Dr. Gilda Rorro Baldassari and John Scarpati, Sr. saw red last week. Both proud U.S. citizens of Italian-American descent, expressed anger and concern after someone vandalized the statue of Christopher Columbus inside the Hamilton Ave. park which bears the controversial explorer’s name. Red paint covered several areas of Columbus’ body while the ba...

Robbinsville is ruining it all. All right fine, that’s not fair. They’re not ruining it completely. But they’re damn close to ruining it all. Of course, I’m talking about the rankings of “Most Italians Living in One Town in New Jersey,” where Hamilton ranks fourth in the state with 20,559 Italians, according to the 2015 Census numbers. Toms River l...

There are at least 42 monuments to him in New Jersey, but Christopher Columbus remains one of the nation's most controversial figures. Was Columbus a hero who opened the Americas to European exploration and innovation, or a villain who lead to the enslavement of natives and the death of thousands due to disease? The federal holiday, celebrated on t...

Once again Michéal Castaldo will return to the Mercer County Italian American Festival on September 23rd at 6PM. Named one of NJ’s best fall festival by CBS, NY, Michéal and his La Dolce Vita Band will perform live on the main stage (Investors Bank Stage) at 6PM and delight the crowd with his spirited, passionate, enchanting voice and flawless deli...

by Mark Syp   All are invited to come and enjoy family, food and fun, all while celebrating the culture and heritage of one of New Jersey's proudest and most prominent communities, at the Mercer County Italian American Festival.   Now in its 14th year, the festival, which runs today through Sunday at Mercer County Park, was named one...

Maurice T. "Maury" Perilli, perhaps best known as the former chairman and executive vice president of Roma Bank, as well as mayor of Hamilton died today. He was 95.   Perilli was born in Trenton on Oct. 29, 1918, the son of Italian immigrants. He was 2 years old when Roma opened its first branch in the Chambersburg neighborhood of Trenton, P...

During my last trip to the US, thanks to my good friends Roberta and Robert DiBiase I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful Italian American woman, who is a true icon for the community in New Jersey: Gilda Rorro Baldassari. I found very interesting and important to start this new year offering our readers the story of this proud Italian personal...

Support the Nottingham High School Italian Club's first ever fundraiser, "An Italian Dinner & Music Night," on Friday, June 14, from 6 -10 p.m. The evening will include music and food displays, and performances by students and professional entertainers such as the traditional Italian folk dancing ensemble Coro d'Italia, comedian Floyd Vivino (U...

Arrivederci, Newark. The home state of Frank Sinatra, Tony Soprano, Frankie Valli and Samuel Alito is losing its Italian consulate, leaving a state whose Italian roots run deep in the American consciousness without an official tie to Italy. The Newark consulate is a casualty of economic troubles 4,200 miles away — an Italian economy in re...

by Manny Alfano   The Italian American One Voice Coalition through the efforts of Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo are pleased to announce the joint resolution dedicating the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month. The dedication will take place on Thursday, October 22nd, 2015 at Two pm sharp in the...