Maryland’s classics department looks at connections between Rome and Washington
By John Kelly About 30 years ago, an Italian friend of ours visited. After a few days doing the tourist thing, he exclaimed: "I love Washington! It's like a Rome where everything works." I don't know what Adriano would think of D.C. today, when Metro breaks down routinely and Congress seems proud of its dysfunction. But I understood his p...
President’s Message Fall 2014
By William Schievella As you read this magazine Labor Day has passed and the Columbus Day holiday is upon us. Although Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus the holiday is now a celebration of the accomplishments of Italian Americans in our nation as well as Italian culture in our state. Althou...
Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Hosts Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month Celebration
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. hosted the 2015 Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month observance on Friday, October 9th in the lobby of the Essex County Hall of Records. Decorated in the festive Italian colors of red, white and green, the lobby was a standing-room only backdrop for the cultural festivities. During th...
Fiorella's Sausage: It's a living
by Danya Henninger When Luigi Fiorella was 19 years old, he left his parents' farm in Foggia, Italy, to try his luck in the New World. He gathered his savings, booked passage on a transatlantic ship, and landed in Philadelphia in 1892. Like many other Italian immigrants in South Philly, he began working as a butcher. In 1904, he p...
Delaware delegation visits Sister City in Tuscany
Members of the Delaware Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture were invited to Greve-in-Chianti, Italy, by Mayor Paolo Sottani to celebrate Verrazzano Day on April 17, and to re-dedicate the Delaware "Garden of the Navigators" located in that Sister City. This "American-style" garden was first constructed in 2012. It is dedicated to th...
A Passion for the Old and the New: the New Italian Ambassador
Taking on a new job can be an overwhelming feet for anyone, but perhaps a bit more when you are the new Italian Ambassador to the U.S. Armando Varrichio recently took on this position and moved to the U.S. only two months ago with his passion for expanding Italian culture leading the way. The Veneto born diplomat began his career with the U.S. in...
Italian Heritage Website Created By Local Residents
Gene Morabito remembers his father as a man who immersed himself in the Ellwood City community. As a prominent local contractor, Cosmo Morabito played an active role in building Ellwood City both literally and figuratively. Cosmo passed away in 1946 when Gene was 11. Sadly, in the 70 years since his passing, Cosmo's contributions to the El...
St. Anthony’s Italian Family Feast Returns To Roselle Park In June
ROSELLE PARK- Church of the Assumption will present its annual St. Anthony Italian Family Feast again this summer, offering homemade cooking, an Italian style café, food vendors, non-stop entertainment and music, amusements, and games. The events, located on the Church grounds at 113 Chiego Place, Roselle Park, will begin on Thursday, June 6 and ru...
Philadelphia's Historic Italian Market Photo Book Project
A one-of-a-kind photo book that takes you inside of the oldest continuously operating open air street market in the US. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PHOTO-BOOK PROJECT FOR PHILLY'S HISTORIC ITALIAN MARKET We are asking for your support of this Kickstarter Project to complete the printing of the Italian Market Photo Book, titled "Philadelphia's...
Hoboken church prepares to host annual Italian festival this month
St. Ann Church will host its annual Italian festival from July 23 to July 27. The bonanza will consist of rides, games, crafts, raffles and nightly entertainment. The week's festivities will kick off on Wednesday with Sinatra Idol, and Dave Arellano and the Bill Wilkinson Orchestra. Thursday is Latino Night with Ray Rodriquez y Swing Sabro...
Mary Torrieri, radio host
by Jacques Kelly Mary Torrieri, the host of an Italian-American radio program who was also active in local charities, died of heart failure Dec. 29 at Riderwood Village in Rockville. The former Towson resident was 94. Born Mary Nagro in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of Joseph Nagro, a stonemason, and Agatha "Ida" DiBrigida Na...
Saluting our Veterans: William Tini
by Anne Neborak For William Tini there is no greater country than America. One of 10 children of Italian immigrants, Tini joined the service when he was 16 years old. He had only one regret, he never received his diploma from Coaldale High School. "I wanted to make sure this great country of ours, that the USA would be a winner an...