Italian Heritage In Essex County: 2 Honorees Have Ties To Newark
Two community leaders in Essex County with ties to Newark were recently honored at the county’s annual Italian American Heritage Month celebration. The 2023 event – held last week at the Essex County Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building – paid tribute to Sallyanne Floria, a retired Essex County assignment judge, and Ralph Ciallella, a retired E...
Free three-day festival of Italian cinema spotlights nine new and notable films
New Italian Cinema Events and Penn Cinema & Media Studies, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia, PI-Philly, Penn Italian Studies, and the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, present the 2023 edition of New Italian Cinema Events film festival. The festival has been curated by Nicola M Gentili (Penn, Cinema & Media...
100-year-old South Philly native still living adventurously
Joe Schiavo is ready for the next party. The South Philly native and World War II veteran who was known as “Joe the Butcher” at his former grocery store on Oregon Avenue, recently turned 100 years old. And he’s showing no signs of slowing down. His family and friends celebrated his incredible accomplishments and longevity during a birthday party in...
UNICO’S fall festival in Rehoboth will benefit area needy
The Rehoboth Area chapter of UNICO will hold its second annual festa d’autunno at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 in the St. Edmund Parish Hall on King Charles Avenue. This event will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society to support their programs of assistance for local residents in need. The program will include an Italian dinner with wine and other beverages,...
Essex County honors Nutley priest during Italian Heritage Month
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners honored Father Thomas D. Nicastro, V.F., M.Div., pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish in Nutley, at its annual Italian Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, Oct. 5. The event is held yearly to celebrate the accomplishments of men and women of Italian heritage and honor outstanding Essex County citizens for...
Memories of an Italian-American Thanksgiving in Philly
Ever since I was a kid growing up in Southwest Philly, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I remember how it used to be at our home, with my Sicilian mother preparing the feast for the whole family, immediate and extended. The Thanksgiving meal was kind of unique in an Italian-American household back then, and I’d venture to say it st...
West Orange Holds Italian Flag Raising Ceremony At Town Hall
West Orange town officials, UNICO and the West Orange High School Italian Club recently partnered to hold an Italian flag raising ceremony at Town Hall. The event was emceed by Frank Gonnella of the Orange/West Orange UNICO chapter and welcomed UNICO national president Ralph Contini, who shared the New Jersey history of Italian American Heritage an...
Nutley Parade Organizers, Pastor Honored For Italian Heritage Month
The Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Committee was recently honored for its contributions to the community as part of an annual Italian Heritage Month celebration. The Essex County Board of County Commissioners also paid tribute to another local resident at their 2023 celebration: the Rev. Thomas Nicastro, pastor at St. Ma...
Olyphant Italian American Club holds ribbon cutting, dedication
The Manager of the Italian American Club of Olyphant, Al Luchetti and Mark Zabislak initiated a grant for the PA Facade Program in Lackawanna County. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony took place on Oct. 4 with Olyphant's mayor and council members and Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermack. The Borough of Olyphant made a proclamation to the Italian...
“Pittsburgh Streets 1950s” Book Launch with Michael Rosella
Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA. Join the Italian American Program for a book release celebrating photographer Michael Rosella. A lifelong photographic artist, Rosella turned his lens to his hometown for his new book, “Pittsburgh Streets 1950s.” This remarkable collection of photo...
Italians in America – Our Immigrant Stories: Practice of yoga reinforces the truth of the past and the sacrament of dining together
My grandmom or “mom mom,” Frances Cordua’s family was from the fishing village of Carini near Palermo, Sicily. Her family settled in South Philadelphia at 12th and Catharine streets. Although they spoke Italian, they wanted us to assimilate, so they didn’t pass the language on. But the work ethic – that, they did! The idea of coming here to America...
The project “Villa Firenze Contemporanea” kicks off, bringing the best of contemporary Italian art and design to Washington DC
The project Villa Firenze Contemporanea kicks off with an inauguration on Thursday, October 19th, in the presence of select representatives from the American and Italian-American cultural, media, and economic communities. “It is a formidable initiative of cultural diplomacy and growth,” said Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, “bringing a selecti...