The Dante Society of Westerly, RI

General Membership Meeting June 2023
2023-06-15 18:00 (America/New_York) | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the 2nd members’ business meeting for 2023.
Agenda will be sent to members shortly before the meeting.

Members are reminded that the bylaws require attendance at a minimum of 50% of membership meetings as well as participation and support in society activities.

When available, the Agenda and/or Minutes of the meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

Cappizzano Oil & Vinegar: "The Unforgettable Plate"
2023-05-06 13:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Lecture and book signing.
This is a save the date announcement. Details forthcoming.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Prof. Peter Nightingale: The Life and Times of Galileo
2023-04-29 13:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Peter Nightingale, Ph.D, theoretical physicist, the University of Rhode Island.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

General Membership Meeting March 2023
2023-03-16 18:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Agenda will be sent to members shortly before the meeting.

Members are reminded that the bylaws require attendance at a minimum of 50% of membership meetings as well as participation and support in society activities.

When available, the Agenda and/or Minutes of the meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

Movie: "Paradiso"
2023-02-27 16:00 - 18:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The first movie for the Westerly Dante Society 2023 file series is “Paradiso”. This movie received the 1990 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Cost is $6 per person at The United Theater’s box office.

Prof. Alfred Crudale: The Voices of Italy: Italian Language Newspapers and Radio Programs in Rhode Island
2023-02-11 13:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Alfred R. Crudale, Ph.D.,is a professor of Italian at the University of RI.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

2023 Winter Gathering
2023-02-05 14:00 - 16:00
This is the annual winter gathering, open to members and their spouses.
Cost is $15/per person.
For details, please see either the Flyer or the Newsletter sent out by Cathy.

Ashley Turney: "Rome"
2022-12-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
While it is virtually impossible to cover more than 2000 years of history in a single evening, even a small taste of the magnificence of Rome is better than nothing. Relying on her 25 years of experience living, working and studying in Italy, Ashley introduces guests to the beauty of the Italian lifestyle through art, history, food and wine. Her passion is planning trips to Italy with her guests in mind. She arranges experiences of a lifetime – hot air balloon rides over Tuscany, private shopping tours of Florence, celebratory dinners in a medieval monastery, horseback riding, after hours visits of Saint Mark’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel. For those who cannot make it to Italy, Ashley loves nothing more than bringing la dolce vita to them here in the States.
Ashley publishes a blog twice a week, inviting her readers to be inspired and dream about that trip that they will take someday.
A copy of the flyer for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking here:
Dec.2022 Ashley Turney.

This is the fourth presentation by Ashley.
Earlier this year Ashley gave a talk on Sicily; the calendar entry for that can be seen by clicking here: March.2022 Ashley Turney.

Previously Umbria was discussed; the calendar entry for that can be seen by clicking here: 2021 Ashley Turney.

Prof. Joseph Luzzi: "Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance"
2022-11-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Some five hundred years ago, Sandro Botticelli, a painter of humble origin, created works of unearthly beauty. A star of Florence’s art world, he was commissioned by a member of the city’s powerful Medici family to execute a near-impossible project: to illustrate all one hundred cantos of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the ultimate visual homage to that “divine” poet.
A Westerly native, Joseph Luzzi (PhD Yale) is Professor of Comparative Literature and Faculty Member in Italian Studies at Bard College. He was recently a Wallace Fellow at Harvard’s Villa I Tatti, where he was writing a cultural history of Dante’s Divine Comedy that will appear with Princeton University Press.
Professor Luzzi is the author of Romantic Europe and the Ghost of Italy (Yale University Press, 2008), which received the MLA’s Scaglione Prize for Italian Studies; A Cinema of Poetry: Aesthetics of the Italian Art Film (Johns Hop-kins University Press, 2014), a finalist for the international prize “The Bridge Book” Award; My Two Italies (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014), a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice; and In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love (HarperCollins, 2015). His essays and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, TLS, Bookforum, and American Scholar, among others, and his scholarly writing has appeared in PMLA, Modern Language Notes, Modern Language Quarterly, Raritan, Italica, and Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century.
The first American-born child in his Italian immigrant family, Professor Luzzi was named Cittadino Onorario (Honorary Citizen) of Acri, Calabria, in 2017. Among his other honors are a Dante Society of America essay prize, Yale College teaching prize, and fellowships from the National Humanities Center and Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center.

Membership Meeting
2022-11-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Dante Society of Westerly: Membership Meeting

Professor Michael Siefert: Lecture on Enrico Fermi, Physicist
2022-10-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Enrico Fermi was one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century. His contributions to the field of physics helped shape much of modern physics as it exists today; his work was instrumental in the development of statistical physics, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and particle physics. Almost uniquely among his colleagues, he was adept both in constructing models to understand the Universe and in conducting experiments to confirm or refute these models. One of his biographers called him “the last man who knew everything.”
In this talk, Prof. Seifert will trace Fermi’s life from his youth as a mathematical prodigy in Rome, through his influential research and receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physics, to his emigration to the United States and his pivotal work on the Manhattan Project. He will also discuss some of deep and fascinating ideas that Fermi discovered.
Michael Seifert was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He developed a love of deep physics in high school, going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago. He subsequently worked at Indiana University, Eckerd College, and Williams College before joining Connecticut College in 2014. His research involves gravitational physics and particle physics, particularly as to how the properties of space and time influence physical phenomena via the socalled “Lorentz symmetry”. He lives in Quaker Hill, CT with his wife.

