Random Newspaper Clippings About The Feast Of Lights in Chambersburg
John Chiavola, whose ''Hand Dipped Zeppoli'' concession stand
is advertised by blinking white and green lights (the colors
of Italy's flag), said he got hooked on working festivals after
helping his older brother, who's been at it for many years
''I used to help when I was younger, setting up the tents,''
said Chiavola, who at 25, talks like a veteran of the trade.
''I've got many years ahead of me,'' he said, noting that he
also operates a sausage and pepper trailer.
''It's a festival celebrating the Blessed Mother that a group
of 13 Italian men brought to Trenton when they moved here from
Italy in 1906,'' said Russell Paoline, who has been chairman of
the feast for the last five years.
The highlight of the festival is the Procession of the Madonna,
which will start at about 4:15 p.m. at St. Joachim's following
a Mass, said Russ Lupo, master of ceremonies. The procession
will wind its way through the neighborhood surrounding St.
Joachim's and end up back at the church around 6:30 p.m.
As Mass ended, six members of the Neapolitan Society _
Phillip Ponticiello, Vincent Arduino, Matteo Barbiero,
Fernando Verrelli, Giusseppe Castaldo and Tony Stangati _
bore the statue of the Madonna outside to the float.
The women of the Fraternity of St. Clare followed,
praying the Rosary.
Those strolling through the area seemed more than satisfied
with the assortment of zeppole, pizza, Italian sausage and
calzone, as well as with the amusements, including
BB-machine-gun target shooting, racing frogs, and several
rides set up in Columbus Park.
A large rosary carried by several people led the procession.
Then, on a float decorated with white carnations and blue
ribbons, a wooden statue of the Blessed Mother paraded through
city streets.Beginning at Butler, the procession followed
Bayard, Mott, South Clinton, Elmer and Chestnut streets,
passing large pockets of spectators.
Vendor Sal Antinoro attracted customers to his stand by
yelling ''Stromboli! Stromboli!'' He claims he has the
best stromboli, because he's been making them for 20 years.
At the corner of Hudson and Butler streets, there are the
Beer Gardens, a pub set up in an outdoor tent where you
have to be 21 or older to enter. Adults were chatting
and sipping beer, as they listened to old melodies.
''Every year, I would get a brand new outfit for the
festival,'' Jimmie DeLorenzo said, estimating he's been
to every festival since he was 1 or 2 years old. ''Then,
school would begin and I'd get one more new outfit.''
John DiLissio was a former member and chairman of the
Italian Feast of Lights in Chambersburg , and was
instrumental in bringing then President Jimmy Carter
to the Feast . He coached Little League Baseball for 10
years at the Katherine Ford Field in Chambersburg .
John was such an avid Yankees fan that his first date
with his beloved wife Tess was at Yankee Stadium.
4 years ago
3 comments:
Hi Mack: Speaking of the Feast of Lights in the Burg, I wonder how many recall the Feast on Paul Avenue in North Trenton. It was very similar with our Feast but not as large. We had relatives in that part of town and their church was St. Paul's, I believe. The big feature of the Burg's Feast when I was a kid were the fireworks. We had Scardone, a master, put on a powerful display on Butler Street, that scared me to death. Best Regards.
I still remember the incredible smell of the cotton candy and sausgae peppers and onions.
Whe was the last feast held?
The Feast in North Trenton by the good folks of Saint James was something every Polish kid like myself from "across the tracks", well the tracks at the Mitchell-Bissel Tile Company anyway, waited all year for.
I'd do anything for one of those deep fried tomato pies and I know that it is not a tomato pie coming out of a deep frier but Kenny Sp___o my Italian friend never got that technical, we just ate.
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