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"No other Italian American organization has ever weighed in with the U.S. Supreme Court on a cultural issue or devoted so much time and resources to protecting the Italian heritage as has COPOMIAO under the visionary stewardship of Hon. Basil Russo; and the unwavering support of his distinguished peers, the 1492 Society and Philadelphia City Counci...

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Thomas Jefferson University’s Class of 2023 comprises doctors, medical practitioners — and a legendary Italian tenor. Andrea Bocelli was awarded an honorary degree at the university’s 199th commencement ceremony on Wednesday in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. The ceremony felicitated newly minted graduates from the Jefferson College of Life Scien...

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Butler, Pennsylvania, is a long way from Italy. After a vast earthquake destroyed Reggio Calabria on Dec. 28, 1908, Vincenzo Sanzotti decided to leave his home in Italy and find employment elsewhere. American steamship companies advertised free transportation to America for workers needed in the coal mines. Vincenzo left Calabria and arrived in the...

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My parents immigrated from the picturesque town of Isca sullo Ionio in Calabria. In 1964, after completing his two years in the Italian army, my father, Saverio, left Italy to meet up with his father, Domenico, who had already been in the United States. He found work right away in a clothing factory, then eventually in his trade as an auto mechanic...

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Seven Philadelphia shops competed in the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival’s inaugural cheesesteak contest Saturday. When the smoke cleared and judges voted, the winner was Lorenzo’s, whose shop is about two blocks from the contest. Vinny Caramanna, working a grill at the cheesesteak contest, looked over at the judges tasting his sandwich. H...

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Longtime Philadelphia music personality John DeBella was presented with a bronze commemorative plaque on Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts during 2023 Walk of Fame ceremonies on April 20. “This is the greatest honor of my career,” he said. “I am overjoyed for being added to this incredible list of talented people. Anyone have a good metal polishing...

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It was the 1930s in South Philly, and Pat Olivieri ran a hot dog cart near the Italian Market. One afternoon, Olivieri couldn’t stomach the thought of another hot dog for lunch, so he sent his brother to the butcher. They chopped up and seasoned the fresh beef, topped it with onions and laid it across a bun. In that moment, a cab driver, also cravi...

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The History of Italian Immigration Museum HIIM is in South Philadelphia, but its perspective is global. It isn’t about South Philadelphia,” Michael Bonasera, its chairman and curator, said in an interview along with his wife, Wanda, who helped create the museum in 2014. “It isn’t about Philadelphia. It isn’t about America. It’s about immigration.”...

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Frankie Longo Jr. is climbing in his father's footsteps. The 18-year-old senior at Neumann Goretti High School — and son of grease pole climbing legend Frank Sr. — will take his first crack at scaling the pig lard-slathered pole at the Italian Market Festival this weekend. Pole climbing is practically an Olympic sport for Philadelphians who celebra...

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“Bigger, better, bolder than ever before!”  That’s the promise of the 2023 S. 9th Street Italian Market Festival which takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p;m. on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, 2023. The celebration of culture, gastronomy, art, and music runs along South 9th Street from Wharton to Fitzwater Streets. The nation’s oldest outdoor mark...

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