2022 Annual Anna Turrisi Cooking Demonstration
2022-10-06 18:00 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
After a two-year pandemic interruption, The Dante Society of Westerly, RI will resume our tradition of hosting the annual Anna Turrisi Food Demonstration. The event will feature the culinary students from the Westerly High School demonstrating their cooking and serving skills. With her family in attendance to represent her, this year’s event will be to honor our past Food Demonstration Chair, Mrs. Angie Smith, who recently passed away.
The focus of this event is to raise initial scholarship funds for the Angie Smith Culinary Scholarship to benefit the students at the Westerly High School.

Tickets are required for attendance. There is a 200 seat limit.

The base price of each ticket is $20, with a credit card processing charge of $1/ticket if purchased online. There are two methods available for ticket purchases:

Purchase tickets online using a credit card (until 5 PM of Wednesday, Oct 5)

The cost per ticket is $21 each, inclusive of the credit card processing fee.
You will be emailed a receipt indicating the number of tickets purchased; the Dante Society will receive a copy of the receipt. Several days after placing the order you should receive an email copy of your tickets.

>> UPDATE: Tickets are still available. Online ticket purchasing is no longer available. <<

Tickets may be purchased on line by clicking this link: <Purchase Tickets>
Note: Due to processing time, online ticket purchases will not be available after 5PM, October 5.

2. Purchase Tickets in person at the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce

The chamber is located at 1 Chamber Way, Westerly RI (just off Route 1)
The price per ticket is $20 each.

You can make a separate/additional contribution to the Angie Smith Culinary Scholarship by clicking this link: <Donate to the Angie Smith Culinary Scholarship>

Preparations are underway to prepare a program for the evening. Personal and Business ads are still available for inclusion in the program.
To purchase an advertisement in the demonstration’s program, please request information using the contact form accessed via the “Contact” button at the top of this page.

Membership Meeting
2022-09-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Dante Society of Westerly: Membership Meeting
Westerly Senior Center
39 State Street, Westerly

Agenda

Dante Bus Day Trip To Boston's North End - CANCELLED
2022-08-26 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
THIS TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Bus Departs 9:00 am from the Westerly Senior Center, State Street
Departs Boston 7:00 pm for return to Westerly

Call or email Kay Daniele to reserve a space: kddaniele@sbcglobal.net. Phone: (860) 535-1223.
We are limited to 40 people. If we don’t have enough Dante Members by Monday, May 2, 2022 we will open the trip up to Senior Center Members.
Please make checks payable for full amount by Monday, July 1, 2022 to The Dante Society and mail to:
Kay Daniele, 194 Montauk Avenue, Stonington, CT 06378

History
The tradition and customs of honoring Saint Anthony of Padua in the North End of Boston date back to early part of the twentieth century and the large numbers of southern Italian immigrants that reached the shores of America at that time. Hundreds of thousands of poor European immigrants flooded the urban centers of northeastern United States. In Boston these immigrants settled in the North End. These immigrants brought with them the customs and traditions that they celebrated in their homeland for centuries. A group of men from the small mountain town of Montefalcione, Avellino, just east of Naples in the Campagnia region of Italy founded what is known as today as the San Antonio Di Padova Da Montefalcione, Inc. Since 1919, as is done in Montefalcione on the weekend of the last Sunday of August the Saint Anthony and Saint Lucy societies and the people of the North End celebrate the Feasts of Saint Anthony and Saint Lucy.

Annual Grey Sail Gathering
2022-06-29

2022 Annual Banquet & Person of the Year Award
2022-05-06 18:00 | The Haversham House, 336 Post Rd., Westerly, RI, 02891
Honoring
Salvatore J. Augeri, Sr.

Tickets are required

Tickets can be purchased at the Westerly Chamber of Commerce Office, 1 Chamber Way, Westerly

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 to 5. Friday – 9 to 4. Ph: 401-596-7761
$50.00 per ticket Cash or Check, NO credit cards.
The Chamber cannot hold/reserve or mail tickets — pick up only.

Or you can mail your check to The Dante Society, PO Box 155, Westerly, RI. 02891

State your name, telephone number and number of tickets requested.

ACRI FAMILY TREES: Connecting your family roots
2022-04-07 18:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Bill Mitchell is an amateur family historian who has been researching his Scottish and English roots and his wife’s Italian roots since 1997.
He has been an editor of the “Acri Family Trees” project hosted by Ancestry.com since October of 2019.

