LITTLE ITALY NEWS FEBRUARY 2012 EDITION

www.littleitalytroy.org

troylittleitaly@gmail.com

Little Italy is a collaborative effort

by Mike Esposito
This month we celebrate the ninth anniversary of Troy Little Italy, first organized by Rocco DeFazio in February 2003 under the name Friends of Little Italy. While our name changed in
2005, our goals remain the same: to maintain a healthy and vibrant neighborhood by making the
area a safe and clean place for people to live, work and visit, to establish Little Italy as an ethnic
tourism destination and to restore the site that was the historic Hill Street Market.
Sharing neighborhood history and our accomplishments is an important component of what we
do. During 2011, the following Troy Treasure articles were written for The Record: Troys
Little Italy has reason to celebrate (2010 summary of events published in January), Troys
rich industrial history (May), A Christmas tradition continues (November), and Olivia
Bonelli: Troy native with a glorious voice (December). These are four of the thirty four articles written during the past nine years about the neighborhood. Copies of all articles are available on request and can be emailed by contacting us at troylittleitaly@gmail.com
Meetings of the South Central Neighborhood Watch and Troy Little Italy were held on the third
Wednesday of each month. Our monthly Little Italy Newsletter first begun in 2005 is emailed
to hundreds of individuals. A free email subscription is available at the above gmail address.
Issues are posted monthly on our website www.littleitalytroy.org. We also maintain a facebook
account.
Members of Troy Little Italy are active in the Troy Neighborhood Action Council (T-NAC), the
citys Weed & Seed program, the Property Vacancy Register Committee and in several community organizations. Building by building, block by block, we are working toward keeping the
neighborhood stable by cooperating with Troys Community Police, Public Works and Code
Enforcement efforts. We encourage neighbors to support local businesses and award the Troy
Little Italy Best Rehab annually to a neighborhood business. Last year a new local business,
Prism Glassworks, was honored for their excellent work in rehabilitating their building at 225
Fourth Street.
The Hill Street MarketPlace is important in our neighborhoods resurgence. An impressive list
of seasonal, family-friendly events are available each year, supported by a growing number of
partnerships with city government, non-profit community organizations and local businesses
and, of course, with the aid of our hardworking volunteers. In the early spring, we sponsor We
Play for Food, an annual stickball tournament which benefits the Rourke Center Food Pantry
Last year we added A Taste of Little Italy, our first benefit for the Josephine and Anthony DeFazio Culinary Scholarship Fund for Questar III culinary students. During the summer months a
city wide garage sale was expanded to include additional Saturday morning flea markets held in

August, October and November as well as an indoor event co-sponsored by the CYO at their
Fourth Street center. The first of the seasons garage sale/flea markets was held to benefit the
South Central Drop in Center, a free summer recreation program for boys and girls, ages 12 to
16, held weekdays for five weeks in July and August. The Drop In Center is co-sponsored byTroy Little Italy, the Italian Community Center, the Troy Youth Association, the Troy Police
Departments Community Police, Rensselaer County and our Little Italy bingo volunteers. Last
year our popular International Festival held annually in September included a tribute to Troy
jazzman Nick Brignola a former resident of both Third and Fourth streets. At this years festival
we are planning a tribute to Maureen Stapleton, a multi-award winning actress and former First
Street resident. Our Christmas in Little Italy celebration, held the evening prior to the Victorian
Stroll in December, was supported by staff and residents of the Joseph House Hill Street Inn
who served as hosts for several events. The Inns residents have also assisted us in spring time
plantings at Liberty Square.
We believe that by building partnerships, engaging local residents, sponsoring family-friendly
events, celebrating our history and sharing our culture, we can insure a healthy and vibrant urban neighborhood where people will want to live, work, and visit. Join us in our efforts!
Mike Esposito is a long time resident of Troys Little Italy neighborhood. Troy Treasures is a
project of Troy Rehabilitation Improvement Program (TRIP, Inc.)

Lights, Camera, Action

Because there has been an increase in burglaries in the South Troy area, we hope people will
start thinking about installing security cameras and motion lights. There has been a 16 % increase in burglaries in Troy. We hope people will take action and purchase a Uniden "Easy-toInstall" surveillance security system.
Features: Weatherproof, 2 cameras, 7-inch color monitor, transmits up to 500 feet, built-in
microphone, $259 at Sam's Club.
Also available is a Heath Zenith solar-powered motion sensor lights, model 7001 through Amazon.com for $70.
For helpful hints to keep your business/home safe, please visit www.crimedoctor.com. We
thank Nancy Klepsch for this information. She has installed the motion sensor lights.
If you need assistance on installation, you may contact Dan Iachetta at 428-2786 who will
install for a fee to be agreed upon.
Most insurance companies will provide a 5 to 8 percent savings.
Several people have expressed interest in installing these cameras:
Andrea Daley, George Regan, Rocky DeFazio, CYO Center and many others.
For more information contact Rocco DeFazio at 274-8866 or rdefazio@nycap.rr.com.

