Longo Authors New Book on Italian-American History

The Saint Ubaldo Society, a regional non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture and traditions of La Festa dei Ceri in Jessup, will host author Stephanie Longo for an event celebrating the release of her forthcoming book, “The Italians of Lackawanna County,” on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Saint Ubaldo Society Cultural Center, located at 310 Third Avenue in Jessup.

“The Italians of Lackawanna County” focuses on the county’s modern Italian-American history and includes photos and stories from the area’s main Italian ethnic enclaves, as well as anecdotes from families. Linda Anelli, the Saint Ubaldo Society’s corresponding secretary and public relations director, supplied most of the photos of La Corsa dei Ceri, as well as the book’s front cover photo.

Stephanie Longo is known locally as an expert on the Italian American history of northeastern Pennsylvania and has authored previous works on the subject, including “Italians of Northeastern Pennsylvania” and “Dunmore.”

The founder of SIAMO, the Italian American Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, she has made it her mission to continue to preserve the history that her ancestors brought to the United States from Guardia dei Lombardi, Italy.

Through her work, the City of Scranton, the Borough of Dunmore, and Guardia have been named sister cities. A dual citizen of the United States and Italy, she resides in Dunmore and is presently the director of marketing and communications at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.