The Grapevine: Italy, Mushrooms, Fairs, and Festivals
By Rosalyn Queen on July 15, 2014 from The Grapevine
A warm and gracious welcome to Michael Showell and Mountain Media , LLC, who recently acquired The Shinnston News and Harrison County Journal. I look forward to working with the new owner and know that the paper will continue to grow. The Grapevine has been a regular column in The News and Journal for over 25 years and it has many readers who look forward to it every week. Stay tuned as I am confident that the paper will only grow and get better as it meets the needs of our community. I want to wish the former owner, Kim Gemondo, much success on his retirement.
This past week I received a call from Dr. Judy Byer, from Fairmont State University advising me that she had just returned from their latest tour of Italy. Approximately 40 individuals made the trip, which included several students who are enrolled in the Italian classes at FSU. Also making the trip was Jane and Frank Gabor, Rocco Murial and John and Joy Defazio. I was especially interested to hear about their visit to San Giovanni in Fiori. The tour included spending the Feast Day of St. John in San Giovanni. The group participated in the parade and attended a special mass held at the Abby there. There was also a tour of the museum that Pietro Mazza has established there. Pietro is still available and willing to help you with any family searches that you may need.
One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of a statue of St. John the Baptist to Dr. Byer to be housed in the Cultural Center at FSU. The presentation was made during the mass and it was announced that the statue had been blessed by the Pope. The statue has been shipped back to the FSU campus. I am excited to announce that plans are being made to include the statue, for public viewing, at the James D. Larosa Cook Book Exhibit that will be sponsored by Davis Funeral Home and presented by The Progressive Women's Association in conjunction with the WVIHF. Plans are being made to have the exhibit at the Uptown Event Center, Pasta Cook Off weekend.
I was so pleased to be able to attend the Chamber's Business After Hours this past week. It was held at the Wonder Bar and I was so surprised to see the wonderful and beautiful changes that they have made. It really brought back a lot of memories for me. Probably the first time I went there was around 1958, just out of high school and as I recall you could not buy liquor so we stopped somewhere in Glen Elk to purchase a bottle of wine to take with us. There was a sunken dance floor, very small, but cozy and the steaks were as delicious as they are now. I am so sorry that there is no place that you can go now to have dinner and dance. Back then the Wonder Bar and Green Acres were the "in" places. A lot of wonderful memories from my youth. Good luck to the new owners of The Wonder Bar.
My condolences to the Oliveto family on the passing of Joe. What a man he was. This past year I have lost two of my mushroom suppliers but I hope there will be some new ones to step in for me. Joe was one of the most avid followers of The Grapevine. Many times he would call me about information he got out of the column. I certainly will miss those calls.
Speaking of mushrooms, this past week I had the opportunity to get some Italian sausage and I fried it up and emptied a jar of mushrooms and peppers in it. I warmed up a loaf of bread and what a great meal. These are the simple pleasures of life.
Thank heavens the rain has come. Our garden looks great and we have had enough cucumbers for the neighborhood. A few zucinni and I am sure it will not be long until the beets and chard will be ready. I cannot say enough about the flowers. They are so pretty and I have really enjoyed them.
Stop in at the Visitor's Bureau for information about the Fairs and Festivals and them make plans to attend some of them. The fireworks from this past weekend's Benedum Festival were fantastic. Dave and I got to watch some of them from our back porch. Great food and great entertainment is always available at local community fairs and festivals.
And remember to stop by and support your local Farmer's Market.
Keep in touch and remember that I love to hear from you. Until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."
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