Maria Gloria Rando

Dear Readers, As 2022 begins, my little corner of the world, the “Italian Connection” column (since 1977) has been comfortably ensconced in the pages of L’Italo-Americano for nearly forty-five years. Through the years, I have spotlighted subjects from A to …

Dear Readers, “Toot! Toot!” – That’s me, tooting my own horn. I began writing for L’Italo-Americano in mid-1977, forty-five years ago. As 2022 begins let me pass on some good advice and January jottings to you. *** Advice for the …

Dear Readers,  An April assortment of Italian Connections for you: A Chance at Life, formerly known as Boys Town of Italy has been providing education and supportive services to children around the world since founder, Monsignor John Patrick Carroll Abbing, established his …

Dear Readers, My March minestrone of Italian connections is served: Aerospace is not generally associated with Italy but the history of Italian-American cooperation in aerospace goes back to the pioneering flights of the Wright brothers. In 1909 Wilbur Wright was invited to …

Dear Readers, A minestrone of Italian connections for you: Topolino (little mouse) rolled off the Fiat assembly lines back in 1934, thereby introducing the first subcompact car to the world. For a mere $250 for a basic model, Italian drivers …

Dear Readers, St. Patrick’s Day, which we celebrate on March 17th, has an Italian Connection. In his autobiography, Confessions, written shortly before his death, the saint tells us that his father was a Roman official named Calpurnius. Calpurnius was an ancient Italic …

Dear Readers, February is the month we celebrate President’s Day, February 21st this year. Back in the day, when I attended Grade school, Lincoln’s birthday, February 12th, and Washington’s birthday, February 22nd, were celebrated separately. To ensure that federal workers had …

Dear Readers, November notes with an Italian Connection: Thanksgiving Day is celebrated the next to last Thursday in November since it was so fixed by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Days of drumsticks and Thanksgiving turkey remind me that one of …

Dear Readers, As November Veterans Day approaches I am reminded that on November 11, 1918, the Armistice agreement was signed, and fighting on all battlefields ceased at 11 a.m., when the guns of World War I fell silent after 4 …

Dear Readers,  A February minestrone of Italian connections for you. *** February comes from the Latin word februa, which means “to cleanse.” The month was named after the Roman Februalia, a monthlong festival of purification and atonement. *** Rossini, the composer of over thirty …