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The statue of Christopher Columbus stood in Wooster Square Park for more than 100 years as a symbol of the Italian-American presence in New Haven. After its removal on June 24, a decision was made to replace it with an appropriate memorial to the Italian-American experience. Mayor Justin Flicker appointed a Wooster Square Monument Committee to deci...

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Everyone knows Frank Sinatra, but no one knows about his agitation for leftist causes in the 1930s and ‘40s. Fiorello La Guardia got an airport, but Sacco and Vanzetti got a march and a folk song. Italian-Americans are known for their cultural contributions to American society and, of course, New Haven in particular — look no further than Wooster S...

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Pizza. It’s probably the most beloved – and often simplest to make – food on the planet. You’ve probably had a slice or several in the past week. Or you’re thinking about it now. And for you kids, according to analytics it’s the “Most Instagrammed Food,” beating out burgers 10-to-1. But while many casual Pie Lovers might assume that Pizza Mecca is...

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U.S. Premiere at New Haven Documentary Film Festival 2020. Wednesday, August, 19 2020 8:30pm. Click here for tickets and more info. The film, written by Ciriaci in collaboration with cinema historian and Yale alum Luca Peretti, previously won the ‘Il Cinemino’ award at the prestigious Festival dei Popoli in Florence upon its world premiere in Novemb...

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In the mid-20th century, Italian immigrants Luisa DeLauro and Linda DiPaola Saracco operated sewing machines in a dress factory at State and Chapel Streets. Thursday night, their politician daughters worked together to change Columbus Day in New Haven to “Italian Heritage Day.” DeLauro’s daughter, Rosa DeLauro, represents New Haven in the U.S. Hous...

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Mayor Justin Elicker has appointed William Iovanne and Laura Luzzi as co-chairmen of the Wooster Square Monument Committee, a body that will meet for the first time Thursday. The committee will hold public and working meetings to discuss what will replace the Christopher Columbus statue that was removed from Wooster Square Park, reportedly to preve...

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Seeking the identity of any alleged “funding source” or of any persons who paid to have the Christopher Columbus statue removed from Wooster Square Park, a group of Italian-Americans have appealed their request to the state Freedom of Information Commission. Patricia Cofrancesco, who represents the Italian-America Heritage Group of New Haven, which...

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The annual festa to honor Santa Maria Maddalena, like almost all public events this summer, won’t be held because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Andrew Consiglio, president of the Santa Maria Maddalena Society. “We’re just having a Mass … and then some of the members are going to the society” to have a cup of coffee, he said. The society...

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The city Monday moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed by local Italian-American residents over the future of the Christopher Columbus statue that once stood in Wooster Square Park, claiming the group has no standing to bring the case. The Italian-American Heritage Group of New Haven, represented by attorney Patricia Cofrancesco, filed suit against the c...

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My column last week about replacing the statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square Park with one of Frank Pepe and his wife Filomena drew passionate rejections, hearty endorsements and some imaginative other proposals. “I am deeply disturbed by your suggestion of a statue of Frank Pepe to replace Christopher Columbus,” wrote a man with family...

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