add_action('wp_head','wpklik_add_googleanalytics'); function wpklik_add_googleanalytics() { ?>

Author: WickliffeI&A Admin

Internationally Ranked Crooner to Perform at Opening Bocce Tournament Ceremonies

The Wickliffe Italian American Cub is proud to introduce Giovanni Castiglione to the participants of the 34th Annual Pat O’Brien Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce as he opens our festivities at 5:30 PM on Friday, August 25th. Giovanni “Gio” Castiglione, 15, of Solon, Ohio will return for the fifth consecutive year to sing the Canadian, Italian and U.S. anthems. Giovanni has been singing the anthems at a variety of sporting and civic events throughout the area since he was 10.

Since first singing for us in 2012, Giovanni has launched a vocal career as a soloist, a member of a professional a cappella quartet, a world-ranked barbershop chorus (Men of Independence) and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra Chorus. He also performed at Carnegie Hall this past May as the youngest member of the Hudson Festival Choir, performing the classical Faure Requiem. He is also a member of the Solon High School Madrigals (an elite a cappella group) and the internationally-ranked show choir, “Music In Motion”.

Giovanni is also a film and theater talent, having appeared in five feature films and 21 live theater performances, to date. You can learn more about him on his website: giovannicastiglione.com.

Above all, Gio, the youngest son of Dennis and Suzi Castiglione, has a proud passion for his Italian heritage. According to his parents, Gio always looks forward to performing for his dear friends at the Wickliffe Italian American Club.

 

by Randy Continenza

Tony Continenza Celebrating 40 Years Serving the Wickliffe Community

Community service and civic involvement are important aspects of the Wickliffe Italian-American Club.  In 1977, club member and Pat O’Brien Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce Operations Officer, Tony Continenza joined forces with Mike Rajko to open Lincoln Shell in Wickliffe. Mike was already a veteran having started in the business in 1969 and owning two stations before moving to Wickliffe and joining with Tony (along with his brother Rick Continenza and business partner John Orsulic) to open Lincoln Shell. In 1992 Tony and Mike made the transition from Shell to Sunoco, added a car wash, and then expanded again adding a full convenience store to the operation in order to better serve the needs of their customers.  They have been in Wickliffe serving customers for four decades.

Wickliffe I&A Now Accepting Bathroom Renovation Bids *Update*

*UPDATE 7-27-17*
The Wickliffe Italian-American Club is seeking proposals for renovations to be made to the restrooms in our large hall (party center).  Work would be slated to begin January, 2018 and be completed before June, 2018.
 
The bid specs, permit drawings, and sample finishes are attached.
 
The bid form states that bids were due, 7/25, but we have extended the bid deadline to 8/15.  Bids should be sent in a sealed envelope to the PO Box listed on the bid form below.  This is to protect your bid.  However, if an email bid is required due to timing, please notify me and I will accommodate you.
 
The current plan is that our board will open the bids after 8/15, go through a clarification process to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons, and then award on 8/30.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me via email or cell phone to discuss the scope.
 
Thanks in advance for your consideration!
Charles Albertone
Vice President, Wickliffe Italian-American Club

 

Bathroom Renovation Bid Form

27th ANNUAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS /BOCCE TOURNAMENT

The Club once again hosted the Area 12 / Special Olympics Bocce Tournament on Saturday, May 7th.   Over 70 contestants from the northeast Ohio area participated in the games, as buses from Lorain Murray Ridge, Lake Deepwood, and Cleveland Hts./University Hts. facilities brought the players to the Club around 8:30 a.m. on a cold, rainy day.  Fortunately, our covered bocce courts and pavilion allowed the games to proceed.

Over 20 Club volunteers helped to keep the games run smoothly, serving as both coaches and referees, while several members helped to prepare and serve food to the players and their families and supporters.  Special thanks to club member Harvey Contenza for helping to organize the event.

Also, congratulations to Melissa Coad, this year’s winner of the Pat Bristo/Henry Liberatore Sportsmanship Award, named after the two club members who were instrumental in bringing this event to the Wickliffe Italian-American Club.

 


“Breaking Balls” Documentary to hit Cleveland Film Festival

We’re all very excited that John Vourlis’ documentary called “Breaking Balls” – which centers around our club and the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce tournament, is going to be screened at the upcoming Cleveland International Film Festival.   The Club would like to buy a block of tickets and take a “field trip” downtown to take in the debut screening of the film.  We’re looking at Monday, April 3rd for the 7:35 p.m. showing.
We would like to know who is interested in going so we can get a head count to purchase tickets.  Spouse, guests, kids etc. are all welcome to attend.  The Club would buy the tickets and then you would purchase your tickets from us.  Ticket prices are normally $16 (for non CIFF members) and $14 for seniors (65 and over) and students.  If we order 10 or more tickets, we’ll get a discount of $2 per ticket.  We may also look at chartering a bus so we can all go down together and avoid having to pay for parking etc.
If you are interested in going, please contact Larry Koval at wickliffeitalianamericanclub@gmail.com so we don’t get shut out.  I’m sure tickets will go fast!  We will be ordering tickets no later than Friday.   Let me know:
1) How many tickets you want
2) If any are for seniors or students
3) If you would like to ride down with the group

Club Inducts Four New Members

The January club meeting includes the induction of new club members.  Last month, we inducted Dan Basista, Mike Germano, Chuck Willis and Kirk Reinecke into the Wickliffe Italian American Club.  Each new member is assigned to a standing committee and assigned a mentor to assist with his transition into the club. Congratulations and welcome to our new members.  We look forward to getting to know them through our club meetings and many activities.

by Randy Continenza

Annual Holiday Social

The 2016 President’s Holiday Social took place on Saturday, December 17 at the Wickliffe Italian American Club, James Catering.  This annual event is a special gift from club president, Rick Continenza, to members for their hard work all year to make club events a success.  Members and their guests enjoyed cocktail hour with a bountiful and festive hors d’oeuvres table while the band performed music from the great American Song Book. The joy of Christmas seemed to have been infused into the sumptuous bone-in veal chop with all the trimmings.  Dinner was heavenly as glasses clinked, laughter rang out and candles flickered with delight. Before the band resumed playing holiday and dance music, our president highlighted the accomplishments of the year, and thanked all of the members and our special guests.  In a new tradition started last year, the major sponsors for the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce are invited to attend the Holiday Social as guests of the club.  This year’s guests included representatives from Pat O’Brien Chevrolet, Key Bank, Insurance Partners, Enterprise Car Rental, and Sweet Berry Market.

As a special surprise, guests enjoyed a sneak preview of the rough cut of “Breaking Balls,” a documentary centered around the 30th Anniversary Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce tournament (see accompanying article).

by Randy Continenza