Italian Heritage Month 2016 kickoff October 3, 2016
Cleveland City Hall Rotunda
Sister Dianne Piunno, SND, St Ignatius of Antioch Church, gave the invocation at the celebration of the beginning of Italian Heritage Month in the rotunda of Cleveland's City Hall.
NOTE: All the images below with a white arrow in the middle are videos. (The other images are just photos) You can click on the white arrow to watch the video of whatever is described. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner. Also, the Rotunda is a beautiful place but not the best for lighting or acoustics so please excuse any dark shots or low volume.
Sister Dianne Piunno, SND
Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone welcomed the crowd to the 11th annual Italian Heritage Month celebration in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall.
Councilman Matt Zone
He spoke about the history of the event that he started with Cleveland Mayor and Italian-American Frank G. Jackson and then introduced the Mayor.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
Classically trained singer Jonathan Cilia Farro sang the national anthems of Italy and the United States at the celebration.
Next, Councilman Matt Zone thanked Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and then introduced past committee chair Rose Zitiello and then current chair Pamela Dorazio Dean who thanked the committee members.
Matt Zone
Pamela Dorazio Dean
Rose Zitiello
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Then the 4 honors were announced and accepted.
Mario Ciano, one of the "Best Lawyers in America" at Reminger Co, LPA was awarded the Italian American heritage award for Business.
Mario Ciano
Pamela Dorazio Dean, Mario Ciano, Rose Zitiello and Matt Zone
The Di Fiore Family was awarded the Italian American heritage award for Entrepreneurs.
Carmelina Di Fiore
Tonino Di Fiore
Di Fiore Family
Carmelina Di Fiore
Frank Fiorilli was born in Collinwood in 1925. He still serves at Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy. He was awarded the Italian American heritage award for Individuals.
Frank Fiorilli
Frank Fiorilli family
The last award was to Joseph J. and Marie Brescia Frank who were honored with the Italian American heritage award for Lifetime Achievement.
Marie Brescia Frank
Joseph Frank
Frank Family
Basil M. Russo is the National President of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Russo spoke about the value of family to those of Italian heritage. He also told of the importance of Columbus Day and how some groups mischaracterize the meaning of Columbus Day for their own personal agenda.
Basil Russo
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a sumptuous Italian buffet and wine.
Congratulations to Councilman Matt Zone, Mayor Frank Jackson, Chair Pamela Dorazio Dean, Past-chair Rose Zitiello and all the committee members for a memorable evening.
Solon Italian Club Man of the Year
Mike DiCarro and wife
Basil Russo, Pamela Dorazio Dean and Matt Zone
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