North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board, in partnership with the John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 and Cellini Lodge #2206 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, will present the second annual Italian American Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at Clinton G. Martin Park at 1601 Marcus Avenue in New Hyde Park, and all residents are welcome to attend.
More than 16 million people in the United States identify themselves as Italian American and New York State is home to more than 3 million of them. Italian Americans are also one of the largest ethnic groups on Long Island with more than 1 out of 4 residents claiming Italian heritage. Most of these families originally settled in New York City’s five borough between 1890 and 1920 and, along with others, eventually migrated to the city’s suburbs.
“Italian Americans have played an outsized role in the shaping of this country,” DeSena said. “Whether it’s the arts, science, business, government, or even sports, there’s always an Italian American icon to look up to. Thankfully, the Sons and Daughters of Italy do a spectacular job of keeping that rich experience and culture alive and are willing to share that heritage with our Town.”
Town Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte, who initiated the first Italian Heritage Celebration in 2023, added, “I love that North Hempstead celebrates our Town’s diversity and as a proud Italian American I want to be sure that our culture remains very much a part of that. You would need more than just a month to recognize the many contributions of Italian Americans to this country, but this is our Town’s humble way of honoring that history.”
Residents are invited to attend as the evening will include cultural artifacts, delicious native cuisine, engaging presentations, and a performance by La Diva della Canzone Cristina Fontanelli.
Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated each October and recognizes the contributions that Italian Americans have made to our country. It was first celebrated in 1989 by a special proclamation of both Congress and President George H. W. Bush.
For more information, please call 311 or (516) 869-6311.