[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 178 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                          HONORING ART IBELETO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california-

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2021

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my 
good friend Art Ibeleto in commemoration of his substantial 
contributions to Sonoma County through his remarkable career as the 
Pasta King.
  Art was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 2, 1926, but 
moved with his family to Sesta Godano, Italy, as a toddler. At age 17, 
he was drafted into Mussolini's Hitler-propped Republic of Salo Army, 
but shortly after joining the Army, he made the brave decision to join 
the Italian resistance and fight against the Fascists and Nazi Germany. 
Following the end of World War II, Art immigrated to Petaluma, 
California where he met his wife, Vicki Ghiradelli Ibeleto, and worked 
as a farmer, a mechanic, a truck driver, and a factory worker.
  In 1961, Art purchased land in Sonoma County where he and his wife 
started building their business empire with a Christmas tree farm. In 
1974, Art created the Spaghetti Palace as a booth at the Sonoma County 
Fair as a United Lodges, Sons of Italy project. As his booth grew in 
popularity, Art started building other businesses including a catering 
and freezer-case foods company, vineyards to grow premium wine grapes, 
and Art's Place, a popular Italian restaurant in Rohnert Park. As a 
restaurateur, Art gained notoriety for his savory dishes. He was dubbed 
the ``Pasta King'' by journalist Bill Soberanes and became known by 
that title for the rest of his career.
  Art's contributions to the Sonoma County community extended beyond 
his entrepreneurial endeavors. Over multiple decades, Art held benefit 
pasta feeds that brought the community together to raise money for 
charitable, educational, and civil causes. Furthermore, Art co-founded 
the North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation and served as state president 
of the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. For his 
contributions to the community, Art won a number of local, state, and 
congressional awards, including Representative Mike Thompson's Fifth 
Congressional District American Dream Award in 2017, and a lifetime 
achievement award from Senator Mike McGuire in 2018. In 2021, I 
introduced a bill to rename the Cotati Post Office after Art to honor 
his contributions to the Sonoma County community. The bill was passed 
through the House Oversight Committee and was reported out of the 
Committee on June 29.
  Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that Art's innovative 
entrepreneurship and selfless service made a profound impact on Sonoma 
County. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here 
today.

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