The History of Little Italy

Experience the History of Little Italy. Come enjoy an evening of stories, music, art and desserts!

Hosted by Carmelita De La Guardia, cabaret singer, 1^st runner-up to Mrs. Nebraska and nominee for the Amazing Heartland Woman Award at the Holland Theater.

Where: Bancroft Street Market, 2702 S. 10^th St. (10^th & Bancroft)

When: Saturday, May 27, 2017

Tickets: $30.00 –  Purchase at: History of Little Italy  

Featuring:

Al Anderson – Musician

Originally from Council Bluffs IA and now living in Omaha Neb., Al has been playing lead guitar in a variety of groups since the 1970’s.

Jazz, standards, ballroom, big band, polka, and country dance music – Al plays it all. He traveled” on the road” with groups such as Valley, Terry Allen & Fragile and the Mackinaw Music Show. Local groups have included Dreamland Express, Nora Porter & the Profits, Streetcar Company, Colony, Gary Evans & The Sandells, The Nashville Cats, Country Knights, Country Roads, Freddie’s All – Stars, Marrs Stars, Kenny O, Lynn Scott, Bill Wakefield & Random and Stan Galli & Stuff.   Al has his own group, Texas Moon.

Sam Troia – Storyteller

Sam Troia, who has a love of history has compiled stories, photos and culture of Little Italy here in Omaha. Sam’s grandparents are immigrants from Carlentini Sicily. His wife, Marie Garro Troia’s grandparents, are also immigrants from Carlentini Sicily. The Italian culture is a part of their family life and Sam is very excited that he will be able to share this with you.

Jeffrey Ballard – Artist

Jeffrey Ballard’s journey into art began in Little Italy here in Omaha. As a student at St. Frances Cabrini, he was often called on by the nuns and asked to re-draw religious pictures on the chalkboard.

Jeffrey was intent on pursuing training in the field of art. He attended Omaha Art School on the corner of 14th & Farnam St. in downtown Omaha.

His art training led him to become a freelance artist, technical draftsman and designer. Newly retired from OPPD, he is concentrating on his art once again.

Besides drawing and painting watercolors, Jeffrey began to experiment with using product packaging to create portraits. Using the recycle bin as a color palette for his artwork he began to create comic book themed pieces. This led to being published in “Art Without Waste” which showcased a collection of art from recycled items and his art was displayed at the New York Institute of Technology.

His art is made from recycled material that many people call garbage. He creates images from items that are normally thrown away or recycled. His work invites viewers to look at things in a diverse way.

He takes bits of product packaging, junk mail and magazines, trims them with a utility knife and glues them together to create a uniquely different type of art. Creating images from recycled material allows him to constantly explore new ideas with colors and textures.

Jeffrey also gives back to the community. He and his wife volunteer through Ollie Webb. They host a group of talented adults in a guided art program and in 2016, received an award for “Programs Volunteers of the Year”.

Jeffrey has also been a contributor for CBS Morning News. His recycled portrait of the CBS Sun was selected and was used on the Sunday morning program. He continues to make art in this unconventional fashion and has begun to recreate some of the works of the masters by using recycled material.

In 2016, Jeffrey completed a class by Artists, INC, at the Omaha Creative Institute. The seminar focused on providing business skills to artists and also provided mentoring by facilitators who are well known local artists.

Mark Haar – Musician

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA and a Masters of Music degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mark has played with the Omaha Symphony and was the Principal Bassist of the Sioux City Symphony.  Currently he is a member of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.  Mark has performed with many different jazz ensembles, everything from duos to big bands including the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, the Bluffs Big Band, the Las Vegas Lab Band, the Omaha Big Band, and numerous small groups.   He has also performed with blues bands, pop/rock bands, worship bands and musical theater pit orchestras including the Broadway touring productions of Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Billy Elliot, Chicago, White Christmas, and Grease, as well as for many musical productions at the Omaha Community Playhouse.  With Mark’s own jazz group, Novak & Haar, he has recorded “A Summer’s Carol,” and “A Winter’s Carol,” and “Old Friends.”  All three of these albums have received both national and international attention.  Along with performing, Mark has taught electric bass guitar and double bass at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Iowa Western Community College, Grace University, and Nebraska Christian College.

