North End native who cooked for Frank Sinatra, Elvis, fought in WWII, recognized in new memoir
When George Mather, of Raynham, reflects on his close friendship with Paul Posti, a personal chef for Frank Sinatra, a prevailing thought comes to mind. “The most notable thing to me was he was a great Patriot,” Mather said of Posti during an interview with the Herald. “He loved this country … defended this country.” Posti, a North End native, boas...
GNH Italian American Heritage Festival Honorees Recognized
(Pictured, from left): Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee Treasurer Sal Decola, committee member Mike Luzzi, Mayor Dorinda Borer, and newly sashed honorees Celia Pinzi and Mark Consorte are all smiles at the committee’s Kickoff Dinner at Cielo Banquet Hall on Wednesday. The fundraising dinner recognized Consorte, a longtime s...
Immigrant Family Monument Installed
After a four-year journey, an Italian-American immigrant family landed in Wooster Square Park on Monday, pointing to both the past and the future. The family — representing the Italian-American immigrants who settled in New Haven a century ago and transformed Wooster Square into the city’s Little Italy — is depicted in a solid bronze statue entitle...
Boston and Rome mayors sign declaration to foster cultural and economic bonds
In a step aimed at bolstering transatlantic connections, Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu and Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri inked a Declaration of Intent yesterday, heralding a new dawn for cultural and economic synergy between the historic cities, according to Boston's official news release. At Rome City Hall, the leaders put pen to paper on a document...
BCMA, Higginbotham unearth “Etruscan Gifts”
Almost all that the Etruscans left behind was left in their graves: Little else of their civilization remains. Scholars know they were fantastic plumbers—they built the first major sewer in what is now Rome, known as the Cloaca Maxima, and drained much of the swamp where the city now stands. Historians also believe it was from the Etruscans that th...
Stamford officials may reverse decision to have students in school for Columbus and Veterans days
A controversial move to hold school on both Columbus and Veterans Day in Stamford is likely to be reversed because it will cost the district money. The Board of Education is expected to conduct a revote on the school calendar for the next two school years on Tuesday night that would bring both holidays back as days off for students and staff. "Th...
Local History: Italian immigrants helped build the local infrastructure
A prominent feature of the Brattleboro Water System is the Pleasant Valley Reservoir. It was constructed in 1909 and has become the main source of public water for the community. In September 1909, the Vermont Phoenix wrote, “Any person who has not visited the site of the reservoir which is being constructed in Pleasant Valley as a storage basin fo...
'I know I'll get by this': Senate President Ruggerio breaks silence on health, rumors of a coup
One of the most powerful men in Rhode Island has cancer. As a proud − and some close to him say "stubborn" − 75-year-old Italian man who has been a part of Rhode Island's political life for more than four decades, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio was not keen on talking about his health − or the very private conversation he had about it with his...
WH To Host Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival
West Haven is the host community for October’s Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival. Kicking off the festivities is a dinner from 6-10 p.m. May 15 at West Haven’s Cielo Banquet Hall, 85 Chase Lane, where the city will recognize this year’s grand marshal, longtime resident Mark Consorte. Mayor Dorinda Borer, who tapped Consorte, said...
Giovanni da Verrazzano, La Dauphine, and the Discovery of Narragansett Bay
The land that is now the State of Rhode Island was first settled by Europeans in July 1621, however, this was not the first time that Europeans had visited and spent time in the area. That distinction belongs to Giovanni da Verrazzano and the crew of La Dauphine who explored the area in 1524 and spent 15 days with members of the Narragansett and Wa...
Anna Francese Gass - Italian Snacking
When: Wednesday, May 22 · 6:30 - 7:30pm EDT - Where: I AM Books, 124 Salem Street Boston, MA 02113 United States In her new cookbook, Italian Snacking: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Hour of the Day (Union Square & Co.; March 19, 2024; $35.00/hardcover), chef, author and culinary influencer Anna Francese Gass invites food lovers and home cooks...
Making It in America
Recently, while conducting family genealogy research, I came across an intriguing 70-page handbook titled the “Guide to the United States for the Immigrant Italian” by John Foster Carr. I immediately thought of my paternal and maternal Italian ancestors who achieved their westward destiny during the Great Arrival with the help of such organizations...