Holding On To History: Jeno Paulucci - the king of convenience food
Jeno Paulucci was born in Aurora to Italian immigrants. After moving to Hibbing, he showed he was a natural-born salesman hawking iron ore samples to tourists. Paulucci even tried selling some to President Coolidge when he came to town. “When his car stopped, I ran over to try to sell him some ore samples, I used to have different samples in vials...
Save the date – Passport Day in Denver – Nov. 7 2024
Italian citizens are informed that, in collaboration with the Honorary Vice Consul, a ‘Passport Day’ is scheduled for November 7th 2024 at the Honorary Vice Consulate’s office in Denver for the acquisition of biometric data for the purpose of issuing an Italian passport, without the need to go to the Consulate General’s office in Chicago. Italian c...
Italian traditions hold strong at Denver's Potenza Lodge
In an old brick building in what used to be Denver’s Little Italy, Italian traditions are still very much alive at the Potenza Lodge. “The 3 F’s of Italian culture are family, faith and food,” said Geraldine Pergola, the lodge’s historian. “I was born into the Potenza Lodge. My parents were both lifelong members,” she said. “The Potenza Lodge, out...
The history of the Christopher Columbus memorial at the Minnesota State Capitol
Between 1880 and 1920, over 4 million Italian immigrants entered the United States. Few came to Minnesota, and the state’s Italian-born population peaked in 1910 at 9,688. When they arrived, they faced a racial ideology of Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Nordic superiority. Italian Americans were seen as “in between” white and non-white, enduring what s...
The Hill celebrates 157th Italian Heritage Parade and Festa
Thousands of people came together Sunday to celebrate the rich Italian heritage of The Hill neighborhood in St Louis at one of the area’s most long-running festivals. The 157th Italian Heritage Parade and Festa was held throughout the day at Berra Park. The event was hosted by the Hill 2000 Neighborhood Association and featured delicious cuisine, v...
Italian ties to our valley
They came from the north, the smallest autonomous region in northern Italy. Small, but not without distinction. Vallee D’Aosta. The crazy warrior, Hannibal — a name you may remember from high school history — marched through the town of Aosta (founded in 25 BC) on his great winter march. Several different governments claimed the Aosta Valley over...
Santa Lucia Festival queen dynasty: Grandma, granddaughter share title 100 years apart
Omaha’s newest Santa Lucia Festival queen may be new to wearing the crown, but her family has a long history with the title dating back to the first queen nearly 100 years ago. Alli Venditte received her flowers at this year’s Santa Lucia Festival, becoming the 100th queen. “It was my dream come true,” Venditte said. The Gross Catholic High School...
How a traveling Leonardo da Vinci inventions exhibit could find a permanent home in Pueblo
Recreations of Leonardo da Vinci's most innovative machines are stored 15 miles from Pueblo. Robotic drummers, flying machines, catapults, 15th-century cars and other creations stored at PuebloPlex have toured the country in traveling exhibitions but Pueblo community leaders are working to establish a permanent space for the machines and other exhi...
Restoration project preserves a bit of Omaha’s Little Italy, coincides with milestone events
In the heart of Little Italy, an old brick retail shop opened by one of Nebraska’s early Italian immigrant couples nearly a century ago is being resurrected. It won’t be the Caniglia Dry Goods of yesteryear. But the small structure will have definite ties to the cobbler and his wife whose family sold shoes and clothing there for more than 50 years....
Oelwein Italian Heritage celebration to be held Aug. 10
Oelwein’s Italian Heritage festival will be returning on Saturday, Aug. 10, to continue the tradition that was started several decades ago in Iowa. Dominic “Squint” Pirillo began the celebration with others back in 1973 to honor their heritage and history of the area. This year will be the 51st anniversary of the festival and has lots in store, sta...
St Louis Italian Summer Festival - Ferragosto 2024
On Saturday, August 10, 2024, the Italian Community of St Louis is excited to host the 7TH ANNUAL FERRAGOSTO from 5pm to 11PM. TICKETS: $10 PER ADULT. Children 12 and under are FREE. Besides music and entertainment, Italian wines, and beer will be provided as well as traditional pastas and meats made by Chef Alessandro Valentino. Our DJ has a wonde...
Omaha’s Santa Lucia Festival to include shoe drive for children in need
The Santa Lucia Festival is celebrating 100 years in Omaha this year. The cultural event that highlights Italian-American history and heritage begins Aug. 1. This year, the festival committee is leading an effort to gather 500 new pairs of athletic shoes for children whose families might not be able to afford such an expense. Boxes of new sneakers...