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Between 1861 and 1985, 29,036,000 Italians emigrated to other countries, the largest voluntary emigration period in documented history(1). They landed almost everywhere, from Europe to South America to the United States, like my family, and put down roots. Their stories are familiar to us: stories of strong family ties and communities that supporte...

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After a young employee at Nino’s Trattoria in Waterbury fell ill during the COVID-19 pandemic, his co-workers collected money to get him through the tough time in the form of a money pizza. The employees at Nino’s are facing struggles of their own during the pandemic, but they took the time to take care of one of their own. Rich Murray, 22, was wor...

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In the epic Latin poem “The Aeneid,” written between 29 and 19 BC, the Roman poet Virgil coined the phrase “Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes ” which translated into English means “Be wary of Greeks bearing gifts.” The adage is commonly used to warn of a supposed gift or act of virtue that is a hidden threat.  This timeless warning has even more import...

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Concerns over the new coronavirus pandemic have prompted officials of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society to cancel one of Enfield's largest summer events, the 95th annual Italian Festival. Society president Carl Sferrazza announced the cancellation Tuesday night, marking the first time the feast will not be held since its inception in 1926. He sa...

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For today’s Q&A with a New Canaan business owner navigating the COVID-19 emergency and related restrictions, we hear from Andrea Lombardi, owner-operator of Dolce Italian Café on Elm Street. The café is open for pickup 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: You just opened last sum...

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When Neil Thomas Proto started delving into the life of Yale University president A. Bartlett Giamatti, he expected to tell a story of tremendous personal and professional accomplishment — a tale of a life well-lived. What he found was something quite a bit more complex. Proto’s book, “Fearless: A. Bartlett Giamatti and the Battle for Fairness in A...

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Beloved children’s book author Tomie dePaola died, his publisher announced on Monday. He was 85 years old. He was best known for writing the Strega Nona series and 26 Fairmount Avenue. “We mourn the loss of a master storyteller. Tomie dePaola has passed away. We extend our sympathy to his legions of readers, friends, and colleagues,” Winding Oak Ch...

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Mayor Robert Chatfield (at left with Ms. Davitt) and Bob Accetura, who held the ceremonial title in 2019, bestowed the honor upon Barbara at the beginning of her "Coffee Break" program on Thursday morning. During the presentation, Mayor Chatfield noted Barbara's decades of civic involvement, volunteer work and commitment to promoting the arts, comm...

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In their temporal dimension as popes, Saints John XXIII and John Paul II fervently and effectively served their savior and His church with humility and humor, and without hints of self-importance. These same gifts were bestowed on convivial, nonagenarian priest and Waterbury native the Rev. Vito DeCarolis, who worked in Waterbury’s Our Lady of Lour...

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The popular "Pizza Wars" event in West Haven has been postponed, due to the state of emergency declaration as Connecticut looks to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The second "Pizza Wars" event, sponsored by the West Haven Italian American Civic Association, was set to take place March 21 at Cielo Banquet Hall on Chase Lane.  "Our fi...

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