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S e r v I n G taY l Or , Ol D F Or G e , mOOSIc & SUrrOUnDInG areaS trIbOrObanner.cOm | September 7, 2017
A Boy Scout spruced up the Moosic police department |Page 2
Executives of the Scranton Plan recently met in Moosic |Page 5
Old Forge High has chosen its senior class officers |Page 8
celebrating heritage Old Forge’s Felittese honors all things Italian By Josh McAuliffe
As most Old Forge residents are well aware, the Felittese Festival pays special to The Triboro Banner homage to the Our Lady of Constantinople observance in Felitto, the Italian Downtown Scranton has La Festa town where many Old Forge residents Italiana. But Old Forge boasts its own wildly popular late-summer celebration trace their lineage. The festival always takes place at the same time as Felitto’s of all things Italian. This weekend, thousands of revelers celebration, said Lou Terruso, Felittese will flock to the Felittese Association’s Association president. Festival attendees will have doz30th annual festival in celebration of ens of homemade delicacies to choose Our Lady of Constantinople. The festival runs Friday, Sept. 8, and from, including tripe, sofritto, gnocchi, meatball platters and sandwiches, Saturday, Sept. 9 from 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 10, from noon to 10 porketta sandwiches, sausage and pepper sandwiches, portabella mushroom p.m., at the Felittese fairgrounds, 146 sandwiches, pasta fagiole and pizza. Third St., Old Forge. Oh, and let’s not forget the pastry As always, the festival will feature its tent, which will feature everything usual delectable assortment of Italian from cannoli and biscotti to cheesefoods, plus live entertainment every cake, cookies and pizza fritta. night. And, for those who can’t stick Meanwhile, the Felittese Association around, takeout packages will be availwill hold its sixth annual 5K race and able. fun walk for Our Lady of Constanti“We have all the Italian ethnic nople on Sunday, Sept. 10, beginning foods,” Terruso said. “All the food is at 8:30 a.m. at Old Forge High School made from scratch by the Felittese volFootball Stadium, 301 First St. unteers. A lot of people come and help Also on Sunday, the festival will us, and it’s all volunteer.” hold its traditional procession of the The race, meanwhile, has built up its statue of Our Lady of Constantinople following the 10 a.m. Mass at Prince of own faithful following since its inception. Peace Parish, 123 Grace St. The group “We started as a two-miler in the will walk from the church to the Our first year, then we turned it into a 5K. Lady of Constantinople Chapel at the It’s the only 5K in Old Forge,” said fairgrounds. race director Chris Guida. “We’ve been getting over 100 runners and walkers. That’s a pretty good number. And the community really comes out and supports it.” TS_CNG/TRIBORO/PAGES [T01] | 09/06/17
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From left, Kevin Calpin, Jim Moran, Brian Guida, Louis Terruso, Chris Guida and Bob Calpin.
In a new wrinkle for the race, prizes will be awarded to the first male and female finisher of Felittese descent. And this year’s race theme is “Names of Felitto,” with race T-shirts featuring the surnames of the town’s Felittese families. Race fee is $20, and includes the Tshirt and a sampling of festival foods. “It’s a cheap price considering what races cost now. And you get a lot for it,” Guida said. Proceeds from the race and the festival will benefit a host of community organizations and causes. “We give to the churches, the firemen, ambulance, the school groups. There’s always somebody who’s having a fundraiser for someone who’s sick, and we help them, too,” Terruso said. “It all goes back into the community.”
“It’s amazing what the association does. These guys go above and beyond,” Guida added. “The whole festival is both a celebration of a culture and a way to give back to the community.” Race participants can register online at neparunner.com. IF YOU GO What: 30th annual Felittese Festival When: Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 10, noon to 10 p.m. Where: Felittese Fairgrounds, 146 Third St., Old Forge Details: For more information on the festival, visit www.facebook.com/ FelitteseAssociation. For a race application or more information, email LTerruso@comcast.net or call 570-4980178.