Pittsburgh bets on bocce with events at Heinz History Center and Little Italy Days
Bocce appeals to cultures throughout the world, from Europe to South America. But Italy lays the biggest claim to the pastime that combines elements shared with other leisurely games like bowling and croquet. In the U.S., bocce became most associated with Italian immigrants and has since grown to include fans and enthusiasts across the country.The...
New mural added to Little Italy neighborhood in Erie, PA
The Little Italy neighborhood celebrated their history and culture of the area with the dedication of a new mural. The mural was installed on the exterior of the Odessa’s Place building located on West 18th Street. The mural is also said to provide wayfinding capabilities. The mural was painted by over 100 different community members over three wee...
WV Italian Heritage Festival returns after 2 year hiatus
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is returning to Clarksburg. On Wednesday, the Harrison County Commission granted festival organizers $3,000 in funding. County Commissioner David Hinkle says the festival is not only a staple for Clarksburg but for West Virginia and beyond. “It’s a very impo...
Ties that Remain: Celebrating Guardia Lombardi in Pennsylvania
More than one hundred years ago, a group of Italian immigrants arrived in what is now known as the “Bunker Hill” section of Dunmore, Lackawanna County. These immigrants came from the small Southern Italian town of Guardia Lombardi, located east of the city of Naples in the Province of Avellino, and with them they brought along their traditions, inc...
Hey Paisan! The Italian Festival Is Back In Ocean Township!
The Ocean Township Italian Festival happens this weekend! This year marks the 46th anniversary of the fest. It’s also the 46th anniversary of the The Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean (IAATO) as an organization that is dedicated to children, families and the fostering of the Italian-American heritage and culture. The Italian Ame...
Festa Italiana returns to Bradford with three days of festivities to celebrate the Italian community
Bradford’s annual Festa Italiana is returning from a two-year hiatus. The festivities will include Italian food, live entertainment and fireworks. Mary Ann Colestro is the president of Festa Italiana. She said the event originated from smaller Saint Rocco’s Day celebrations in Bradford’s tight-knit Italian community. The LaStella Lodge and Auxiliar...
United States Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George Raises $20,000 for Church Restoration
The United States Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George held a Southern Italian-style cocktail reception on Friday, July 22, at Macaluso’s in Hawthorne, N.J., to benefit the restoration efforts of the Church of Sant’Agata de’ Goti in Rome, Italy. The event featured His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Patron of the...
Organizers announce plans for Little Italy Days in Bloomfield
The annual Little Italy Days festival will soon be back in Bloomfield. Liberty Avenue from Ella to Gross Streets will transform into the city's largest heritage festival from Aug. 18-21. "Little Italy Days is coming back for the 20th year, and it's going to be a fantastic day of entertainment and Italian pride," said recent KDKA retiree Paul Martin...
A Family Portrait and the Story It Tells
The old saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” can literally apply to my vintage Leto family portrait (circa 1923). Therefore, you might say this famiglia photo of my Italian immigrant grandparents and their second-generation children has a story of at least a thousand words. Many of us who cherish and share our old family photos know th...
Italian festival returning to New Kensington; Vandergrift Festa canceled
One Italian festival is returning to the Alle-Kiski Valley, while another has been canceled, possibly for good. The 41st annual Festa Italiana will be held Friday and Saturday at Mount St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington. The festa, not held since 2019, was replaced by drive-thru lasagna dinners in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronav...
Italian-American Heritage Club donates $1,000 to Paul Kares
The Italian-American Heritage Club of Sussex County recently hosted guest speaker Paul Cullen, a former member of the classic rock band Bad Company, as well as a chef, sommelier and guitarist. Along with Jim Rivette, Cullen founded Paul Kares, a nonprofit supporting the culinary and musical arts, and assisting people in need. Club President Lynn L...
Mezzo-soprano who performs on world stage is 'grounded in Catholic faith'
Shopping at various grocery stores in the Richmond area the early 2000s, customers might have heard a toddler singing in the cart as her mother shopped for her family. Little did they know that the young vocalist in the cereal aisle would one day be performing opera on the international stage and would release her first single recording, "Cinema Pa...