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Bocce players throughout northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania know about Cassese’s MVR in Youngstown. The landmark restaurant, with its covered outdoor courts and bar, is a glorious setting for the bowling game. Tournaments there draw players from several states. On the local side, The MVR’s 86-team league has matches every night. It’s likely...

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The Little Italy neighborhood is a staple in Cleveland, and has been for quite some time. But Emily Mayfield had not had a chance to explore it, so she decided to head to the oldest restaurant and one of the newest in Little Italy to see what great things the neighborhood has to offer. First, the oldest restaurant in Little Italy and in Clevelan...

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Pasquale’s Pizza & Pub, 558 W. Schrock Road, has been one of Westerville’s authentic Italian connections for the past 32 years. Owners Jim and Sylvia (Vitullo) Francisco own and operate the restaurant, taking special pride in offering recipes that have been enjoyed by their respective families for generations, according to the business' website: pa...

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The reputation of Christopher Columbus is pretty much in the dumps these days, and the annual holiday celebrating his voyage of discovery generates spirited debate. It’s almost forgotten now just how important Columbus Day was to the grudging acceptance of Italian Americans. In the late 1800s, Italians were only reluctantly tolerated in the U.S. A...

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Two buildings on the Youngstown State University campus will get new names in recognition of a donation from John J. and Janet Cafaro and their daughters, the Honorable Capri Silvestri Cafaro and Renee Lynne Cafaro. “Our heartfelt thanks to J.J. and Jan for this generous gift and continued strong support for the university, our students and the ent...

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Sixty-six years ago, Landa Masdea Brunetto's father and grandfather hurriedly worked through the night in the family's machine shop to fabricate specialty bolts and washers unexpectedly needed by the next day to erect the newly arrived statue of Christopher Columbus outside Columbus City Hall. "My dad and grandfather literally stayed up all night,"...

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Arguably the most popular people inside the 2021 Columbus Italian Festival on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon were the two nice ladies sitting just inside the entrance. And it wasn’t only because Mary Bova and Patty Verrilli were the ones selling tickets to get alcohol. With Frank Sinatra tunes playing in the background, the women greeted old frien...

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The Italian American Veterans Post 1 will have its annual Festa Italiana from noon to 8 p.m., Oct. 9, at its post, 4567 Oberlin Ave. The day includes performances by the Al Battistelli Band in the afternoon and the Avanti Band from 4 to 6 p.m. At 3 p.m., post members will honor brothers Pete and Joe DelMonico, who have operated their barbershops in...

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The Columbus Day Parade is returning to the streets of Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood on Monday, Oct. 11. The parade is coming back after a 2020 hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will feature elaborate floats, marching bands, local artifacts and city leaders. It will be held along Mayfield and Murray Hill roads. After the parade, at...

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An Italian American author and a famed Italian American performer are to be recognized as two of Cleveland’s notable “Past Masters” in a year-long, citywide celebration organized by Cleveland Arts Prize in collaboration with the Cleveland History Center. Acclaimed novelist Michael DeCapite and singer/actress and comedienne Kaye Ballard (born Cather...

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