New Haven Independent

Serials | September 28, 2009

Operation Richmart

by Christopher Hoffman | September 28, 2009 8:48 AM | Permalink

Final chapter in a five-part series on the heyday of New Haven's mob: Salvatore "Midge Renault" Annunziato returns to prison. Billy Grasso rises to power as the FBI inserts an undercover agent into New Haven and is shocked what it finds. Midge, Whitey Tropiano and Grasso meet their ends.

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Serials | September 21, 2009

Pinocchio

by Christopher Hoffman | September 21, 2009 7:39 AM | Permalink

Chapter Four in a five-part series on the heyday of New Haven's mob: A brutal murder establishes Billy Grasso ... He and Whitey Tropiano go to jail as Salvatore "Midge Renault" Annunziato fights a war with a master bank robber named Eddie Devlin (pictured) ... Midge's conflict with the Aherns comes to a head as he tries to introduce his son into the ways of the mob ...

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Serials | September 7, 2009

Top Hoodlum

by Christopher Hoffman | September 7, 2009 7:29 AM | Permalink

Chapter Three in a five-part series on the heyday of New Haven's mob: J. Edgar Hoover puts Salvatore "Midge Renault" Annunziato in his sights. He goes to jail ... sort of. Midge suffers a family tragedy. He goes to federal prison, but not before flexing his power once again. Midge meets his nemesis, a New Haven cop named Stephen Ahern.

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Serials | August 31, 2009

Whitey

by Christopher Hoffman | August 31, 2009 7:42 AM | Permalink

Chapter Two in a five-part series on the heyday of New Haven's mob: Salvatore "Midge Renault" Annunziato is forced to share New Haven with Ralph "Whitey" Tropiano, a fearsome New York City hit man ... Midge becomes business manager for a major local union and makes a fortune ... With politicians and the cops in their back pockets, Whitey and Midge all but run the city ...

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Serials | August 25, 2009

Midge Renault & The Heyday Of The Mob

by Christopher Hoffman | August 25, 2009 1:46 PM | Permalink

Thirty years ago this summer, New Haven's most infamous mobster, Salvatore "Midge Renault" Annunziato, disappeared. Literally hundreds of newspaper articles were written about Midge during his lifetime, but most of his and the mob's story in the Elm City has remained hidden.

What follows is part one of a five-part series lifting the veil of secrecy and silence that has long concealed Midge (pictured, from his FBI file) and the mafia in New Haven. It also tells the stories of two other gangsters who with Midge long dominated the New Haven underworld, Ralph "Whitey" Tropiano and William "The Wild Guy" Grasso.

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Serials | August 20, 2009

City to Viruses: We're Ready for You

by Allan Appel | August 20, 2009 7:55 AM | Permalink

"If the mosquitoes bite me," said Judy Papuga, "I'll bite them back."

"If you can catch them," said city health director William Quinn.

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Serials | January 1, 2008

Chapter 7: Inauguration Day

by Paul Bass | January 1, 2008 9:25 AM | Permalink

Mayor Elbows makes Lenora Garvey an offer.

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Serials | December 30, 2007

Chapter 6: Precinct 24 Turns Out

by Paul Bass | December 30, 2007 1:37 PM | Permalink

Finally. Election Day arrives.

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Serials | December 27, 2007

Chapter 5: Dinner With Elbows

by Paul Bass | December 27, 2007 5:54 PM | Permalink

Lenora Garvey's in for a surprise. And an unforgettable dessert.

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Serials | December 26, 2007

Chapter 4: A 3-Alarm Protest

by Paul Bass | December 26, 2007 8:04 PM | Permalink

Can a Libertarian mayoral candidate find common cause with preservationists?

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Serials | December 25, 2007

Chapter 3: Rendezvous For Destiny

by Paul Bass | December 25, 2007 9:18 PM | Permalink

The mayor finds an ace in the hole to save his seat.

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Serials | December 23, 2007

Chapter 2: Garvey Finds An Issue

by Paul Bass | December 23, 2007 10:10 AM | Permalink

Guess what language the main branch's new "Spanish-Speaking Librarian" doesn't know?

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Serials | December 21, 2007

GOP Finds Mayoral Candidate

by Paul Bass | December 21, 2007 12:32 PM | Permalink

She's black. She's gay. She's ... a Libertarian?

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Serials | November 30, 2005

Revolt of the Turkeys, Part One

by Allan Appel | November 30, 2005 10:16 AM | Permalink

In which a rabble-rousing turkey escapes the farm and finds himself in Washington, where his talents land him a broadcasting job.

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Serials | November 29, 2005

Revolt of the Turkeys, Part Two

by Allan Appel | November 29, 2005 8:22 AM | Permalink

In which Terence becomes so popular as a media personality, such a spokesman for the downtrodden, that he is recruited for a political career. Read part two of New Haven novelist and playwright Allan Appel's four-part Thanksgiving fable. (Click here to start with part one if you didn't yesterday.)

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Serials | November 28, 2005

Revolt of the Turkeys, Part Three

by Allan Appel | November 28, 2005 8:24 AM | Permalink

In which Terence’s surprisingly successful rise as a presidential candidate encounters the mother of all roadblocks when Farmer Ed, recruited by the slime-throwing opposition, outs Terence as a turkey. Here's part three of New Haven novelist and playwright Allan Appel's four-part serial.

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Serials | November 27, 2005

Revolt of the Turkeys, Part Four

by Allan Appel | November 27, 2005 8:25 AM | Permalink

The conclusion of New Haven novelist and playwright Allan Appel's four-part holiday serial. Today, Terence’s oratory, leadership, and remarkable political candor reach their height, leading the turkey nation â€"- and us -- into a future perhaps without Thanksgiving.

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