The ANNOTICO Report

An Expression of Pride that is based on an Ignorance of your Culture, is an EMPTY Pride.
Those who loudly proclaim their Italian or Italian American Pride, yet have little knowledge of their Culture,
except for what they get from their plate, are an "empty suit"!!!

Cuisine does have a way of connecting one with their Heritage, and Italians are blessed with the finest of cuisine, partially because of their emphasis on FRESH, EXCELLENT  INGREDIENTS, and PATIENT COOKING.

These people are commended for doing "something" rather than those who would do nothing.

But, why do these Festivals whose focus is rightly on Pride, NOT give a HIGH PRIORITY to selling Books about Italian and Italian American History and Culture, and CDs with Traditional and Non traditional Italian and Italian American Music, and DVDs of Italian  Italian American Movies.

For you and your children to savor your Italian culture only with your taste buds, is to deprive yourselves of the far more pleasurable  immense "immersion" available.

And for the Parents NOT to expose their children to their RICH Cultural Heritage is abetting in it's demise!!!!

Asbury Park Press
Jersey Shore
Gannett Newspapers
By Jane Zang
August 13, 2005
OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Based on the rules in the T-shirt booth, John Furiato is not an FBI (Full-Blooded Italian), but a half-Italian who "needs hugs" and an IBM (Italian by Marriage). His wife, Christie, also happens to be a "50 percent."

But no matter. Amid the steaming heat at Joe Palaia Park on Friday, the Ocean Township residents enjoyed wandering through booths with "real Italian food" and bumping into old friends.

"It's so funny, everybody comes back," said John Furiato, 46, a lifelong township resident. "You get a little bit of everything."

With food, fancy rides and entertainment, the five-day Italian Festival has become a magnet for township residents and Italian Americans outside the area.

Sponsored by the Italian American Association of Ocean Township, the festival was established 28 years ago to celebrate the township's bicentennial and Italian heritage and ! culture, said Mike Cernigliaro, one of five founding members of the club.

"We can project a positive image of Italian Americans and contribute to the community by helping other community organizations," said Cernigliaro, a township resident since 1967. "Italian Americans aren't what you see in "The Godfather.' Italian Americans aren't what Hollywood projects as a gangster image, if you want."

By its own measure, the nonprofit organization has succeeded. The township has 5,657 residents of Italian heritage — 21 percent of the entire population. Many have high-profile jobs.

The organization has 365 members, who must have at least 50 percent Italian blood to be eligible. Among the members are state Sen. Joseph A. Palaia, a former township mayor, Superintendent of Schools Thomas Pagano, Councilman Chris Siciliano and Police Chief Antonio Amodio, festival Chairman Mario Delano said.

The size of the festival also has quadrupled, to 81 vendors this year. L! ast year, the festival donated $27,000 as student scholarships and charity contributions, said Carlo Gallello, a club spokesman.

"We are very community-based," Delano said. "It's all local. They come here. Their families come here. Their friends come here."

For Susan Lyster, attending the festival has become a 12-year family tradition. Among the must-haves was butterfly fries, which filled two plates before Lyster and three children, Ricky, 14, Tyler, 12, and Tommy, 10.

"They look forward to it every year," said Lyster, a township resident. "It's in town. The food is very good."

Steve Quaranta, who plays Italian classics and sings Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra songs as part of the New Paisons band, said he felt close to home at the festival.

"We are proud of our heritage," said Quaranta, of South Brunswick. "We are proud of Italians, of Italian Americans."
Jane Zhang: (732) 643-4029 or jzhang@app.com
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