Italian American Sport Club award dinner, scholarships awarded
An awards dinner was held at the Italian American Sport Club this past weekend in Gates. Several folks and groups were recognized for their contributions to the community. The special event honored Frank DiMino. His donations have helped with building improvements, a new parking lot and even a bocce ball court. In addition, roughly $25,000 was dist...
The super guide to Italian frying
“Everything tastes better when fried”: and how to disagree with this proverb, as old as Italy, that we all keep repeating when we talk about food. The smell, the crispy texture, the warm and velvety filling (when present) are an irresistible mix and everything takes on a different essence. Frittura is undoubtedly a landmark of Italian gastronomic c...
Suze Rotolo, the Italian American muse behind Elle Fanning’s character in A Complete Unknown
In 2024, the film A Complete Unknown was released, offering a cinematic portrayal of Bob Dylan's early career and his relationship with Italian American Suze Rotolo. Directed by James Mangold, the biopic stars Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, a character inspired by Rotolo. The film delves into Dylan's rise in the 1960s...
In 2025, the wonderful Palazzo Te in Mantua will celebrate its 500th anniversary
In 2025, Mantua's Palazzo Te will commemorate its 500th anniversary, marking half a millennium since its construction between 1525 and 1535. This Renaissance masterpiece, conceived by Federico II Gonzaga and brought to life by architect and artist Giulio Romano, stands as a testament to the era's artistic innovation and the Gonzaga family's cultura...
Michael Palma publishes a new translation of the Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy is one of the most significant works in Western literature, captivating readers for over 700 years. Its profound themes, intricate structure, and timeless exploration of the human condition have made it a cornerstone of literary and philosophical study. Translating such a masterpiece into English, or any language, is...
World War II Italian American Army nurse veteran celebrates her 105th birthday
On Dec. 20, World War II Army nurse veteran Regina Benson celebrated her 105th birthday. Born on Dec. 20, 1919 in Philadelphia to Italian immigrant parents, Regina was one of nine children and a twin. Inspired by a sense of patriotic duty, Benson served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in Hawaii, Okinawa and Japan from September...
St. Stephen's day, history and traditions of the December 26 holiday in Italy
St. Stephen's Day, observed on December 26th, is a Christian holiday commemorating the first martyr of Christianity, as recounted in the New Testament. In Italy, this day has been a public holiday since 1947, aimed at extending the Christmas celebrations. St. Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr, often referred to as the "protomartyr...
Lamborghini: 20 Years of Partnership with the Italian State Police
Automobili Lamborghini and the Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato) are commemorating a 20-year partnership that began in 2004 with the delivery of a Lamborghini Gallardo. This collaboration has provided the police force with high-performance vehicles for patrolling and emergency medical services, notably completing over 200 organ transport miss...
UNICO National now accepting scholarship applications for 2025
UNICO National Inc. each year offers more than $120,000 in scholarship grants to high school seniors and matriculated college students in almost every discipline. Scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 programs are open. Submission directions have been updated, to be sure that requirements are clearly understood. This includes the newly establ...
I visited Rome and other tourist spots in Italy, but a highlight was exploring the village restored by a billionaire fashion designer
On a recent trip to Rome, I left the major tourist city behind to spend an afternoon in Solomeo, a small village in the Province of Perugia. The stunning village, with cobblestone streets and beautiful views of the rolling hills, looked like something straight out of a fairytale. One of the most fascinating things I learned, though, was that Solome...
Former Hartford Deputy Mayor Al Marotta dies at age 90
Former State Rep. and former Hartford Deputy Mayor Al Marotta has passed away, according to his family. His death was reported to News 8 by his daughter-in-law, the mayor of Rocky Hill, Lisa Marotta. Marotta was the son of Italian immigrants and organized the Columbus Day Parade. He was 90 years old. Marotta was an engineer for the state departmen...
'Truly extraordinary' ancient offerings, including statues of snakes and a child priest, found submerged in 'healing' spring in Italy
Archaeologists in Italy have dug down deeper into a hot spring that was used, over two millennia ago, by the Etruscans as a sacred place to leave their votive offerings. Located at San Casciano dei Bagni, a municipality located about 75 miles northwest of Rome, the spring started being used for votive offerings, or offerings given in hopes of divin...