On Wednesday, September 9, Genealogy Club of Newtown will hold the first meeting of the 2026-27 year with a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the club, which met for the first time on September 12, 2001. This will be an in-person meeting from 5:30 to 7:45 pm in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. There will be a raffle.

Guest speaker Roslyn Torella, MBA, who specializes in Italian American and immigrant genealogy, will join the meeting remotely from Ohio.

Torella is a well-known and sought-after speaker for genealogy societies, historical organizations, libraries, and conferences throughout the United States and Canada. She is a published author whose work has appeared in National Genealogical Society Magazine. She also wrote a monthly Italian genealogy column for La Gazzetta Italiana, sharing research strategies and historical insights with readers across the country.

Torella is a retired federal information technology professional. She combines her passion for genealogy with decades of research experience to help others discover the stories of their immigrant ancestors. She is known for making complex research topics approachable through practical examples, case studies, and real-world problem solving.

With her presentation, genealogy club members and guests will learn how to use Italy’s Ancestor Portals to locate civil birth, marriage, and death records. The presentation will be helpful even for those who are not fluent in Italian.

Torella will discuss what the Antenati Portale is, how to use it, what records are available, and more. The program will include hints and tips that will be useful regardless of where one’s ancestors lived.

Genealogy Club of Newtown meets on the second Wednesday of every month, September through June. Programs are co-sponsored by C.H. Booth Library and are open to all who are interested in genealogy. Membership is encouraged.

Dues for the 2026-27 year will be decided at the September 9 meeting, and membership information will be available.

Reservations are not required but additional information is available by sending email to genclubnewtownct.secretary@gmail.com.