald L. Jacobs, Navy pilot who received his wings at Pensacola, Florida and his master's degree from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He was from Cheyenne, Wyoming. When we met our relationship was 98% Bridges at Toko Ri and 2% Duel in the Sun.

My husband's friends were
Col. Robert F. Overmeyer, pilot astronaut of the space ship Columbia
Rear Admiral Shumaker, not sure of name spelling but the one who wrote a book about the Hanoi Hilton, Rear Admiral West, numerous other Rear Admirals, Commanders etc.
Eldon Dedini, Cartoonist for Playboy magazine
Gus Arrioloa, Cartoonist
Hank Ketcham, Cartoonist
James Watts, police Chief/Captain, Pacific Grove retired.

My husband and I both met Alex Haley briefly in Los Angeles. He wrote Roots.
I briefly met Kesey who wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in Santa Cruz in the 1960's.

My friend was Virginia Conroy, Eldon Dedini's wife for whom I posed and she did a painting of me. A "talking to friend" was Jeremy Slate.

Five years after my husband died I met Retired Navy Commander Rene Gonzales with whom I had a friend relationship, it could not be more, because, he too, was diagnosed with cancer. We met Cinco De Mayo 1995 and he was dead September 1996.
I would like to comment that the whole decade of the 1990's was spent with people who eventually died of cancer. I decided that the Good Lord was trying to tell me something and so I have been single ever since!

Life has taken me back to my beginning which I loved the most next to my husband! I don't know why. Maybe because one finds a simple truth in being close to the earth and caring for one's family.
Now, I would like to write a book, enjoy life, listen to Italian music and spend more time in Santa Cruz where I have new and very interesting friends from "La Costa".

VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL

PHOTO: FRANK AND ROZINA MODOLO,AMICI DELLA COSTA, ("La Nostra Costa":P.356) ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, C.1920. (Courtesy of Antoinetta (Modolo) Jellison).


Dear Friends:


In honor of Valentine's Day, we present the
romantic comedy,
Casomai (If by Chance) , directed by Alessandro
D'Alatri (2002). Below are the details.
We hope to see you all there with your loved ones!!
Ciao,
Dante

************************************************************************
ITALIAN FILM SERIES
Held under the auspices of Istituto Italiano di
Cultura, San Francisco
All films have English subtitles.

Sunday, February 10, 2008, 7:00 PM

The Veteran's Hall,
846 Front St, Santa Cruz

Casomai
(If by Chance)
Directed by Alessandro D'Alatri (2002)

In honor of Valentine's Day, a film all about love and
marriage; part romantic comedy and part social
commentary. Stefania (Stefania Rocca) and Tommaso
(Fabio Volo) want to have a special wedding. At
Stefania's childhood church they meet a priest who
rises to the challenge. The film transports the viewer
through the beauty of love but also the darker
challenges of marriage: the potential loss of
togetherness, temptations, interference of others. An
entertaining and meaningful look at modern Italy
through the eyes of sophisticated, urban Thirty
Somethings. 114 minutes. In Italian with English
subtitles.




Dante Alighieri Society Santa Cruz
P.O. BOX 4253
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Contact # (831) 423-3900
Email: dantesantacruz@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.folkplanet.com/dante

LA NOSTRA COSTA -THOUGHTS AND RECOLLECTIONS BY LaNORMA

PHOTO: The pretty little girl in front is LaNorma, photographed circa 1946. Standing behind her from left to right: Quinto Neri, Norma's Uncle; Diana Dinelli,Norma's Mother,Dante Dinelli,Norma's Father, and Elvira Neri, Norma's Aunt. Notice the Coca-Cola sign in the background. The letters spell BELTRAMI'S. In 'La Nostra Costa" (P.227) I call this location "Serafina's". It was a Cafe and Gas Stop on the Coast Road owned by Serafina and Battista Beltrami. Part of the building can be see in the background behind Quinto Neri. Also, part of the Old Coast Road,running parallel to the PG&E poles, can be seen just over the Coca-Cola sign at the extreme right hand side of the photo.(Courtesy-LaNorma Family Collection)


Ivano:


That certainly was a great Blagga article regarding the recipes for ‘sprouzzi alla Jounzzi’ , Gino’s minestrone soup and Nancy’s 'ricotta pie'. And what beautiful photos. I enjoyed it all so much. By the way, is the 'ricotta pie’ recipe by Nancy Jacobs (Quilici)??


