How a team member discovered his long-lost family through flight privileges
Raymond DiBiasi, a flight attendant based in Philadelphia, always knew Sicilian heritage was in his blood, but he never knew it would become a living part of his story. His grandfather emigrated to the U.S. more than a century ago, and family lore suggested no relatives remained in Sicily. But in 2015, his genealogy research revealed a thrilling tr...
Pier 53 on the Delaware River
Although, less prominent than New York’s Ellis Island, Philadelphia was home to what was once the third largest immigration port in the country: Pier 53 on the Delaware River. It was in 1873 that the Washington Avenue Immigration Station began its operations. Arriving immigrants first disembarked at Lazaretto Station at Essington for health inspect...
121-Year-Old South Philadelphia Bakery to Undergo Expansion for First Time
Isgro Pastries, the 121-year-old South Philadelphia bakery that has been a staple at the Italian Market, is set to undergo its first-ever expansion, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The bakery is planning to open a new 18,000-square-foot to 20,000-square-foot facility in South Philadelphia and relocate there. The new wareh...
Philadelphia family carries on palm-weaving tradition in the Italian Market
On a rainy Thursday, stationed at a stand in the Italian Market, Victoria Ciliberti patiently weaves tough, green fronds together. She is a “palm lady” carrying on an ancient tradition. “I’m the third generation doing the weaving,” Ciliberti, 34, said. “So my great-grandmother and my great-aunt are the ones who taught me. My mom carried it on, and...
Molto Bene! Ravioli Co. producing prolific amounts of pasta
Andy Polhemus turned his passion for pasta into a business. Since its inception, Molto Bene! Ravioli Co. has grown from a food truck to farmer's markets and a brick and mortar shop on Frankfurt Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. Andy's love for pasta can be traced to his Italian American roots, growing up in a family that made pasta by hand and took a lot...
COPOMIAO delivers cogent appeal to preserve Columbus Day in Philadelphia
COPOMIAO is proud to share an important update in our fight to keep Columbus Day alive in Philadelphia. After our earlier wins — where our outstanding national counsel, George Bochetto of Bochetto & Lentz, P.C., forced the City of Philadelphia to take down a wooden box that obscured the Christopher Columbus statue from public view and thwarted an i...
Author Maria Laurino Presents Her Book on an Adoption Program from Italy to the US after WWII
Born in New Jersey to an Italian American family, journalist and writer Maria Laurino has published several books about the identity and experience of Italian immigrants and their descendants in the U.S. (most notably the companion volume to theThe Italian Americans, the PBS documentary series directed by John Maggio), with specific attention to th...
DiLiberto Honored with ABA Muskie Award
Richard A. DiLiberto, Jr., Chairman of the Delaware Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture has been selected to receive the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s ("TIPS") Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award. This award recognizes an ABA member who exhibits the qualities attributed to the late Senator Muskie, who...
Italian Research and Excellence Night 2025
The Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia is pleased to host the 2025 edition of the Research and Excellence Night on April 25th, 2025 from 6 to 8 PM at 1818 Market Street, 9th floor, Philadelphia. The agenda: - 6:00 PM: Opening Remarks: Cristiana Mele, Consul General of Italy- 6:10 PM: ISSNAF-PND - Introduction- 6:20 PM: Business Session- How...
Bon Jovi feuds with Jersey Shore mayor over eatery for the poor
On a silver horse he rides to the rescue of the homeless and hungry. Jon Bon Jovi is not backing down in his mission to feed the poor even after a mayor in his home state slammed the singer for turning a public library into a “day shelter and soup kitchen.” Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick bashed county commissioners for allowing Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul...
The Symphony of Life: Mother-Daughter Duo Drs. Gilda and Mary Rorro Receive “Ten for Trenton” Award at Capitol Philharmonic Concert
Drs. Gilda and Mary Rorro are set to receive a mother-daughter duo honor for the Ten for Trenton Award for contributions to our community. The Award will be presented to the Honorees at the Capitol Philharmonic Drama & Irony Italian-themed concert on Saturday, April 12th at 7:30pm at the historic Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J...
Fortunata’s Bakery Celebrates 10 Years of Baking Tradition and Community Spirit
Fortunata’s Bakery, a beloved local bakery in Milford (DE), marked a milestone on March 26 as it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Milford Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Archie Campbell, and many loyal customers. Owned and operated by Ruth Clifton, Fortunata’s Bakery has become a cherished fixture in the com...