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Our Stories
Many thanks to our generous Italian American friends, families, and neighbors who have contributed to preserving the history of our Central Coast by sharing their photos, videos and stories.
We are looking for Italian American stories relating to fishing, canning industry or community service, where individuals help promote our Italian Heritage.
Wondering about how to get started? Talk to relatives, look at your grandparents' photo albums. Our volunteers. can help you overcome inertia and get you. started on your own story or photo album..
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John LaSala
John Benny LaSala is a third-generation Sicilian on the Monterey Peninsula. His parents were Johanna Catania and Benny LaSala. Their parents were from Isola delle Femmine and San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily. John and Johanna His mother, Johanna, worked in the sardine canneries on Cannery Row as a young girl, and his father, Benny, fished for sardines as a young man in Monterey Bay. John continued the tradition of fishing and followed in his Nannu Catania’s footsteps who inspired Joh
2 min read
Gasper Spadaro
Gasper was the first of four children born to Giuseppe and Vitina Spadaroof Marettimo Sicily on December 21, 1947 Gasper attended both public and parochial Schools here on the Monterey Peninsula. And elected to Student Body Vice President of Junipero Memorial High School.1966. While at Junipero, he led the junior varsity and varsity football squads as Quarterback for the respective teams. For several years, Gasper worked alongside his father, Giuseppe Spadaro, fishing for sar
2 min read
Memoires of Hope “Ventimiglia” Cardinalli About Her Father Salvatore Ventimiglia Editing by Mike Ventimiglia
Hope "Ventimiglia" Cardinalli My grandmother, Speranza “Bruno” Ventimiglia (Hope) bore six sons, of which my father Salvatore was the...
4 min read
Wharf 1 History
It has seen bales of Chinese silks and barrels of Spanish wine, whaling ships, Navy cutters, and fishing boats by the score; Fisherman's...
8 min read
Where I Get My Strength
There are those of us who believe in a higher power and have had the privilege to witness the taking place of the strength and the power...
3 min read
Storms and Boat Wrecks
New Hope and the Cerrito Brothers purse seiners wash up on the beach near Wharf II after a storm hit MontereyBay on February23, 1953...
2 min read
Sicilian Carreto
The Carretto is a utilitarian Sicilian cart used to transport family members, farm produce and equipment from 800A.D. to the present....
1 min read
Pittsburg, Ca: The Black Diamond Connection
Italians started migrating to the United States before 1850 with the discovery of gold in California at Sutter’s Mill around 1848. ...
2 min read
Isola delle Femmine Sister City
Isola delle Femmine, Sicily, became a Sister City to Monterey, California, on September 8, 2017. Instrumental in getting this Sister...
2 min read
Gill, Lampara and Seine Nets: A Day in the Life of a Fisherman
The mending and repair of fishing nets is an art form, a special skill which takes time to learn. We will take a look at three types of...
3 min read
Giovanni Pennisi
Keeping the Sicilian tradition of fishing alive The village of Torre Archirafi, Sicily, was shrinking. It seemed that men and families...
5 min read
Fishing for a Comeback
Third-generation Monterey fisherman John Pennisi is preparing to relaunch his boat, The Irene’s Way, after eight years of keeping it...
5 min read
Fishing Boats
Fishing in Monterey Bay was mainly for salmon and was done by the sail boat or what the Italians call felucca. Salmon were caught with...
10 min read
Common Heritage Shared by California Sister Communities
Isola delle Femmine in Sicily, Pittsburg, Calif., and Monterey. What do they have in common? Why do stories with a Pittsburg dateline...
10 min read
Frank Ferrante 1910-1960
Written by: Frank Ferrante Jr. (Son) and Nadine Leyva (daughter) Frank was born on July 22,1910 in Pittsburg, California to Angelina...
2 min read
Salvatore Ventimiglia
Memoir Written in 1920 The following is an autobiography of Salvatore Ventimiglia, which he wrote in 1920 in pencil, given to me by Cathy...
7 min read
John Russo 1913-2002
My fishing career started at the age of 13 in Pittsburg, California where I was born. During vacations from school I fished with my...
2 min read
Giuseppe "Joe" Pennisi - Fisherman Buys Buyer
Giuseppe “Joe” Pennisi Intro for Fisherman Buys Buyer Giuseppe “Joe” Pennisi was born to Giovanni and Giuseppa Vasta Pennisi in Catania,...
3 min read
Giovanni "John" Pennisi
Giovanni “John” Pennisi was born in Monterey, California, on July 20, 1963, to Giuseppe and Elaine Pennisi. He was named after his Nonno,...
4 min read
David "Rowdy" Pennisi, Lost at Sea, 1962-2004
Rowdy Pennisi--Still seeking answers for fisher's disappearance We found out the Coast Guard was looking for my brother Rowdy's boat, the...
3 min read
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