From Grinding Poverty to Farms and Factories: Anthony Riccio Returns to the New Haven Museum for Stories of the Italian American Women of Connecticut
Comparing her life as a cigar maker in New Haven to her grueling labors as a taglialegna, or lumberman, in 1930s Italy, Michelina Venditti can't help chuckling at the contrast. Venditti's remarkable account of felling trees to make charcoal is just one of many riveting oral histories collected by author Anthony Riccio for his newest book, "Farms, F...
Local poet Walter Valeri joins Poets’ Theatre in Cambridge
Local poet Walter Valeri recently became the first and only Italian to be elected to the Poets' Theatre advisory board. Through this prestigious organization based in Cambridge, Valeri will be working on bringing a Dario Fo Festival to the area in 2016, on the occasion of Fo's 90th birthday and the 30th anniversary of Fo' and Franca Rame's groundb...
Litchfield: Author presents “Italian American Women of Connecticut” Sept. 13
Join the Litchfield Historical Society on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. for a lecture by author Anthony Riccio, who will be discussing his new book Farms, Factories, and Families: Italian American Women of Connecticut. This oral history collection offers new insights into the Italian American experience, told from the women's perspective. In...
Ronald Tarentino Jr. Massachusetts Police Officer shot dead
By Ross Hinds The man suspected of killing a Massachusetts police officer has been shot and killed by law enforcement. Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was conducting a traffic stop on Rochdale Street in Auburn when an occupant of the vehicle opened fire on him as he approached the car early Sunday morning. Police say the shooter, id...
Giorno della memoria: a Boston l’omaggio a Primo Levi promosso da PIB e Consolato
In occasione del Giorno della Memoria, istituito dal Governo italiano ogni 27 gennaio, data dell'abbattimento dei cancelli di Auschwitz, l'associazione Professionisti Italiani a Boston, in collaborazione con il Consolato Generale d'Italia, il Consolato Generale d'Israele in New England, l'American Jewish Committee e la Boston University, ha organiz...
I melillesi di Middletown
di Chiara Privitera Dalla seconda metà dell'800 alla prima metà del '900 molte famiglie melillesi emigrarono fuori dall'Italia, spossati dalla situazione di povertà che si viveva nella Sicilia di allora. Il lavoro nei campi non bastava per sopravvivere, per questo alcune famiglie decisero di partire per cercare fortuna all'estero. Nel cors...
Greater New Haven's 'Most Italian' Roots Run Deep
In 1889, when Hartford resident Mark Twain wrote "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," the main character, Hank Morgan, already represented a waning demographic. The Irish had been crashing ashore in green waves for half a century, along with other immigrants. But the 1890s would be the decade of the Italians, who surged into Conn...
Time to eat: Italian fest July 29-31 in Southington
Local Italian women's club Sorelle d'Italia in America has joined with the Sons of Italy and Unico to make the 12th annual Italian American Festival, which returns July 29 to 31, bigger and better than ever. "We have been around for six years and this is our first year joining as co-sponsor," said club member Gianna Mennone. "As one of the thr...
Candidates host pasta dinner
Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito hosted more than 175 friends and supporters to a pasta dinner at the Shrewsbury Italian-American Victory Club on Dewey Street Dec. 28. Later than evening they visited the Lakeside Bar and Grille. Donations benefited Polito's 2014 campaign for lt. governor. &nbs...
Town woman makes history with RI Italo-American Club
Making history is nothing new for the Italo-American Club of Rhode Island. After all, the proud Providence-based society is the oldest Italian chartered club in the United States. It was founded in 1896 and filed its charter with the state of Rhode Island in 1899. However, the club – which is housed inside the former and historic Berarduc...
Quattro Eroi Lodge in Franklin installs officers
The Quattro Eroi Lodge #1414, Order Sons of Italy in America installed its officers for the 2015 – 2017 term at its April 19 meeting. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts State Deputy Joanne Ciannavei lead the installation of 15 officers with assistance from the State Orator and National Delegate Denise Furnari and First Vice President Antonio Sestito...
Gloucester celebrates its heritage with ‘A Night in Italy’
by Wendy Killeen You can spend "A Night in Italy" at the Antonio Gentile Bandstand at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on Sunday, Aug. 16. The free concert, presented by the Cape Ann Community Band under the direction of David Benjamin, features a variety of Italian favorites. The band is joined by two solo vocalists, soprano Kathle...