Outrage mounts as Randolph, NJ school board doubles down on nixing Columbus Day
The Italian American One Voice Coalition (“IAOVC”), America’s largest independent Italian American anti-bias organization, has joined with a growing group of Randolph, NJ parents and residents in opposition to the elimination of Columbus Day from local schools. At a recent meeting, the Randolph Board of Education eliminated Columbus Day from the sc...
The Feast Is Back: Popular Hoboken St. Ann's Fest Returns In July
The popular St. Ann's Festival in Hoboken, also known as "The Feast," will make its triumphant return to Hoboken this July after being canceled last summer due to coronavirus, according to an update from the organizers this week on their Facebook page. The traditional Feast of St. Ann has drawn fans from around the country with its nightly live...
What an Italian Jesuit (and Georgetown’s ‘second founder’) thought about democracy and religious freedom in America
In 1818, Giovanni Grassi, S.J., published the first of three Italian-language editions of a pamphlet of his observations of the United States. Georgetown’s Second Founder presents the first English translation of his insights based on his seven years of residence in Washington. This college administrator shared with Italian readers his observations...
Fire Ravages Rectory of Historic St. Lucy's Church in Newark
A two-alarm fire severely damaged the rectory of a historic Newark church that has long been a focal point of the city's Italian-American community. The fire inside the rectory of St. Lucy's Church, located on Seventh Avenue, was first spotted at 2:35 pm on Monday by two Newark police officers on patrol, according to Newark Public Safety Director...
Columbus Day is safe in Jersey City schools -- for now
Christopher Columbus will continue to rule the second Monday in October in Jersey City schools. The Jersey City Board of Education chose not to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day or Italian Heritage Day in the school year calendar for 2021-2022 at its May 27 meeting. BOE President Mussab Ali said Wednesday there needs to be more discuss...
Loved and Lost: Renato Foschini started an Italian restaurant, made a mean apple crisp
A lesson in dichotomy, Renato Foschini tried to blend in but nonetheless stood out. He was a quiet leader, a small powerhouse and a patient busybody, said his wife, Maria Foschini. "They didn't get better than him," she said. "He was a hard worker, kind, generous, giving. He had the patience of a saint." Born in November 1969 in Paterson, Foschini...
Philly grapples with statues of Frank Rizzo, Christopher Columbus, and more a year after protests
The protesters who made their way through Center City on the first day Philadelphia saw mass demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd were looking for places to direct their anger. They came upon the statue of Frank L. Rizzo, the late mayor and police commissioner whose legacy so perfectly captured the style of policing they were fightin...
At 100 years old, Clifton man's memory of WWII attack is still vivid
Just over 76 years after kamikaze pilots nearly sank the USS Bunker Hill, the aircraft carrier he was serving on, Frank Petriello was feted Thursday in his adopted hometown of Clifton. Petriello, who turned 100 in March, represents the fewer than 9,000 living New Jersey World War II veterans, members of what journalist Tom Brokaw dubbed "The Great...
St. Ubaldo Day celebrations held in Jessup
Thousands of people typically take to the streets in Lackawanna County for Memorial Day weekend for the annual St. Ubaldo Day festivities. For the second year in a row, it was canceled due to the pandemic. However, that did not stop the St. Ubaldo Society in Jessup from celebrating all together. The festival has been held in conjunction with one in...
La Festa Italiana to return
After a summer off because of COVID-19, the popular Labor Day weekend festival will return Sept. 3 through 6 to its usual environs on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. This will be the 45th La Festa Italiana. "It was nice to have a year off," joked Chris DiMattio, active in organizing the food and entertainment festival since 1988, and presid...
Giuseppe Verdi Lecture by Francesco Izzo | Ti presento Giuseppe Verdi a cura di Francesco Izzo
Musician and composer, farmer, patron, inventor of the copyright and “historical” figure: Francesco Izzo narrates Giuseppe Verdi, whose music is the most performed worldwide and who had to fight censorship throughout his life. We invite you to join us for Giuseppe Verdi Lecture by Francesco Izzo – click the link below to register to the community o...
John Basilone Parade To Return For 2021 After COVID Cancellation
Raritan's Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade is back this year following last year's cancelation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The parade will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. in downtown Raritan, said Co-chairman of the Basilone Parade Bruce Doorly. Registration to march in the parade is now by computer only. No more postcards will be se...