A man with a passion for the sport of his ancestors, Rico Daniele, a leader in Western Massachusetts' Italian American community, continues to be an advocate for his beloved sport of bocce. Daniele and other bocce enthusiasts held a bocce tournament Sunday at the Mount Carmel Society in Springfield's South End neighborhood.   Daniele, t...

by Stephanie Barry   Salvatore "Sal" Circosta is Catholic, politically conservative, gay and running for mayor. In the early weeks of his candidacy against three-term incumbent Mayor Domenic Sarno, Circosta, 29 - a former seminarian, military chaplain and business manager of a Catholic church - has nearly indoctrinated his campaign.  ...

by Brian Steele   The bust of former state Rep. Anthony M. Scibelli that stood outside the Mount Carmel Society social club was stolen over the weekend. The bronze likeness of one of the longest-serving lawmakers in American history, who died in 1998, was taken from outside the Italian-American club on Winthrop Street in the city's Sout...

Italian Cultural Center events Springfield - The Italian Cultural Center of western Massachusetts, Inc. announces the publication of its very own homemade cookbook, "Mangia! Ci fa bene!" It is a cookbook with over 160 tried and tested family recipes contributed by its members and friends, many of which have been prepared for generations.   Y...

by Cori Urban   In anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, members of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society will carry a statue of the Blessed Mother through the streets of the South End to their headquarters where they will provide a free brunch and music.   The procession will begin Sunday, July 12, after th...

By Shannon Young   Springfield UNICO announced this week that it has named state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr. its 2015 "Person of the Year." The Springfield Democrat, who also represents Wilbraham and part of East Longmeadow, was given the title for exemplifying UNICO's principles of unity, neighborliness, integrity charity and opportunity s...

The Springfield Chapter of UNICO National awarded annual scholarships to five recent high school graduates last month at Storrowton Tavern.   Anthony Fimognari Jr., who graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School, won the $1,500 Brian Piccolo Scholarship Award. The award is given to a senior student-athlete who has exhibited excellence on...

In anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in mid-July, members of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society carried a statue of the Blessed Mother through the streets of the South End to their headquarters, where they provided a free brunch and music for the community.   As it was carried outside the church, the procession paused s...

by Don Treeger   People ask Joe Santos all the time for the recipe for the star bread at his Italian Bread Shop. But even if he could give it to you – it's mostly in his head, and he measures flour and sugar by the the scoopful relying on look, feel and experience – yours wouldn't turn out right at home. The dough would never get the ri...

By Pam Mastriano   The Italian Cultural Center of Western Mass, Inc. is sponsoring a tortellini making class on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m. an instructor, supplies and space will be provided for adults and children. Just bring an apron and take home what you make. Space is limited.   Seats will be sold on a first-come, first-served ba...