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Peter Cancro was just 17 when he pulled off a deal that would shape his destiny. In 1975, with a $125,000 loan from his football coach, the high school senior bought Mike's Subs, a Point Pleasant, New Jersey sandwich shop where he had worked since he was 14. At the time, Cancro wasn't even old enough to legally operate the deli slicer. Fast forward...

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Tara Ciannella found her station in life by doing what most heroes do. She ascended to her dream occupation — her “happy place” — by enduring pain, ignoring naysayers and taking one bold step after another. The borough native began her journey designing household effects, such as glassware and furniture, before co-owning a landscaping company with...

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The Jersey Shore, renowned for its sun-kissed beaches and vibrant boardwalks, also boasts a rich tapestry of culinary delights, particularly in the realm of Italian pastries. This coastal stretch is dotted with bakeries that have become institutions, each offering a unique slice of Italy’s sweet traditions. Aversa’s Italian Bakery in Brigantine sta...

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Growing up in a household where both parents were children of Italian immigrants, you would think we'd know about the feast of the seven fishes. My mom and grandmothers never made such a thing. As a matter of fact, we really never heard of it until I was an adult and read about it in a magazine. I was in my late 20s, a new homeowner and wanted to i...

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Dear friends, 2024 has been another year full of very interesting people, topics, meetings for us at We the Italians. The eleventh book, the ninth annual yearbook, is available for you: a nice Christmas gift, with the twelve interviews from 2024 on twelve different topics that have in common Italy and the United States. We hope you will buy and giv...

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Just like 2022 and 2023, we decided that also in 2024 we wanted to name the Italian American of the year, now a pleasant tradition for We the Italians! Stanley Tucci was the 2022 winner, and Sylvester Stallone won last year. Once again, this year we asked all of you, and once again we had a great response! As in 2023, this year too we decided not t...

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Ferrero is making efforts to diversify its hazelnut sourcing in North America, where the nuts are in high demand during seasonal celebrations like the upcoming winter holidays. “Our mission is to master the hazelnut value chain from end-to-end to create and deliver value in service of customers, brands, and products,” Tommaso de Gregorio, head of F...

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It’s been 15 years since the premiere of MTV’s Jersey Shore. At the time, the show stirred up mixed feelings: It irritated locals, offended media members, and even bothered the state’s highest elected official. It was also a bona fide sensation. Even after everyone’s anger and fake tans have faded away, there’s still a lot to learn from the battle...

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Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Granato of Newark Public Schools was recently celebrated as Essex County’s 2024 Italian American Educator of the Year. The recognition came during a special ceremony hosted by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, where N.J. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz presented the award to Granato. “You have alway...

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We've seen some giant Italian markets opening up across New Jersey over the last few years. One of the newest ones may not be big on space but it's huge on quality and variety. It's in the quaint quiet town of Allentown, NJ. It's called La Vucciria, after a very famous ancient open-air market in Palermo, Sicily. The owners, the LoPresti family come...

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