Growing Up Sicilian-Italian in Middletown DVD Now Available

The DVD which documents Middletown’s Sicilian-Italian heritage program held at Russell Library is available for purchase at the check-out desk.  

The price is $15, cash or check payable to “Russell Library Company.”  The program held on May 18 is based on a new book, First to Last Picking, by Dr. Sebastiano Santostefano. 

It follows the lives of Sicilian boys growing up in Middletown and working to harvest tobacco leaves in the summer of 1943. Santostefano relates his experiences growing up in the North End and coping with anti-Italian prejudice.  The book is also an exploration of Sicilian values as they come face to face with American values. 

Mayor Daniel Drew opens the program, speaking on Middletown’s diverse heritage. The author provides reflections on the writing of the book. He is followed by remarks from three faculty/staff members from Middlesex Community College, who are familiar with Middletown, Sicilian history, and inter-ethnic relations:  Judy Geremia McGrath, Angelo Glaviano, and Robert L. Reutenauer Jr. The audience also shares their memories involving Middletown’s Italian heritage.

The Library received a Public Humanities Programming Challenge Grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council for the program. Additional funding is from the Friends of the Russell Library. The Italian Society of Middletown linked up directly with older residents and provided desserts. 

Middlesex County Historical Society provided photographs of the community at the time. 

Middlesex Community College provided graphic design for publicity and paid for the printing.