After the blessing, 47 members enjoyed a delicious meal featuring penne with meat sauce, chicken parmigiana, Mediterranean salad and fresh rolls, topped off with cannoli for dessert.

Continuing the tradition, members donated treats to fill Christmas stockings for Willow Mission, the Women and Children’s Shelter, and St. Gianna’s. Forty Christmas stockings along with three additional bags, filled to the brim with additional treats were delivered thanks to the generosity of all our members! If anyone has suggestions of any group that may like Christmas stockings, please contact us.

There are no scheduled activities for January but will resume in February with a Valentine’s Day get together. On the docket with no special date is a bus trip to the Cultural Center followed by dinner at a local Italian Restaurant.

March activities may include a St. Joseph Day Celebration. Other activities throughout the year include game and card night, movie night, and international potluck dates that have not been determined. Members will be notified of upcoming events via email and newspaper. Those without email are encouraged to check the OBSERVER publication.

CIAO members attend the Christmas luncheon at the White Inn recently.

Membership is open and you don’t have to be Italian to join! For more information, please contact Nance Ortolano at 716-673-9177 or nortolano@stny.rr.com.