[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22692-22693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



IN CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN FESTA AND THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN FEDERATION OF 
                   THE EAST BAY, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Italian-American 
Federation of the East Bay, for its presentation of the 9th Annual 
Italian Festa, which took place on September 16 and 17, 2000, at Jack 
London Square in Oakland, California.
  Italian Festa is one of the largest celebrations of Italian heritage 
and culture on the West Coast. This year's visitors listened to 
accordion, opera and other traditional Italian music, while watching 
costumed dancers perform. Visitors were also treated to a demonstration 
by Tony Gemignani, the ``World Pizza Toss King'' and a food 
demonstration with Andy LoRusso, ``the Singing Chef.''
  A photographic display detailing the Italian legacy in the California 
gold fields provided a fascinating local history lesson for visitors. 
``Nostra Storia--The Italian Legacy in the Mother Lode'' tells the 
story of one of the earliest and most important, but often 
unrecognized, groups of people to settle in the California foothills of 
the Sierra Nevada.

[[Page 22693]]

  In the tradition of Italian street festivals, Italian Festa provided 
a great selection of Italian specialties such as sausage and peppers, 
biscotti, polenta, Sicilian pastries, handmade ice cream, tortas and 
cannoli. The food was prepared in the kitchen of the East Bay's Social 
Clubs, which donate a portion of the profits from beverage sales to a 
scholarship foundation for Italian-American Students.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the Italian-American Federation of the East 
Bay for its efforts to celebrate Italian and Italian-American culture 
and history. On behalf of the residents of the 9th Congressional 
District, I congratulate the Foundation on the great success of the 9th 
Annual Italian Festa, and wish the organization luck in continuing to 
educate the community about Italian heritage and culture for years to 
come.

                          ____________________