In the bright-blue Mediterranean Sea, sitting just west of the better part of Italy is an island on which falls golden-yellow rays of luminous sunshine. A young man is not paying the sun much mind, however. He digs. Sweat soaks his hair, sticking it to his body. His shoulders ache and he continues to dig, looking up only when Steven Ellis, the cur...
Ohio University students studying abroad on the Italian island Sicily as a part of the Food in Sicily program experienced first-hand how service organizations combat some of society's biggest issues, such as: dangers posed to migrants, reintroduction to society from prison and food insecurity. The volunteer and social activities in Food in Sicily —...
Souvenirs, an omnipresent facet of modern tourism, trace their roots to the ancient Mediterranean. In the Roman Empire, the common languages of Greek (koine) and Latin, standardised coinage and centralised bureaucracy increased the ease of travel, all of which helped a culture of souvenirs flourish. Indeed, a broad range of souvenirs commemorating...
Brian Bernardoni has been inducted into the Illinois State University Steve and Sandi Adams Hall of Fame. A resident of the village of Justice and president of the Roberts Park Fire Protection District, Bernardoni was recognized for enhancing the quality of life on campus as an undergrad, grad student and beyond. While earning his bachelor’s degree...
The Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan (IACCM) proudly announced the results of its 2022 scholarship competition at its monthly meeting on June 1 at the San Marino Club. The Honorable Joseph Toia, Macomb County Circuit Court, has been chairman of the IACCM Scholarship Committee for the past twenty years and once again presided over th...
In this era of ever-expanding inclusion, Italian Americans have long been the odd community out. That may soon change in Illinois if Diana Hartmann has anything to do with it. An educational administrator of Italian descent, Hartmann has watched as books about Italian and Italian-American history and culture have disappeared from the shelves of sch...
Robert A. Gervasi has been named the interim president for the University of Mount Union. The University of Mount Union Board of Trustees announced Tuesday that Gervasi will serve as the interim president for the upcoming academic year and will succeed Thomas J. Botzman, who announced last month that he plans to retire June 30. Gervasi is expected...
If you’re all in the mood for Italian music, tasty food, and fun festivities, well here’s some good news. Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is right around the corner, and one of the very first events kicked things off. Wednesday night was the festival’s annual scholarship dinner. Twelve scholarship winners and the Italian America...
The Italian American Women's Association handed out three scholarships to women going off to college Monday evening. The organization has been handing out scholarships for the last 21 years. Recipients are all graduating seniors who excelled academically. In order to be eligible, they had to write essays describing what their Italian heritage means...
The Foundation N.O.I. (Nuovi Orizzonti Italiani) – Ente Gestore for the promotion of the Italian Language and Culture within the Jurisdiction of the Consulate of Italy in Detroit- announces the opening of a position as Executive Director of Italian Language Programs beginning September 1st, 2022. Candidates are asked to provide NOI Foundation Board...
A native of Ferentino, Italy makes an impromptu stop in Rockford, Ferentino’s sister city. Matteo Cervoni was at a medical conference at Georgia Tech when he decided to end his first visit to the United States with a trip to Rockford. “I know a lot of people that come from my same country and he loves Ferentino,” says Cervoni. Rockford and Ferentin...
When Esther Castellano lost her husband of 66 years in 2010, her daughter hooked her up with an art therapist from the Warren City School District to help her deal with her grief. Now, 12 years later, Castellano still is creating works of art that she shares with the community on Facebook and through a “prodcast” directed by her grandson, Jim Fogar...