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Viva la Panza, “hooray for the stomach” or “joy to the belly” according to an article published March 29, 1943 in the Akron Beacon Journal, described the event as a tradition to eat until your knife and fork scream for help! Started a few years earlier before the outbreak of WWII by local Italian immigrants, now U.S. citizens, to provide political...

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Mangia! The Italian-American fest in and around Lock 3 in downtown Akron will run Thursday-Saturday. Food vendors will set up and music will include Straight On, a Heart tribute band, at 8 p.m. Thursday; Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band, at 8:30 p.m. Friday; and a Frankie Valli tribute band at 8:30 p.m. Saturday followed by fireworks. Ac...

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The Sons of Italy, Akron Lodge 685 held its initiation/scholarship dinner on May 2 at The Venue in Tallmadge. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee that reviews GPA, recommendations, accomplishments and activities, and essays on their career choice and their Italian heritage. Zachary Conti, son of John and Andrea Conti, was awarded a s...

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Usually what makes a particular spot hot is what it has: A pool table, really cheap booze, good cheap food, hip and energetic atmosphere, or perhaps a wide variety of “hotties.” But for some folks — particularly those of a certain age — what raises a spot’s temperature is what it doesn’t have: Constantly blaring music, too many intrusive TV screens...

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The City of Akron may be getting a new holiday, but City Council wants a little more time to think about it. Seventh- and eighth-graders and faculty from The Lippman School in West Akron turned out Jan. 22 to present a proposal to put First People’s Day on the calendar.  They, along with representatives of the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Montana an...

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Akron City Council split along racial lines as a resolution meant to heal divided. Councilman Russ Neal introduced language Monday that would have recognized the second Monday in October not as Columbus Day but Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The swap is meant to honor the contributions of Native Americans and recognize that “the first voyage of Columbus...

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Akron could soon abolish Columbus Day — what some in a deeply divided America equate to yet another celebration of slavery and white oppression. City Councilman Russ Neal is proposing that the Oct. 12 holiday honoring Christopher Columbus’ fateful and first American landing in 1492 be changed to Indigenous People’s Day to celebrate Native American...

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From pastries to pasta and pizza, Italian food was the focus of the Italian-American Festival at Lock 3 Park, which took place July 13-15. Those who attended the annual event could walk through a midway of booths and trailers offering a range of Italian specialties and other festival favorites. Shown at right is the Corbo’s Bakery booth as an emplo...

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The 7th annual Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk steps off on July 15 at Lock 3. The event, held in conjunction with the Summit County Italian-American Festival, benefits the Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial Foundation, which supports organizations that were important to the late Teodosio, including the Akron Children's Museum, Stew...

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Donatella was born and raised in the Lazio region of Italy. In 1993 she moved to the USA leaving all of her family and friends behind. At first her new life with her husband in Akron, Ohio was not easy; she felt very lonely and out of place. It took her quite some time to familiarize herself with the new cultural aspects and traditions.   Lo...

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