House passes bill to rename parts of Paterson Great Falls after late Bill Pascrell, Jr.
The House of Representatives passed legislation on May 13 to rename two sites at Paterson Great Falls National Park in honor of late Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. announced. The two locations would be Bill Pascrell, Jr. Scenic Overlook Trail Bridge and Bill Pascrell, Jr. Overlook Park. The bill now moves to the Senate for...
Ciattarelli taps fellow Paisans, pledges to save Columbus Day in New Jersey
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli pledged his support for Columbus Day and Italian American traditions during remarks at the annual Paisan Convention, held over the weekend in Rutherford. The event, known informally as "PaisanCon," drew hundreds of Italian Americans from across New Jersey to celebrate cultural heritage with food,...
South Philadelphia priest who introduced Pope Leo XIV to Rome says new pontiff is "just a great guy"
The Rev. Paul Galetto once showed a young Robert Prevost around the city of Rome — decades later, Prevost held his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel as Pope Leo XIV, the first pope in the Catholic Church's history to be born in the United States. Galetto, the pastor at St. Paul Church in South Philadelphia's Italian Market, once lived with Prevost....
Ancient Rome and the USA. In Washington, a dialogue with Aldo Cazzullo hosted by Ambassador Zappia
The endless legacy of Ancient Rome and its influence on the contemporary world was the theme of a dialogue hosted in Washington by the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia. The conversation featured Aldo Cazzullo, one of Italy’s most esteemed and influential journalists and writers, and Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington Corresp...
Meet the Mysterious Renaissance Muse Immortalized in the Only Leonardo da Vinci Painting in the Americas
Immortalized by Leonardo da Vinci in a 15th-century portrait now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Ginevra de’ Benci was a celebrated beauty of the Italian Renaissance. Her likeness—the only da Vinci painting on permanent view in the Americas—was created with oil paints on a flat panel of wood between about 1474 and 1478. A...
Italians in America – Our Immigrant Stories: From coast of Italy to Jersey Shore, seafood empire still swimming after 100 years
Danielle La Monica La Vecchia Rauso’s ancestors immigrated from Palermo in the 1890s. Her great-grandparents Peter and Mary La Monica started their small fish store at the market on 13th Avenue in Brooklyn in 1923. At the time there wasn’t a Garden State Parkway and very few bridges, so they eventually wound up moving the family operation to the Ca...
Amerigo Vespucci Society Honors Deceased Members at Annual Memorial Mass
The Amerigo Vespucci Society (AVS) of Long Branch, New Jersey, held its annual memorial service this past Sunday, May 5, at Holy Trinity Church of Christ the King Parish, an Italian parish within the Diocese of Trenton. The solemn event, a tradition spanning decades, honors the deceased members of the historic fraternal organization. The Catholic M...
Immigrants, business owners who built South Philadelphia's Italian Market honored in new murals
South Philadelphia's 9th Street Market is getting ready to host its annual Italian Market Festival next month. And with it comes some new displays of public art. The festival is coming up on May 17, but this weekend, three murals will be unveiled on South 9th Street. They depict some of the market's founders who helped shape it since the very begi...
Filitalia International Re-Elects Saverio Nestico as President and Announces New Board Leadership
Filitalia International, the nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Italian language and culture founded by Dr Pasquale Nestico in 1987, proudly announces the re-election of Saverio Nestico as its President during its biennial convention. Nestico, first elected as the 7th President in 2023, was unanimously re-elected...
WVIHF names 46th Regina Maria at annual Spring Gala
The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival named the 46th Regina Maria at their annual spring gala Saturday in Clarksburg. This year the honor goes to Farmington native and singer Franchesca Rose Aloi. The ceremony began with the introduction of the minor, junior, and senior courts along with the maids of honor. Last year’s Reginia Maria passed th...
Celebrate at the S. 9th Street Italian Market Festival
For one weekend each year, the nation’s oldest outdoor continuous market transforms into Philadelphia’s largest block party. With more than 120 vendors, live entertainment, and an action-packed schedule of activities, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival will once again showcase the rich history and culture of this historic Philly landmark...
"From Calabria to Carnegie: Music for Bread" Book Presentation
Thursday, May 22, 6 p.m. - Heinz History Center - 1212 Smallman Street - Pittsburgh, PA. Free to the public. Author Mary Ferro in conversation with Melissa E. Marinaro, director of the Italian American Program. Ferro's memoir, "From Calabria to Carnegie: Music for Bread" is a true story tracing the Ferro family’s remarkable journey across continent...