The Dante Society of Westerly, RI

2025 Fall Italian Classes
2025-10-27 - 2025-10-30 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Dante Society of Westerly is sponsoring a new series of Italian lessons this fall.

The courses will be taught by Gayle Restivo, certified Italian language teacher and Dante Society Member.
All classes will be held at the Westerly Senior Center, State Street.
Each class meets once per week beginning the week of October 27th, 2025.

Beginner 1 – Thu 5:30-7pm
Beginner 2 – Thu 7-8:30pm
Intermediate – Mon 6:30-8pm
Advanced Intermediate – Tue 6:30-8pm

Classes are open to the public.
Prior registration is required.
Five student minimum per class is necessary.

To register please contact Gayle Restivo at
gaylerestivo@yahoo.it

Cost for 6 week session:
$150 per student
($120 for current Dante members)
(Payment due at the first class: cash or check)

2025 An evening with Consul General Arnaldo Minuti
2025-11-07 18:30 (America/New_York) | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
An evening with Consul General Arnaldo Minuti of the Italian Consulate in Boston
As part of the Dante Society of Westerly’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, we welcome Consul General Minuti who will discuss the Italian American relations and the importance of Italian Immigration to the US, especially in the early and mid 20th century.

Consul General Minuti is a career diplomat who has previously served as the Head of the Office for International Cooperation against Global Threats and Counterterrorism of the Directorate General for Political Affairs and Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFA). He has served at the Embassy of Italy in Ethiopia and was Consul of Italy in Canada for the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City and was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to UNESCO in Paris. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Counselor of Embassy. He is Lieutenant of the Carabinieri Corps (of the reserve) and is Knight of the Italian Republic.

There will be a public reception following Consul General Minuti’s remarks.
The talk and reception afterwards are free and open to the public but prior registration is required.
Please register by November 1. Register (free) at the United Theatre’s web site using the button “TICKETS” near the bottom of this link: UnitedTheatre

General Membership Meeting November 2025
2025-11-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the Fourth and final of the four members’ business meeting for 2025.
The general agenda is:

Call Meeting to Order
Opening Statement by the President of the Society
Approval of Minutes of the September meeting – (see link to the index near the bottom of this page)
New member Introduction
Committee Reports
Upcoming Events & Programs
Other new items

The full agenda can be found in the Index of Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
This meeting will be held at the Senior Center.

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.
The remaining meetings this year are scheduled for June 12, September 11, and November 13.

Please review the minutes from the previous meeting (June 2025) prior to attending the meeting.
The minutes from the previous meeting and, when available, the agenda for this meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

2025 Lecture: The Story of Del's
2025-11-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891

2025 Event: Italian Bred
2025-12-10 15:00 - 19:00 | The Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
>> SOLD OUT <<

Candice Guardino will be presenting the show Italian Bred on Dec 10 at the Granite Theatre. There are two showings: an early one at 3:00 PM and a later one at 7:00 PM

Italian Bred, is an hilarious and heartwarming theatrical comedy that is based on true life events and told through the eyes of a girl growing up Italian on Staten Island. Having written down everything her bawdy grandmother ever uttered, Candice slips in and out of multiple family characters, story-tells hilarious childhood moments and sings songs that all makes this woman an incredible talent of our time.

Additional information and ticket availability can be found on the Granite Theatre’s web site.

2026: Celebrate La Befana with the Dante Society and Westerly Library & Wilcox Park
2026-01-10 10:00 - 14:00 | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Dante Society of Westerly and Westerly Library & Wilcox Park presents an opportunity to learn about the Italian tradition of La Befana in the Terrace room at the library.
Children and families are invited to join us for a morning celebration of the Italian folklore tradition of La Befana. The Legend of Old La Befana will be read at 10:15 am followed by the Disney short film “La Luna”. Kids will enjoy a themed craft to work on with help from Westerly High School Italian language students. Cookies will be provided from Fresh Cup Cafe.
Please see the Library’s calendar for additional details.

Information on La Befana and the Italian tradition can be found here on Wikipedia.

Movie: Divorce Italian Style
2026-01-20 16:00 - 18:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The United Theatre and the Dante Society of Westerly present a screening of Pietro Germi’s “Divorce Italian Style”.
The movie was released in Rome in 1961, followed by a release in the US in 1962. The movie is listed in the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s 100 Italian Films to be saved.

