Editorial: Former Mayor Zullo, a Norwalk icon
He was, by all accounts, the epitome of the passionate public servant, a tireless leader and peacemaker who piloted Norwalk safely through the Civil Rights Movement, an era of racial violence nearly everywhere but here. The youngest mayor in the city’s history at 33 and its first Italian-American one, Democrat Frank Zullo served three terms from 19...
Colarusso Announces Candidacy For State Representative
After much encouragement from constituents, friends, and supporters, Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso of Stoneham officially announced her campaign for State Representative for the 31st Middlesex District that consists of the towns of Stoneham and Winchester."Today I announce my candidacy for State Representative," said Colarusso. "Stoneham and Winch...
Maria Terrone and Marisa Frasca - An evening of poetry
Saturday June 9, 6PM to 8PM EDT. I Am Books - 189 North St, Boston 02113 Marisa Frasca is a bilingual poet, translator, book reviewer and the author of Via Incanto: Poems from the Darkroom. Her work has been widely published in literary journals and anthologies. Maria Terrone, poetry editor of the journal Italian Americana, is the author of the poe...
Downtown Fitchburg transforming into Little Italy
Downtown will seem like Little Italy this Saturday for the inaugural Festa Della Reppublica, Fitchburg's Italian Festival. "I'm always interested in anything that's going to make downtown buzz," said Tamar Russell Brown, gallery owner, founder and lead curator for Gallery Sitka. The festival will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. this Saturday on Main Stre...
Double author event: Anthony Riccio and Stephanie Longo
Saturday June 2, 4pm - 6 pm EDT. I Am Books - 189 North St, Boston 02113. Double author event celebrating two Italian American communities. Anthony Riccio - From Italy to the North End. Taken together, the photographs in From Italy to the North End document the arc of the Italian American experience on both sides of the Atlantic. Stephanie Longo -...
Frank Zullo, former Norwalk mayor, dies at 85
Frank N. Zullo, a lifelong Norwalker, local attorney and three-term Democratic mayor who steered the city through the turbulent 1960s and later ran for governor, has died. He was 85. Zullo died peacefully at Norwalk Hospital on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Berenice (Fischler) Zullo, their daughter, Lesley Anne, and several nieces and nephew...
Patron saints’ societies supported immigrants
The Wooster Square that I grew up in was almost totally populated by immigrants from the Campania region of Italy, towns and villages below Naples and in fairly close proximity to each other. I often wondered how they happened to settle in that particular neighborhood and discovered that it was a combination of family and work availability. Of cour...
Children's book explains, fundraises for Fiesta
Every year, St. Peter’s Fiesta committee members try to do something special to mark the festival which takes place annual at the end of June. The special happening this year will be the release of "Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta?" The illustrated children’s book shares the meaning of the traditions of Gloucester’s St. Peter’s Fiesta and is sch...
Remembering Joe LaFauci
Few are left who remember Joe, but those that are still around who knew him will never forget him. He was a giant of a man, both physically and intellectually. He was a willing and most capable teacher of math, Latin, Greek, history, religion, opera and current events and everything else, it seemed. He had a considerable personal library. Joe was a...
Pittsfield School Committee to Reconsider Indigenous Peoples Day
The School Committee will reconsider its decision to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day after the Italian-American community voiced outrage at the decision. The School Committee in January voted to make the change on the school calendar. But, that brought out the ire of the Italian-American community who showed up in numbers at both this...
St. Gabe’s Lodge celebrating 90 years of fun and service in Stowe
Ninety years ago, a group of residents with Italian heritage founded St. Gabriel’s Lodge and helped to found the Catholic church of the same name. On Saturday, June 2, the lodge, located at 535 Jefferson Ave., will celebrate this anniversary by inviting the public in for a family style Italian feast. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m....
Italian-Americans urge Pittsfield School Committee to restore Columbus Day
History is imperfect, but still, it should be honored. That's the message that about 30 members of various Italian-heritage groups sent to the School Committee during its meeting Wednesday. They urged committee members to restore Columbus Day in the school calendar. But committee members pushed back, prompting a neighborly exchange about ethnicity,...