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Paul Iannelli loved being Italian. "He was a family man. He was very proud of his Italian heritage," his daughter Paulette Zizzo said. "And he was a man who wanted things done yesterday." His family remembers Iannelli as a man of few words but lots of action — from building a parking business with his brother to helping create the Italian Community...

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In yet another sign that we’re in summer’s winding-down period, Festa Italiana returns this weekend, Sept. 8-10, to close the book on what’s considered the city’s modern ethnic festival lineup. The first Festa took place back in 1978, when members of Milwaukee’s Italian community revived the traditional neighborhood festivals that started in the ea...

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It's time to officially say "Ciao!" to the summer festival season, as Festa Italiana today revealed its 2023 dates: the weekend of Sept. 8-10.  In addition, Festa Italiana announced that it will keep the ethnic festival at the Italian Community Center grounds at 631 E. Chicago Ave. Festa previously called Henry Maier Festival Park home since 1978,...

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Against all odds, Milwaukee's Festa Italiana is returning in 2022, though not at the usual time and place. Organizers have come a long way to get to this point. They first canceled the Italian-themed festival originally scheduled for April of 2022. But in a surprise announcement, organizers revealed the festival would indeed be held - this time at...

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The organizers of Festa Italiana have called off the lakefront festival for the third straight year. In a statement Friday afternoon, Rose Anne Fritchie, president of the Italian Community Center and Festa director, cited the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on the financial health of the organization.  "We have always been pro...

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William A. Jennaro was a lawyer, judge and storyteller, a Milwaukee original who grew up on the city's near south side, remained close to his roots and devoted years to helping cultivate the Italian Community Center. Beyond his love of family and respect for the law, he also had a passion for playing gin rummy with friends. For more than 40 years,...

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Festa Italiana has been canceled for 2021. The Italian Community Center Board Directors made the announcement Friday, Feb. 26.  According to a news release, planning and preparations were on track to proceed with this year’s festival, however, due to the circumstances associated with COVID-19, the directors deemed it the best course of action to ca...

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Henry Piano never forgot his roots. His parents immigrated to America from Italy in 1907 and raised a son who embraced his Italian-American heritage. Piano helped found the Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana. Piano, 86, died of cancer Oct. 24. "It was important for him to always remember where we came from," said his son Nick Piano. "He wa...

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First Summerfest gets postponed and now Festa. Organizers broke the news Tuesday that Festa Italiana 2020 will be canceled. The Italian Community Center Board of Directors says it was the most responsible decision to cancel the festival in the midst of the global pandemic that has already closed so many other festivals and businesses. "The coronavi...

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On Nov. 19, award-winning chef, author and television personality Lidia Matticchio Bastianich will return to Milwaukee to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, "Felidia: Recipes from My Flagship Restaurant." Ever since it opened its doors on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1981, Felidia has been revered as one of the best Italian restaurants in...

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