Baron Ferdinando Cefalù (Marcello Mastroianni) longs to marry his nubile young cousin Angela (Stefania Sandrelli), but one obstacle stands in his way: his fatuous and fawning wife, Rosalia (Daniela Rocca). His solution? Since divorce is illegal, he hatches a plan to lure his spouse into the arms of another and then murder her in a justifiable effort to save his honor. This hilarious and cutting satire of Sicilian male-chauvinist culture was nominated for 21 awards, winning 12 including the 1962 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Length 1 hr 45 min; B&W; not rated
Filmed in Sicily
Film is in Italian with English captions

Nominated for 3 Oscars (Best Actor; Best Director; won Best Writing, Story, and Screenplay)
Winner of 3 Golden Globe Awards (USA: Best Actor; USA: Best Foreign Film; Italy: Best Film)
A trailer and additional information is available from IMDb
The plot synopsis and other information on the film can be found on WikipediA

Tickets may be purchased at the theater at time of the show or online. For online purchases, see the United Theatre web site for the movie.

2026 Winter Gathering
2026-02-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Hilltop Café, 23 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891
It’s time for the Society’s annual winter gathering!
— Open to members of the Dante Society of Westerly and one guest (spouse, significant other, friend, …). —
>>> SOLD OUT! <<<

Cost is $20/per person; tickets will not be available at the door.

On Jan 2 an email was sent to members with details and a link to purchase tickets online.
As of Jan 15, all tickets have been sold!

This year more seating will be available, but seating is still limited.
It was sold out last year; please buy your tickets early so you do not miss out.

Menu
Drinks may be purchased; a buffet luncheon will be provided.
The buffet will include: Salad, Pizza, Pasta, Chicken Cutlets, Meatballs, and Sausage and Potatoes.

It's Gelato, not Ice Cream!
2026-02-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
It’s Gelato, not Ice Cream!

Is there a difference between gelato and ice cream? Absolutely! Join Melanie Wolf as she shares her journey to master the art and science of making this delicious treat. Wolf began by traveling with her husband, Denis St. Amand, to Bologna, Italy to attend Gelato University. She returned to take more advanced courses on the chemistry and science behind it so she could create her own flavors.

Wolf’s story continues beyond her highly acclaimed gelateria in downtown Westerly. She has also competed in the Carpigiani Challenge, World Masters Gelato Festival, and was one of three finalists from New York to compete in the North American Finals (Los Angeles, 2025).

Note: Unless specifically noted as being streamed or recorded, the lectures in the lecture series hosted by the Dante Society of Westerly are live events only and are not recorded. They are neither streamed online nor available afterwards as recordings.
Lectures are free and open to the public.

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.

Lecture: A Journey Along the Ancient Appian Way
2026-02-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Dr. Gary Robbins: A Journey Along the Ancient Appian Way

The Appian Way (often called Regina Viarum or “Queen of the Long Roads”) was constructed starting in 312 BC and eventually extended some 360 miles from Rome to Brundisium (now the city of Brindisi in the heel of Italy). The mostly paved road, originally built for warfare, became an economic, social, and religious thoroughfare opening southern Italy and creating a gateway for Roman expansion throughout the Mediterranean. From ancient Rome through the Middle Ages and even up to World War II, the road played a pivotal role in shaping European history. In this presentation, Dr. Robbins will share with you the wondrous sites he explored on a trip he took in March 2025 from Rome to Brindisi along the Appian Way.

Dr. Gary Robbins is a Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Natural Resources and the Environment and Earth Sciences at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. He taught at the university for 37 years before retiring. While there, he taught a study abroad course in Rome Italy for some 10 years and conducted research with the University of Roma Tre. He has a keen interest in the history of Rome and ancient Roman architecture and technology.

Note: Unless specifically noted as being streamed or recorded, the lectures in the lecture series hosted by the Dante Society of Westerly are live events only and are not recorded. They are neither streamed online nor available afterwards as recordings.
Lectures are free and open to the public.

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.

Save the date!
2026-03-08 16:00 - 17:30 | RI
Time, location and other details will be posted as soon as available

General Membership Meeting March 2026
2026-03-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the First of the four members’ business meeting for 2026.
(the next meeting is scheduled for June 11)
The general agenda is:

Call Meeting to Order
Opening Statement by the President of the Society
Approval of the previous Minutes (Minutes from November are now available – see the page Index of Meeting Agendas and Minutes)
New member Introduction
Committee Reports
Upcoming Events & Programs
Other new items

When available, the full agenda can be found in the Index of Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
This meeting will be held at the Senior Center.

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.
The remaining meetings this year are scheduled for June 11, September 10, and November 12.

Please review the minutes from the previous meeting (November 2025) prior to attending the meeting.
The minutes from the previous meeting, when available, may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

Lecture: Save the Date!
2026-04-11 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Details will be posted in February.
