Now that August is here it is time to get ready for the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. Can you believe it is the 40th anniversary of this Festival?

 

A new event is being planned as part of the Festival. It will be held in our beautifully renovated and expanded Robinson Grand Theatre for the Arts. On Sunday, August 26, the play "Late Nite Catechism" will be presented at the Robinson Grand at three o'clock. If you spent time attending Catholic school or if you attended catechism after school or in the Summer you will certainly be able to associate with this play. You will immediately be reminded of the meatless Fridays, weekly confessions, the Latin masses.  You will also be reminded that the Hail Mary is a prayer...not a football pass.

 

The audience will be a part of the sister's class. If you participate you may be surprised to receive a crack across the knuckles if you misbehave. Naughty students who participate may find themselves setting in a corner on the stage reflecting on their actions.

 

The authors Maripat Donovan and Vicki Quade will promise you a hilarious trip down memory lane. Late Nite Catechism has been hailed by the New York Times as uproarious interactive theatre. It is one of the longest running shows in Chicago and U.S. theatre history.

 

Tickets will be on sale at the Festival office or by calling (304) 622-7314. The tickets are $25.00 per person. There are tentative plans for a pasta dinner prior to the beginning of the play. Tickets for the dinner will be limited and should be purchased immediately.

 

The audience is sure to be taken back to their youth through this sinfully funny presentation.

 

The weekend prior to the Festival will be filled with pre -festival activities that will surely get you hyped up for the Festival.  There is the bocce tournament, Pasta Cook-Off, a golf outing, an elimination dinner and an Honorees dinner planned.

Once again, hats off to the City of Clarksburg and all those involved with the restoration of the Robinson Grand Theatre. I was asked to be a greeter for the innaugural soft opening held last week. As I stood there it was hard to believe that the theatre was restored to its original state.

 

For the soft opening there was a great crowd. I hope the community continues to support this project.

 

My condolences to Frank Fernandez. I and his entire family on the passing of his sister, Roxanne McDaniels.

 

It is almost like saying a bad word when you say Fall but it is here and school will be starting. Fall means we will have to be canning our garden vegetables. Mary C. Queen stopped by with some cucumbers and zucchini from her garden and I really enjoyed them. It almost seems strange but most of you know that the Blessed Mother Mary statue moved into my new house.  Her presence is such a comfort, since this is the first time in my life I have lived alone.

 

Over the last several weeks I have been blessed by three great friends with visits from Mary Barnett, Mary Childers and Mary C. Queen. They have truly been blessed by their name.

 

If it seems repetitious I am sorry but there are not enough words to thank you all for your prayers, the invitations to lunch, the gifts and all the cards you send, especially my weekly card from Martha Caputo. Thank you, Thank you.

 

Keep in touch and until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."

 

Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Facebook page.