South Central/Little Italy

News
The Record, January 13,
2012. Troy ablaze with three
early morning fires. Fire
heavily damaged the popular
Little Italy eatery, Flavour
Caf and Lounge at 228
Fourth Street. It was one of
two early morning fires in
the city that were deemed of
suspicious origin.
Times Union, January 13,
2012. Flavour Caf owners
vow to rebuild, by Larry Pulison. Charlie Staats, one of
the owners of Flavour Caf
and Lounge, is interviewed
regarding an early morning
fire which caused considerable damage to the popular
Little Italy business. The
owners expect it may take
two months before they reopen.
Times Union, January 21,
2012. Urban enclave: Troy
area boasts amenities, architecture, by Eric Anderson,
photos by Paul Buckowski.
The first in a new series by
the TU Business Editor centers on South Central Troy
and the various neighborhoods within its borders. Just
a few of the positive points
mentioned is that the area is
within walking distance to
many downtown amenities,
has impressive architecture,
a diverse history, and a great
mix of residents and locally
owned independent businesses.
The Record, January 22,
2012. Troy Treasures: A
restoration that makes the

case, by John Pattison. John

reports on the latest residential restoration project accomplished by Judy Meyer,
at her building (possibly 180
years old) located on the corner of Liberty and Third
Streets.
We Remember . . . .
Donald J. Mahar, longtime
neighborhood resident, died
on January 14, 2012 at the
age of 90. Don and his wife
Rosalie were members over
the years of St. Lawrences
and St. Marys parish, where
Don, a retired RPI employee,
served as an usher. Don was
also an early supporter and
active volunteer in the South
Central Neighborhood Association. Both Don and Rosalie were always available to
fill us in on neighborhood
history since they lived in
the building on Fourth Street
where Rosalie was raised
and where they remained
throughout their marriage.
They both had a keen interest in Troy and the neighborhood and could be seen daily
in the warm weather months
sitting on their front stoop
greeting passersby. In recent
years, sometime after Rosalies death, Don moved to a
nursing facility operated by
the Sister of St. Joseph in
Utica to be closer to his son
and daughter-in-law, David
and Marie Mahar and his

granddaughter Meaghan who

worked at the facility.
Nicholas B. Bruno, born
and raised in Troys Little
Italy, died on January 23,
2012. He was the son of the
late Theresa Campana Bruno
and Nicholas P. Bruno, and a
longtime Fourth Street resident who later moved to Adams Street. Nick was educated in Troys schools and
was employed at the Waldorf Cafeteria, Tiny Town
Togs, and for twenty eight
years at the Samaritan Hospital where he was named
Employee of the Year in
1992. He was a communicant of the former St. Marys
Church and coached basketball at the CYO Center. Nick
is survived by his brother
and best friend, Angelo
Bruno, and his sister Helen
King.
Gene Cuozzo, husband of
the late Helen Cuozzo, died
on February 7, 2012. Gene
and his brother Mike were
longtime owners of their
family grocery store located
on Third and Division. He
served for several years representing Troy on the
Rensselaer County Legislature. Gene was a gentle man
and will be missed by his
family, friends and
neighbors. Our condolences
to the Mahar, Bruno andCuozzo families.

Bella Vita
Community Fresco and Mural Project
in honor of Troys historic Little Italy

Be a Part of Revitalizing a Great Neighborhood

by Creating a Beautiful Fresco or Mural
Up to 50 artists will be chosen through Juried Selection
All participants will be trained in authentic fresco painting techniques
Original depictions of Italian scenery and Troys Little Italys history will be displayed on building
exteriors and in local businesses this summer
Follow our map of the frescos and murals to place your Vote!
Prizes will be awarded 1st Place winner will receive a trip for two to Italy!
Select frescos will be available by auction this fall

Call for Entries Apply online or by mail by March 31, 2012

Some works will be available by Commission
Sponsorships and Donations are Welcome

For more information, visit us at:

DIYRestoreIt.com/BellaVita
A community project originated by DIY Restore It in conjunction with
Troys Italian Community Center

COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN

WHAT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

FREE MEAL TO THOSE IN NEED

THURSDAY EVENINGS 4:30-5:30
ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER, TROY
1450 FIFTH AVENUE
274-0508 EXTENSION 17
STARTING FEBRUARY 2

To donate or volunteer:
call 274-0508 extension 17
or email at
icctroy@onecommail.com
www.icctroy.org

