Wakefield Sons & Daughters of Italy September Cooking Challenge

At the September Sons and Daughters of Italy meeting, members teamed up for their own version of the TV competition “Chopped”. It was held at Laurie’s 909 on New Salem Street. Lodge Vice President Laurie Rizzo chose the four ingredients for the challenge: hot sausage, broccoli, pasta and Italian plums. The two teams were given 50 minutes. They could include other items from Laurie’s shelves and fresh ingredients from her outdoor garden. Members enjoyed two delicious meals along with appetizers and desserts.

Mark your calendars! The community is invited to a fun and free event in October to celebrate Italian Heritage Month. The Lodge has invited local author, Jane Healey, to talk about her great book “The Saturday Evening Girl’s Club”. The story takes place in Boston’s North End in the early 1900s. It is historical fiction with a combination of fictional and real characters. The young women in the Girl’s Club are torn between the old traditions of their parents and their wonderful, new world of independence in America. Their challenges include deciding on a career or being a caregiver and choosing love or arranged marriage (…or both). The characters are charming and believable. The story is a delight.

This event will take place on October 16 at the Beebe Library in Wakefield. Doors open at 6:30 and the talk will begin at 7:00. Bring a copy of the book and Ms. Healey will be available to autograph it – for yourself or a holiday gift! No books will be sold at the event. The book can be purchased locally at Whitelam Books in Reading or ordered through Amazon. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome, but the room is limited to 60 people!

Recently, the Lodge participated in Wakefield’s Festival Italia. Members met many hearty folks who braved the weather and stopped by our tent. The group raffled off a basket of Italian foods. The Lodge has also held a few bocce competitions! We are thinking of putting together a bocce league next summer.

If you like to eat, play, do charitable work or meet people, the Lodge welcomes new members to join the fun. They meet on the second Tuesday of most months. For information about joining, contact the President Adriana Guida at wakefieldosia@gmail.com, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wakef... or join us on October 16!