Ben Lariccia

Ben Lariccia, contributing writer, Youngstown, Ohio

Angiuli's Farm Markets: Farm to Table Straordinario!

June 2017
The Angiuli story begins in 1981, at the Pyatt Street Market in Youngstown. From there, Rita Angiuli opened a fruit and vegetable stand outdoors, under a shady oak tree. This is how Carl Angiuli lovingly describes to La Gazzetta how his parents...


The U.S. Italian Community and the Immigration Act of 1924

March 2017
In 1924, Congressman Albert Johnson and Senator David Reed introduced and helped pass an act of Congress that drastically reduced immigration from Southern, Central and Eastern Europe. As one of the targets of the legislation, immigrants from Italy...


Researching Family History? Avoid Myths About Italian Immigration

March 2017
Tra la fine del 1800 ed il primo ventennio del ‘900, per milioni di Italiani prevalentemente contadini origanari del Meridione della penisola, la parola America diventò quasi  magica: la terra delle promesse, il sogno...


"The Leopard", A Classic Work of Italian Historical Fiction

February 2017
Are you looking to get through the doldrums of winter by reading a masterwork of Italian literature? Love Italian history? Then I suggest you allocate a comfortable corner in your coziest room for “The Leopard” (Il Gattopardo) by...


Louis Adovasio: He Tamed the Mahoning River!

November 2016
Debiti e decessi per infortuni sul lavoro afflissero spesso la vita dei primi immigrati che trovarono un impiego nei cantieri nella valle della contea di Mahoning. Uno di loro, Louis Adovasio, riuscì, invece, a superare i vincoli e le...


Century-old Penn Mac Anchors Pittsburgh’s Strip District

September 2016
In operation since 1902, the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest retail establishments and one of the area’s best-known Italian specialty stores. A popular shopping destination for locals and out of town...


Local Students Participate in Culture Display

September 2016
Each year a unique attraction at the Warren Italian American Festival is the Culture display in a tent in front of the Courthouse. Inside the tent, the Italian flag is displayed in the center and the flags from the 20 regions are around the...


Local Italian American Scholar in Italy

August 2016
Anthony Dion Mitzel è un caso di “immigrazione inversa”. Docente di lingua inglese e linguistica presso l'Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna a Forlì, è figlio di immigrati italiani negli Stati Uniti....


Dr. Carla Simonini of YSU

July 2016
Since 2010, Dr. Simonini has been Assistant Professor of Italian at Youngstown State University (YSU). She is a frequent writer and conference presenter on Italian American Studies. Recently, she assumed the position of editor of the journal...


Pope Francis Elevates Youngstown Church to Basilica Status

April 2016
In 2014, Pope Francis designated Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church a minor basilica. Founded in 1908, this Roman Catholic parish originally served the Italian community of Central Youngstown, OH. In the following interview, La Gazzetta and Pastor...


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