St. Ann’s Italian Festival: A 112 Year Tradition Continues in Hoboken, New Jersey
In 1910, immigrants from Monte San Giacomo, Province of Salerno Italy, began a tradition of faith and fellowship in Hoboken, New Jersey that has endured for 112 years – the St. Ann Italian Festival. This evening is the first night of the 9-day novena in honor of St. Ann at the church that bears her name. The novena mass is presided over by a diff...
St. Ann's Festival 2022 Kicks Off In Hoboken Next Friday
The five-day St. Ann's Italian Festival, One of Hoboken's most loved annual events — and one well-known enough that it lured Frank Sinatra back to town in 1984 while campaigning with Pres. Ronald Reagan — returns this Friday night, likely with a more packed schedule than last year's scaled-down version. There will be DJ's each night spinning tunes,...
Dover names street after WWI veteran
Mayor Carolyn Blackman and the Board of Aldermen have named Liberty Street in honor of Domenico Cicchetti. Born in 1896 in Pizzioli, Italy, Domenico Cicchetti moved to Dover in 1913 at seventeen years old. He was the first soldier to enlist in the Army from Dover and served in the Army Infantry in World War I. He was awarded the Purple Heart for hi...
Local Woman Speaks about Trenton in Newark City Hall
The Deputy Mayor of the Newark Mayor’s Office of International Relations and Diaspora, Ligia S. De Freitas, invited Cav. Dr. Gilda Rorro to attend and give remarks at the Sister City Signing Ceremony between the City of Newark and the Comune of Spilinga, in Calabria, Italy. The virtual event took place on 6 July in the Newark City Hall’s Press Room...
Italian students and teachers at the Italian Embassy for “Storia e memorie” project
As part of the project “Storia e memorie” (history and memories), on Monday, July 11, the Embassy of Italy welcomed a group of 15 Italian students and 6 teachers from high schools in Sardinia and Friuli. The project is promoted by the “Commissione per la Biblioteca e l’Archivio Storico del Senato della Repubblica” (Commission for the Library and th...
For jazz pioneers, S. Philly is where the journey began
If all the world’s a stage, South Philadelphia’s Italian community has provided it with an estimable list of players. Vocalists like Buddy Greco and Al Martino. Rock ‘n roll pioneers Charlie Gracie and Danny Cedrone, lead guitarist for Bill Haley and The Comets. Teen heart-throbs Bobby Rydell, Fabian, Frankie Avalon and James Darren from the Bandst...
Inside Vin DePeppo’s man cave, a journey back in time
There’s no one quite like Vin DePeppo. He stands a bit over six feet tall and wears his signature side part coif as he proudly shows visitors his man cave or walks around the weekly Saturday Car Cruise at Friendly’s, which he helps direct. You’d never guess he’s 81. To call his man cave “one of a kind” doesn’t come close to doing it justice, so we’...
Mt. Carmel Festival is Back July 13-17: Fireworks, Food & Family Fun
It’s time again for the annual Mt. Carmel Feast, a five-day festival full of food, music, games, rides, fireworks, and other family fun, located at Mt. Carmel Field in Berkeley Heights. The fairgrounds will be open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 through Sunday, July 17. Those five nights will include concerts, games, and traditional I...
Competing San Rocco Festas scheduled; one near mall, another at a Center Twp. church
Mired in a leadership dispute related to money, factions of two groups vow to hold separate San Rocco Festas this August. Those competing Italian festivals would take place on the same dates, but in different locations. One San Rocco Festa is set for Aug. 12-14 at a new location; a "field next to the Beaver Valley Auto Mall," at 750 Beaver Valley M...
Spilinga and Newark, NJ: twinning between the two towns in remembrance of the many Calabrian emigrants
Calabria growing closer to the U.S. through the link between emigrants and their homeland. The Tricolor and the American flag fly over Italy Square, while the city of Spilinga marching band performs the two national anthems. There is Mayor Enzo Marasco, Vice Mayor Franco Barbalace and the full city council, but above all the people of Spilinga at t...
Mourning Father Joe Capella
The Reverend Joseph P. Capella, a beloved Catholic priest who served as pastor, a teacher and a chaplain and rector at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, the rector of Camden Catholic High School as well as serving as a member and chaplain of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society and as the former chaplain of the New Jersey Sons of Italy and the Sons...
Celebrating the Feast of St. John
On June 23, the St. John the Baptist Society celebrated their 112th Feast of St. John with a Mass and a procession. The event was held at St. Joseph Church, located on Third Street and French Streets. The Mass for the Feast of St. John started at around 6:30 p.m. Attendees came and prayed and received blessings. The atmosphere of St. Joseph Church...