Another month gone; another month starting. August 2015 is now in the history books and September 2015 is here.

 

With Labor Day and the start of September, we all turn our thoughts to the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. This past week saw the beginning of activities with the very popular Pasta Cook-Off held at Jackson Square. This is the first time that I have not been able to attend the Cook-Off since it's inception 27 years ago. My doctor has advised me that I should avoid crowds for fear of catching a cold or the flu. Much to my dismay he has suggested that I stay at home….although I may venture out to the Festival on Sunday.

 

Being confined to my home gives me a lot of time to think. I remember so fondly the beginning of the Festival in 1978. What a mammoth task we undertook. This was not a job that we decided on Monday we were going to do and had it on the street the following weekend.

 

It was really Merle Moore's original idea to host a festival to celebrate our area's Italian heritage. She enlisted the  help of business leaders like James Larosa, John Manchin, Sam Chico, Frank Iaquinta, Lou Spatafore and Sam D'Annunzio. This group rolled their sleeves up and decided they would do this festival and do it right. After the original charter was drawn up, the group began to enlist members of the community who were willing to work hard to bring this to fruition.

 

Of utmost importance to the founders was that we present a festival that was authentic to the roots of our families who immigrated here from Italy. After a year of hard work and planning the first festival was held on the streets of Clarksburg in 1979. It turned out to be very successful and more than any of us could ever have imagined. The success of the festival was attributed to the financial support of the above mentioned men and to the hard work of the individuals who were enlisted to chair different facets of the festival.

 

On of my most memorable moments working with the festival was when Senator Byrd made arrangements for representatives of our board of directors to travel to Washington, DC. to present an official invitation to then Vice President George Bush. How proud we all were to be able to represent our heritage and our festival in this fashion. Attending that ceremony with me were John Manchin, Sam Chico, Regina Maria II Connie Chico-Merandi and my son, Mike Queen.

 

Soon our festival became well known and we were rated among the "Top 100 Events in America" by the National Tour Bus Association. Through the early years we never sacrificed the quality of the festival in order to attract more people. Because of the quality we attracted more and more individuals. We joined with the National Italian American Foundation and they complimented us on the quality of the festival and it's authenticity. Now in it's 37th year, the festival's board of directors works hard to continue the festival and they strive to continue to maintain authentic Italian customs, foods and music.

 

As you celebrate this Labor Day weekend, I hope you'll take time to visit our festival. I encourage you to remember with fondness Merle Moore, Sam Chico, Sam D'Annunzio, James D. Larosa, John Manchin, Frank Iaquinta and Lou Spatafore and all of those volunteers who work so tirelessly on this festival.

Enjoy our heritage and have a safe weekend.

 

September 10 marks American Freedom Day. This is a movement started locally by Dr. Robert Martino that has now gone nationwide.

 

On September 10, American Destinations will be sponsoring a trip to Washingrton, DC for veterans to visit the memorials and participated in some ceremonies. If you are interested in making this trip by bus please call Curtis Edwards at 304.629.0465. This is just another way to  honor all those who have served or are serving our country in the Armed Forces.

 

September is National Mushroom Month and National Honey Month. These are two of the most wanted staples in our house. They allow us to be able to prepare those wonderful mushrooms in the crock and to use the honey for our Pita Piata. I hope if we get enough rain that we will have a bumper crock of mushrooms.

 

There is still time to enjoy a local festival or two before winter sets in and I encourage you to plan a trip to visit the beautiful fall foliage.

 

An update on my health: I started my chemotherapy treatments this past week. They will continue for a while yet and I hope they will return me to new. There are never enough words to thank all of you for your prayers, for your cards, for your phone calls, for your flowers and all your well wishes.

 

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