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Patchogue’s largest celebration of Italian heritage is all set for its return to Main Street next month. Hosted by the Greater Patchogue Foundation, the 57th annual Italian Feast of Saint Liberata Festival is on Sept. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. in downtown Patchogue. The traditional procession begins at noon in front of the Suffolk County District Cour...

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You’re familiar with Charles Lindbergh, but probably not Giuseppe Mario Bellanca. The Italian aviation pioneer, designer, and engineer who ran a flying school in Mineola, NY, for a period of time was born in Sciacca, Italy, and left an indelible mark on aviation and Long Island history in the 1920s. He is most notable for building the plane that ma...

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My father was ashamed of his Italian heritage. I hate to say that, but it’s true.  Allow me to start at the beginning: His mother, Assunta Bevevino, immigrated to the United States from Calabria, Italy, in the early 20th century, along with countless other Europeans. I believe she was in her teens. She married his father, Phillip Paone, who was Ame...

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On June 8, Venchi, the renowned Italian chocolate and gelato maker—which many people know from trips to Italy—opened its first Chocogelateria on Long Island at Roosevelt Field. It is located on the main level in the Macy’s wing across from the Apple Store. With 145 years of expertise in chocolate making, Venchi’s history dates back to 1878 when Sil...

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Anthony Ventiera, a doo-wop singer who performed at many venues throughout Long Island with his group, Time Was, and who established Tony V Productions, died on May 8, 2024. He was 80 years old. Mr. Ventiera, known as Tony, was born in Brooklyn on December 22, 1943, to Angela and Carmine Ventiera. He attended Queen of All Saints High School in Broo...

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Each year, through the prestigious Donna Distinta Award, we honor women of Italian descent to spotlight their contributions, from culture and industry to philanthropy and activism. The second 2024 Donna Distinta Award goes to Cav. Josephine Maietta.  For the past seven years, Cav. Josephine Maietta has produced and hosted the radio talk show "Sabat...

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Elaine Micali compared the sensation of stepping into her new East Setauket restaurant for its soft opening on Monday night to “an out-of-body experience.” “What I said to my friends was that it was like having a wedding, a baby and moving into a new home all on the same day,” she said. “Those emotions were so overwhelming.” The April 4 opening of ...

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Fans of the instantly popular Flora’s Pizza Cafe in Syosset will have cause for celebration this spring with the opening of their newest location, Flora’s Wine Bar & Restaurant, in Port Washington. Flora’s, owned by the husband-and-wife team Ervis and Gabriella Xhelaj, both hailing from Italy, was founded in 2023 and offers a menu featuring pizza,...

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When: Wednesday, April 10th from 6:30 to 8 pm - Where: Galleria at the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere  La Dolce Vita: Fantasy and Modernity in Italian Cinema of the 1960s  As a dramatic departure from the gritty realism of Italy’s Neorealist films of the 1940s and 1950s, Italian cinema of the 1960s embraces modernism and the director...

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Chris Vaccaro, the executive director of the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island, spoke about preserving Italian heritage and culture today at the annual conference for the Long Island Chapter of the American Association of Italian Teachers. “I told them emphatically that we will advocate to protect and maintain Italian language progra...

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