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Fifty years ago, the city of Brockton was dealt a sucker punch. Hank Tartaglia remembers that horrible night in the summer of '69 like it was yesterday, as he was closing down his little Italian restaurant called Enrico's on Legion Parkway, and the phone rang with a call from a buddy working the graveyard shift at the Brockton Police Department. Th...

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A once in a generation celebration came to fruition for the 100th Anniversary of the Saint Anthony’s Feast as the gold-adorned statue emerged for its centennial to the faithful under the glory of confetti and streamers. The largest Italian festival in New England attracted hundreds of thousands over the weekend to honor San Antonio and participate...

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One Budweiser draught and a bag of peanuts. That’s all Col. Mike Matondi would have at the Franklin Elks Lodge #2136, where he visited every day in the late afternoon. He never paid a dime for those beers. That’s because whenever he entered the bar room, members would elbow each other out of the way to pay for his drink, said Joanie Casey, the Elks...

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On the night before the Red Arrows flew over Boston Harbor, it was a flight of a more spiritual kind in Boston’s North End with the annual Flight of the Angel capping off the grand finale of the 109th Fisherman’s Feast in honor of Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca. The 2019 Flying Angel was Victoria Carregal with side angels Mia Graffeo and Gianna Pu...

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On April 15, 1920, a double murder set off a sequence of events that led to the controversial, and later declared unjust, trial convictions of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. Their execution on August 23, 1927 is blamed on anti-Italian prejudice and fear of their anarchist political beliefs. The charges against Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Van...

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After 50 years, Maria Merola has decided to retire and close Maria’s Pastry Shop at 46 Cross Street in Boston’s North End. The last day of business will be September 15, 2019. Tucked away on Cross Street, Maria’s was a local favorite with authentic, homemade offerings and a sanctuary from the Mike’s vs. Modern cannoli wars on Hanover Street. The 66...

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Thursday, August 29, 7pm. Tewksbury Public Library300 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA. Learn practical and proven Italian family history research strategies from professional genealogist, Jenny Tonks. Italian civil jurisdictions and vital records practices will be discussed. She will focus on Italian emigration to the US, and the relevant demographi...

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August is feast season in the North End and this weekend is the biggest of them all — the feast of St. Anthony. It’s a time of celebration for locals and visitors alike, but this year is even more special as it is the 100th anniversary of the feast. If you are not familiar with the feast of St. Anthony, it is essentially a weekend festival put on i...

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The 109th Fisherman’s Feast featured the second annual North End Meatball Contest with Strega Ristorante taking the win! The popular event crowns a new restaurant after last year’s winner, Tony and Elaine’s. Strega North End is located at 320 Hanover Street. John Romano was presented the 2019 Fisherman’s Feast Italian American of the Year award in...

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For more than seven years, Anzio's Brick Oven Pizza has brought a little slice of Italy to North Grafton. Now, the popular restaurant is moving to a new spot at Northborough Crossing. Todd Harrington, owner and operator, wants to open in the new location by fall. The restaurant has outgrown its original location on Rte. 30, he said. "We would have...

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