ALLORA by Dominic P. Gentile, Publisher
It doesn’t seem possible that the first issue of La Voce came off the press ten years ago. In fact, the year of discussions, researching, investigating and planning its creation seemed more like ten years than the time that has passed since then. In the first Allora column we admitted to all that we were trying to create a “virtual neighborhood” in a city in which no such thing had ever existed in a brick and mortar, curb and sidewalk sense. It really came about because a handful of Las Vegans who knew the experience of an Italian immigrant neighborhood pedestrian lifestyle longed for the sense of community that it offers. We had ethnic enclaves in our fine city, but never had there been one that was occupied by the Italian immigrant. Truth be told, when they were settling in New York, Buffalo, Boston, Providence, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago and the like, Las Vegas wasn’t even a thought and Nevada had only recently come into being. Those who did follow the work available building railroads and mines passed it to the North and those who were making their livings digging in the dirt and working their nets in the Pacific Ocean certainly weren’t going to find that environment and those jobs in our desert. While its true that Northern Nevada had a visible and substantial Italian immigrant population, it was by its nature rural and might as well have been on the other side of the Earth as far as affording anyone in Las Vegas a feeling of being part of it.
So at a monthly meeting of the Augustus Society Board of Directors, Andrea Lofranco Boggs suggested that it needed a better way to communicate with its members, which numbered about 100 at the time. Her timing was interesting. Jim Donofrio and I had been discussing the idea of launching an as yet unnamed publication that would be similar to one that had been around the Chicago area for over half a century by that time – Fra Noi – which means “among us.” It had held the Chicago Italian American community together long after the struggle of the illiterate urban immigrant living in crowded tenements resulted in the education, financial success and migration to the suburbs of their children and grandchildren. After obtaining every known similar publication in the various cities of our wonderful country that had substantial populations tracing their heritage to Italy, Jim and I, along with Barbara Santora (who was as important to the creation of this publication as anyone) travelled to Chicago and met with those responsible for the continued success of Fra Noi. Paul Basile, who has been at its helm for a long time, was instrumental in the creation of La Voce. Along with the support of the members of its Board by opening up its publication process to us and pointing out mistakes before they happened, we were able to form a core group of Las Vegans who thought this idea could work and that our community was ready for it. Dawn Lozano, Ed Bevilacqua, Nick Paglia, Joe DeMeo, Sam Cecola, Jerome DePalma, Michael Cristalli, Paola Armeni, Angelo Cassaro, Nick Montana, Gino and Rosalba Ferraro, Adele Johansen, Cynthia Auer, Laurie Velasquez-Morris and many, many others came together to support the launching of the ship.
While it is impossible to name all of them, and I certainly hope that none will be slighted by my memory failure, there are two who warrant special mention. The first is Len Galassi – or as he was known in the publishing business, Len Butcher. He was the only member of the team who knew anything at all about the production of a printed product. If it were not for him, this publication would never have existed. He had the first issue in progress when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. He was able to take that work in progress, move it into the future issues, and seize upon the moment to turn out our first edition with Mayor Giuliani dramatically depicted on the cover doing what Italian Americans really do, in contradistinction to the Hollywood portrayal. Out of tragedy came the best illustration of the foundation and the theme for this publication – to show our best to Las Vegas and the worldwide travelers who frequent our city. But for Len’s know-how and efforts, our first issue may have been our last, as the power of our first cover surely contributed to the immediate acceptance of our presence in the community.
The second person that must be credited with special mention is Michael Swain, who was known to all of us as “Frankie”. We have over three hundred racks in which our paper is distributed throughout Southern Nevada and several dozen in other cities from the East Coast to LAX. When we started, we had none. But we had Frankie. I have often referred to La Voce as “a labor of love”, and I mean it. With the exception of a few, no one is compensated in money for their efforts on behalf of La Voce. And if I had to list those who have been involved over the years in the order of the magnitude of their commitment and love for it, Frankie would have to be first in line, just ahead of Jim Donofrio. Len, Frankie and Jim aren’t with us anymore but I know that they would be very proud of this tenth anniversary edition, knowing that their efforts at its inception made it possible.
But it does one no good to linger in the past. While it is very rewarding to look back over our accomplishments, we must look forward as well and not rest on laurels. And that, fine reader, we assure you will not occur. If you have noticed, in recent months we have become more focused on national and international aspects of the Italian presence in politics, fashion, engineering, arts and other cose belle (“beautiful things” to the uninitiated). The fact is that we have accomplished our original goal – we have created a vehicle where those who need a monthly dose of the Italian and Italian-American culture can obtain it. You have made it clear to us that you want more. We are now broadcasting on the Internet and receive email from over ninety countries on a daily basis. Our website and blogs have become a full time job in terms of producing content and corresponding with our visitors. Our advertisers are telling us that people who pickup the hard copy of La Voce from their racks are commenting that they didn’t know we had a hard copy publication but learned of us on the web. And our Mayor recently commented when interviewed on our webcast that the “hot tomato” (Sophia Loren) on our September issue is what the concept of beauty “Italian style” is all about and we should do more of it. We agree, Madam Mayor, and so we shall. There is certainly no shortage of it!
And so, as we celebrate the past, we move forward. In the words of my Nonno (grandfather) Avanti! Avanti! Sempre Avanti! Quando cade, cadi avanti!
