Chautauqua Italian American Organization — CIAO — has been active this past year, with cooking classes, a trip to Buffalo to the Cultural Center, followed by dinner at Romeo and Juliet’s, Holy Cannoli dinner theatre in Erie harvest dinner, a dinner at Gumba’s, and concluding with our annual Christmas luncheon and party on Dec. 13 at the White Inn.

The event will be at noon. As in the past, members are asked to bring single serve treats to fill Christmas stockings — packages of chips, cookies, crackers, large candy bars, candy canes and anything you may think a child would like to find in their stocking. These stockings are donated to local charities. There is still time to sign up for the party. The deadline is Monday. The cost for the buffet luncheon is $25 per person. Checks to be made out to CIAO and mailed to Nance Ortolano, 10 Carol Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063.

New members are always welcome, and you don’t have to be Italian to join. So, if you enjoy sharing food with friends, making new friends, and having a good time, consider joining CIAO. Please contact Ortolano at nortolano@stny.rr.com for more information.