Join the Chautauqua Italian American Organization — CIAO — for a Valentine’s celebration at Gumba’s, 44 Orchard St., Fredonia, on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. A special pasta menu will be available to members along with their delicious and plentiful pizza and sandwiches. Why not venture out of the house and meet your CIAO friends. Have a glass of wine or beer and enjoy a homemade Italian dinner and conversation? If interested, please contact Nance Ortolano by Monday, especially if you are interested in ordering the pizza. You can check out their regular menu on their webpage.

St Joseph Day, The Italian Cultural Center is sponsoring a St. Joseph Table at St Anthony Padua Church, 160 Court Street, Buffalo, NY, on March 14. Seating is from 5:30 until 9 p.m. Members would like to secure a bus for this trip but need to have 24 confirmed reservations. The cost of the trip is $55, including dinner and transportation. This trip will be canceled if 24 people aren’t secured.

Also on the agenda is a trip to the Cultural Center in Buffalo with a dinner at La Bella Sicilian, a small mom and pop authentic Italian restaurant. Several have commented on this restaurant and the reviews have been great. This again, would be a bus trip. More details to follow in date and time.

Cooking classes are in the works, just dates need to be formalized. Italian sausage making class and manicotti making class. These classes will be held if there is enough interest.

New members are always welcome, and you don’t have to be Italian to join! Just notify Ortolano by email or phone number. The philosophy is the more the merrier and if we can share our Italian culture with anyone that’s what it’s all about!

Ortolano can be reached at nortolano@stny.rr.com or call 716-673-9177.