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John R. Anastasia Sr, a veteran Westport police officer, died June 3 at home. He was 83. A native Westporter, he served 34 years on the force, retiring in 1993 as deputy chief. During his illustrious career in law enforcement, he received several promotions and commendations for his service. Born Nov. 28, 1936 to Placido and Carrie (Capasse) Anasta...

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The cancellations of mainstay summer events is continuing and extending into fall, with Tuesday’s announcement that A Taste of Italy, scheduled for Sept. 12 in Norwich, will not be held this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It would have been the 29th annual Italian food festival, hosted by the Norwich Italian Heritage and Cultural Committee,...

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Antoinette Iadarola, 80, the retired president of Cabrini University in Radnor, died Saturday, May 23, of cancer at her home in Clinton, Conn. Dr. Iadarola, known as “Toni,” was the sixth leader of the Catholic institution and its first lay president. She served from 1992 to 2008. “Toni’s spirit lives on in all the lives she touched, and her impact...

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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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