David P. Murphy – Songwriter and Producer

David P. Murphy is a songwriter and producer of five CDs, “Shining in a Temporary Sun,” Henry Perry’s “Effortless,” Camille Metoyer Moten’s “A Simpler Christmas” and Beth Asbjornson’s “Gratitude.” His most recent solo album, “My Fraudulent Memoirs” is now available.

Murphy also is the author of five books. He can be held accountable for “Ace Your Zombie Exam! The Official Ph.Z. Study Guide,” “Zombies for Zombies — The Play & Werk Buk,” “The Doomsday Survival Handbook” and, of course, the one that started the whole mess, “Zombies for Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead.” 2013 saw the release of his first book of short stories, “Rapturella and Other Apocalyptic Tales.” He has been playing piano since he was a kid and is still trying to get it right.

Mr. Murphy currently resides in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska with his unusually large cat Beany.

Michael De Luca – Musician

Michael De Luca began playing drums at a very young age on his older sister’s drums. As time went on, his interest grew in learning more about the instrument. He took lessons from Omaha greats Luigi Waites, and Joey Gulizia. From this, his interest in playing jazz grew. His influences were a long list of jazz greats such as Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Jeff Hamilton and many other accomplished drummers.  At 12 years old, played his first professional job at a street dance. From then on forming bands with other Omaha musical talents such as Tony Anzaldo and Tim Kobza. At 19, Mike was playing regularly with a variety of bands including the Johnny Ray Gomez review which was a platform for meeting other musicians and growing musically. At 25, Mike went to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood with the hope of becoming a studio drummer. In the process, he worked at Remo Drum Company, the largest manufacturer of drum heads in the world. Mike returned to his roots in Omaha and has played with artist such as Neal Davis, Steve Reybein, Luigi Inc and several others. To this day, continues to perform with writer David Murphy, Cammille Metoyer Moten and several other prominent musicians in the Omaha Jazz scene. In addition, he has recorded CD’s for Beth Asbojrn, Carmelita de Laguardia, Cammille Metoyer Moten and Donovan Johnson. Mike continues to pursue his passion of being a musical drummer and creating a legacy to help continue the education of Jazz in the arts.

Silvia De Luca- Italian Culinary Pastries

“My name is Silvia De Luca, I’m Italian, I was born and raised in Milano, Lombardia Region. I lived in Parma, Emilia Romagna Region for about ten years and the culinary traditions of this region have further inspired me. Since September 2012 I have lived in Omaha.

I started my own business in 2014 “Italy in your kitchen”, my youngest son, Davide, gave the name and it brings me luck. I make Italian pastries whole sale and retail on order.  I use authentic recipes to remain faithful to the flavors that distinguish our beautiful Italy. My goal is work to make my business grow.” 

Rita Rocker – National Speaker, International Author, Coach

RitaRocker is an international published author, life-transforming inspirational and educational speaker, communications and image specialist, and career consultant with Transformation Academy, LLC. She inspires individuals to rise and go forward by providing powerful techniques for victorious personal and professional life makeovers.  She is very authentic and transparent while filling her clients, audiences and readers with hope, help, humor and heart! She is the author of: Hope at the End of Your Rope: Steps to Rebuild Your Life and Guide to Marketing Yourself for Success. She is a contributing international author of nine books.  Rita is a former Mrs. Nebraska and Mrs. America contestant.

Antonella Gosselin- Artist

I have actively pursued many types of creative expression throughout my life.  My specialty is in stained glass, but I now enjoy combining metal and fused glass in my sculptures. Using diverse mediums, has allowed my art pieces to become even more alive. “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” Pablo Picasso on creativity-

Irene Marchese – Artist

The quest for knowledge is the force that keeps Irene Marchese passionate about painting. Born in the United States, the daughter of Sicilian Immigrants, she delivers her colorful life onto the canvas with impressionistic brilliance.

While residing in Nebraska most of the time, she has studied under some of the most revered and skilled artisans of our time, including; Augustus Dunbier, William Reese, Mark Daily, John Thein, Daniel Greene, Joe Abressia and Charles Movallli.

She has mastered Oil and Pastel, with a variety of subjects including; figure, portrait still life and landscape. She has won many awards, and her work can be found in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s private collection housed in the McGoogan Library, as well as many private collections.