Buon Compleanno to your Mom, Valentina. She truly was a great lady. I treasure her memory so much. What stands out most for me, besides all her other assets, was her beautiful complexion. She had the peaches and cream coloring…..I so much admired. Her cheeks were always a gorgeous pink color.
I also remember my Dad (Dante Dinelli) bringing us to your house on an occasional summer day and we would all go “al mare” – that was so much fun. Valentina driving the ‘old carrettone” would also pick up my Zia Elvira and cousin Laura Neri (now Gularte). That was before seat belts etc. (Gosh!! How did we all survive?) As you say in your book – La Nostra Costa - the beaches up the coast were to be respected and we certainly weren’t allowed to play in the water as we were at the Santa Cruz beach. Great memories.
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Addressing the DMV situation and our dear old timers…….. I remember my Dad telling me that in l927, there were getting to be quite a few drivers on the road. So the DMV (CHP was all one unit with DMV at the time) with some men from their Sacramento office, came to the ranches and announced, “Come up to the Ocean View Hotel in Davenport and we will give out Drivers Licenses” – guess that was how the first of the licenses to drive were issued.

Later on (I don’t remember the exact year), “il gran amico della costa”, John Battistini (John Battistini Insurance) spoke with his friend Bill Lenson, head of the local Santa Cruz DMV Office in regards to giving driver’s licenses to the ranceri and other fellow Italians. As it turned out, after their discussion, the ‘ranceri’ just had to “occasionally” take a driving test, Usually this happened if it was there first time driving. (BTW: Today, Bill is in his 90’s and lives in Spring Lakes with his Italian wife Evie).

One day in the late 40s or early 50s, my Dad, whose license was due for renewal, was getting gas at the Puccinelli (?) gas station on Water Street in Santa Cruz. As faith would have it, Bill Lenson was also getting gas there. My Dad happened to mention to Bill that he needed a new driver’s license. Bill said, “Follow me up to the office and I will give it to you” (DMV office was then where the eastside post office is on Soquel Ave. across from the Taco Bell.) That’s all it took then.

Years later, after Bill had retired and things changed drastically……my Dad did what a lot of the old ranceri did – he obtained all the tests he could get a hold of and studied them so well, that (as you said your father did) he probably memorized all the questions and answers. When the time came to take the written test, he went in with all the other English speaking Americans—and he would get 100%. Like the other Italians “su per la costa”, he did not want any special treatment for the record.
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Thank you Gino Campioni for translating all those Blagga articles into Italian. It is such great practice for me (us) to read it and keep up with our Italiano. I miss talking to the ‘old timers’ so much. It doesn’t take much to lose “la pratica” as far as the language goes.

Anyway – thank you Gino – great job – keep up the good work and hope to meet you again. Perhaps in Santa Cruz sometime soon – maybe at a get together to celebrate Ivano’s libro……and also our folks who paved the way for all of us and made the story of “La Nostra Costa” possible.

Ciao per ora – Norma Dinelli Wilson


Ivano says:

Mille Grazie for the memories, Norma. Yes, the recipe for the ‘ricotta pie’ was by Nancy (Quilici) Jacobs, who grew up on a ‘rancio su per la costa’. Nancy is living in Pacific Grove now, however, she also maintains the old family home in Santa Cruz, which is located not to far from Casa D’Valentina. Hopefully, she is continuing to work on her memoirs. (Please check out comments by Nancy. More insights on 'la vita su per la costa'. ("Clicca" on comments below-right.)