A familial feel

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No stranger to celebrating Italian heritage and great literature, the Fumo Family Branch feted five notable writers with local ties at an April 29 public reading of their works. About 50 lovers of poetry and prose came out to the Fumo Family Branch authors’ night with South Philly natives Dr. Anthony Bruno, Maria Fama, and Diana Cavallo teaming up with Rosemary Cappello and Al Tacconelli to form the quintet.

Led by Cavallo, the evening’s organizer and moderator, the writers had approached Adult/Teen Librarian Renee Pokorny late last year about holding a joint event, as each had previously read at the 2437 S. Broad St. location. Pokorny, finding all of their works "deeply touching looks at the Italian-American experience and the universal human one," readily agreed, creating an unprecedented fivesome at the branch.

"We have a commitment to highlighting local talent and love matching impressive talent with appreciative audiences," she said.

Cavallo said the original plan was for the event to be a fundraiser to stave off the possibility of being one of 11 libraries slated to close June 30 due to the massive budget gap the city has been struggling with since last fall. When the library received a reprieve in January, the writers decided to stage the event as a celebration of Italian heritage and to pay homage to the branch, a spot, Cavallo, formerly of Broad and Juniper streets, hailed as "a little gem."

Bruno, who grew up on the 1200 and 2500 blocks of Snyder Avenue, opened the night by reading "The Awakening," a short story in which the author, a Bishop Neumann grad, spoke of his Catholic education and his desire to miss as much school as possible. Audience members chuckled as he spoke of how his father would pen, "Why Anthony Was Absent Yesterday" notes. He revealed he eventually accepted the Catholic experience, telling the crowd he knew "long before the existentialists that there is no exit."

A professor of social sciences at Community College of Philadelphia for the last 34 years, Bruno has accumulated a reputable list of published works, including an appearance in the literary and cultural review "Voices in Italian Americana." Working mostly in short stories, he used the night’s piece to kick off what would turn out to be the dominant themes of the night: Catholicism, self-discovery, companionship and family.

Center City-based poet Rosemary Cappello followed. A native of Lanark in Lehigh County, she serves as editor of Philadelphia Poets, a journal that has offered hundreds of local writers opportunities to share their experiences. She, in turn, has shared her reflections on her Italian background in "Brunette Ambition" and "Baubles of a Nun," among others. Her four poems stressed her love and respect for family and identity.

"We all descend from people who came to America to make a living in a strange land. My work expresses my admiration for those folks," Cappello said.

Wynnewood-based artist and poet Al Tacconelli has achieved dual recognition and used the night to showcase seven poems. "The Old Neighborhood" and "Layers" reflected his affinity for nostalgia, while "Courageous Words" found him yearning for "the unconquerable sun of the universe."

Maria Fama, of the 1300 block of Sigel Street, has penned four poetry books, including her latest, "Looking for Cover." Her readings of "Rose Petals," a comedic examination of the lunacy of city living, and "Nona’s Cup" delighted patrons. In the latter, Fama used repeated mentions of "think of me," an inscription on the title cup, to highlight the importance of family treasures.

"South Philly is so genial and inspiring. I sense that the next generation of South Philly writers will draw similar inspiration from these neighborhoods," Fama said.

Just in time for May, Cavallo read "Lucy," a monologue in which the title character explains her devotion to St. Rita of Cascia, whose feast day falls on May 22. The Center City resident has garnered numerous plaudits, including being a Fulbright Teaching Fellow and Special Guest Lecturer at the University of Pisa, Italy. "Lucy" appears in her series of monologues, "The Ladies of Juniper Street," and the author is working on a second novel, "Juniper Street Sketches."

Following the reading, Bruno, who now lives in Glenside, spoke of South Philly as a place that "thrives on oral tradition." The author’s most recent work, 2005’s "From the Heart: South Philadelphia Chronicles," is a collection of vignettes that explores that tradition.

"South Philly has rich stories to tell. I grew up feeling as if I were living in an opera," Bruno said. "South Philly has it all."