FREE Income Tax Preparation

Italian Community Center
1450 Fifth Avenue, Troy, N.Y.
274-0508 Ext. 17
The VITA program will start on January 27th and
run through the end of March. Total household income must be $50,000 or less. For more info or to
make an appointment call Megan @ 270-4689.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

6-9

9-3

12-5

9-2

Weed & Seed

AARP

Weed & Seed Catholic High

Friday

Saturday

10-2
10-2
Self-prepare
Kiosk
Weed & Seed

ICC Lunch Program

Dear Neighbors and Friends:
The Italian Community Center (ICC) is proud to announce the release of a Lunch Program.
This program has been designed to fill a vital need in our community and you can help! Proceeds from the sale of lunch will be used to address hunger issues in our community. Together,
we can support a soup kitchen and provide meals to families who are placed in motels because
they are homeless. In December, there were 40 families from Rensselaer County who were
without a home.
I have flyers and order forms for reference and hope that you will distribute them throughout
your business and among your contacts. One lunch entre will be offered every Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday for $6. You can order lunch by email, phone or fax by 11 am for
lunch time delivery. The menu will be distributed monthly, so you may plan accordingly.
Please help us spread the word about this valuable community service project. If you require m
flyers, or have questions or comments, please contact me. I may be reached by email at icctroy@onecommail.com or 274-0508 extension 17. Thank you in advance for your attention to
this program.
Sincerely
Lori C. Kelley
Executive Director

hometown. In December,
1981 the 350 seat theater at
Hudson Valley Community
College was named in her
honor. The tribute is being
planned for Saturday, September 22, 2012 and will be
held during Troy Little Italys International Festival
in the Hill Street MarketPlace. More details are forthcoming.

Maureen Stapleton tribute

planned for fall 2012
A committee of Troy residents will begin planning a
tribute to Troys own Maureen Stapleton, an extraordinarily gifted actress who
made her mark on Broadway, in films, and television.
Maureen, who was born and
raised in the South Central
Troy neighborhood on First
Street, was a graduate of St.
Marys School and Catholic
Central High School. Her
career began in the 1940s as
a member of the famed Actors Studio in New York
City and ended with her
death on March 13, 2008 in
Lenox, Massachusetts. One
of only a handful of people
to win the triple crown of
acting, the Oscar, the Emmy
and the Tony, and a nominee
for a Grammy, Maureen was
a Troy booster and wrote in
her autobiography, A Hell of
a Life, if you want to know
me, you have to know where
I came from and Troys my

TNAC
Troy Neighborhood
Action Council
For a brochure of all
the neighborhood
groups and their
contact numbers you
may contact Claire at
TRIP 518-272-8289
Ext. 213 0r
claire@triponline .org

SAT. MARCH 31st

Held at the Bingo Hall
(49 Fourth Street)
9 AM TO NOON
PICTURE WITH THE
EASTER BUNNY
BREAKFAST

Troy Little Itay

2 bedroom, heat and hot
water included, excellent
condition, hardwood floors,
Old world charm, enclosed
porch and yard. Non smoker.
Security deposit and references required. $850 plus
Electric. For information
Contact Harriet at
419-304-7854
80 Division Street
Available Now!!!!
One bedroom apartment on
the second floor. This 850
square foot apartment features a balcony and access to
the backyard, and is conveniently located on a bus route.
Single preferred, references
required., adults only, no
dogs, $550/mo + gas, electric; deposit and last month's
rent required.
Call 518 867 5023
for information.
Send us your March News!
Please submit your article
by March 1st. Please use
Times New Roman font,
size 12, and single spaced.
Send To:
troylittleitaly@gmail.com

February Meeting
2/15/2012

FREE ADMISSION

Neighborhood Watch 6 pm
Little Italy 6:30 pm

Sponsored by
Tony Behan

233 Fourth Street

Victorian Hats had a two-fold purpose!

If you saw more hats this year, Andrea Daley of Troy Little
Italy made and sold Victorian Hats (over 20 of them); 100%
of the proceeds were donated to the neighborhood association
for the activities that are presented through out the year and
for the printed copies of Troy Little Italys newsletter.
It was a lot of fun, said Andrea, and most rewarding to see
others wearing them during the Stroll. Every little bit helps to
inspire others to join in the spirit. Hopefully twice as many
will be sold next year

Left to right : Kevin Daley, Jennifer Daley, Andrea Daley, Bill

Daley, Talor Carey, Cameron Daley and Michelle Daley

January 13, 2012

Flavours Caf is
heavily damaged
by a suspicious
fire.
Charlie Staats,
owner, states he
will reopen in
about two months
as soon as the
damage is repaired

Old photos for your

Enjoyment!!!