Membership Meeting
2022-03-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Dante Society of Westerly: Membership Meeting
Westerly Senior Center
39 State Street, Westerly

SICILY: A Mosaic of Cultures
2022-03-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Join Ashley Turney, L’Esperta, as she takes you on a virtual journey around Sicily to learn about its culture, history and cuisine.
There is no more fascinating island – as the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Sicily has a vibe that is completely unique to any other part of Italy. The Greek, Spanish, Moorish, Roman, and Arab influences are visible in the Greek temples of Segesta to the Baroque city of Noto, from the Moorish architecture in Palermo to the seaside town of Cefalù. With salt mines, vineyards, volcanoes, Roman villas and more, the island sometimes seems to be lost in time.
Relying on her 25 years of experience living, working and studying in Italy, Ashley introduces guests to the beauty of the Italian lifestyle through art, history, food and wine. Her passion is planning trips to Italy with her guests in mind. She arranges experiences of a lifetime – hot air balloon rides over Tuscany, private shopping tours of Florence, celebratory dinners in a medieval monastery, horseback riding, after hours visits of Saint Mark’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel. For those who cannot make it to Italy, Ashley loves nothing more than bringing la dolce vita to them here in the States. She publishes a blog twice a week, inviting her readers to be inspired and dream about that trip that they will take someday.
www.lesperta.com

Momenti Musicali - a Concert of Music & Literature
2022-03-13 17:00
RSVP is required prior to attendance.
See event website for additional information.
Presented by: The Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts
Venue Location: 41 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA

Post Holiday Party
2022-01-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Post Holiday Party
January 16, 2022 2PM – 4PM

Dante Society of Westerly, RI Membership Meeting
2021-11-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
November 16, 2021 6:00 pm
Westerly Library Auditorium

Italy: A Cultural Journey; UMBRIA: Slide Show, Talk and Discussion
2021-10-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Dante Society of Westerly Presents:
Italy: A Cultural Journey
UMBRIA: Italy’s Green Heart Slide Show, Talk and Discussion by Ashley Turney, L’Esperta
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:00 to 7:30 pm Westerly Library Auditorium
Ashley Turney
Relying on her 25 years of experience living, working and studying in Italy, Ashley intro- duces guests to the beauty of the Italian lifestyle through art, history, food and wine. Her passion is planning trips to Italy with her guests in mind. She arranges experiences of a lifetime – hot air balloon rides over Tuscany, private shopping tours of Florence, celebra- tory dinners in a medieval monastery, horseback riding, after hours visits of Saint Mark’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel. For those who cannot make it to Italy, Ashley loves noth- ing more than bringing la dolce vita to them here in the States. She publishes a blog twice a week, inviting her readers to be inspired and dream about that trip that they will take someday.
www.lesperta.com
Download the .pdf flyer for this event by Clicking Here.

Charcuterie with Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars
2019-04-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars, 5 Coggswell Street, Pawcatuck, CT, 06379, United States
Charcuterie with Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars Sponsored by the Dante Society of Westerly
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Where: Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars, 5 Coggswell Street, Pawcatuck, CT
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm
Cost: $25.00 per person for Dante Members / $35.00 per person for spouse or friend.
SEATING IS LIMITED to (20). It will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If this event becomes filled, a second date will be scheduled.
RSVP by March 29 to cpotter40500@cox.net with payment submitted to Capizzano Olive Oil and Vinegars by check or credit card prior to the event. Please call 1-860-495-2187 to provide credit card number and mention Dante Society Event.
A Charcuterie is an artful presentation of cheeses, meats, nuts, fruits, spreads, mustards, bread or crackers. The joy of planning a charcuterie is finding interesting patterns of boards and colorful bowls to present to your guests. And of course, pairing the choices with exquisite Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars.
Come and enjoy a relaxing time as a Dante Family to experience the Charcuterie with four different gourmet cheeses from around the world, gourmet nuts, fruits, a delicious walnut green bean spread, orange cranberry salsa, and Italian chocolate bark. The select menu will be paired and made with our olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. The wine will complement the cornucopia of flavors.
Come and join us for this very special event.
Per Salute! Suzanne, Stephen and the Capizzano Team
Download the .pdf flyer for this event by Clicking Here.

20th Annual Anna Turrisi Cooking Demonstration
2018-10-04 14:00 - 17:00 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Featuring Mark Lacz and Michael Lacz Owners, Casa Della Luce, Vetrano’s Vittoria’s and Breachway Grill Restaurants
Thursday, October 4, 2018 6:00 pm
Calabrese Club
28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI
On the Chef’s menu:
Porcini Mushroom Ravioli with Truffle Marsala Cream Sauce
Raffle prizes available: plan to purchase tickets upon arriving (to support Dante programs & educational grants)
Tickets: $15.00 includes salad, light dinner sampling, dessert & coffee
Send payment to Angie Smith, 28 Watch Hill Road, Westerly, RI Or call: (401) 497-1340 no later than September 20, 2018
