Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc.
A History
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How it all began
In 1976 a group of people got together to discuss the possibility of a festival in downtown New Philadelphia, to coincide with the nation’s bicentennial celebration. The festival was such a success that in 1977 the decision was made to move the festival to Tuscora Park and use the profits to restore the merry-go-round. That Festival continues today as First Town Days.
The group of organizers still felt that the downtown needed a festival. It was discussed periodically until 1989. In early 1989 an organizing committee for an Italian Festival for Tuscarawas County was formed. It consisted of Sam Baio, Tony Battalio, Bill Benedetto, Art Cicconetti, Jules DiFederico, Rick Everett, Beth Fragasse, Patsy Fragasse, Mayor Tim Hurst, Jennifer Kleski, Al Maloney, Pete Perazzi and Bob Talarico.
In March of 1989, officers consisting of Chairperson Al Maloney, Secretary Jennifer Kleski and Treasurer Pete Perazzi were elected by the committee and various standing committees were appointed to determine the possibilities and requirements for the festival.
At the April meeting, it was decided that the name should be the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Pre-incorporated until such time as Joe Tripodi, legal advisor, could file the required papers with the State of Ohio to set up the non-profit corporation status, at which time the pre-could be dropped. At a later meeting in April Joe Tripodi presented the first draft of the Articles of Incorporation and the Constitution to be reviewed.
In May, the Articles of Incorporation were approved and three Trustees were appointed as founding Trustees to sign the Articles. They were Sam Baio, Jules DiFederico and Bob Talarico. Later that same month the Constitution was approved and the first membership dues were paid by several members. Joe Tripodi announced on May 31 that the Foundation was officially incorporated as of May 15,1989
On June 14, 1989 the first officers were elected. They were: Al Maloney, President, Bob Talarico, Vice President, Pete Perazzi, Treasurer, Beth Fragasse, Recording Secretary, and Jennifer Kleski, Corresponding Secretary. Trustees were: Tony Battalio, Art Cicconetti, Julio DiFedirico, Rick Everett, Armondo Fragasse and Angela Howard. The First Annual Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival was held August 11-13, 1989, on the Square of New Philadelphia.
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Seated Left to Right; Recording Secretary Fran Mason, Corresponding Secretary Patty Knisely, President Marsha Mari, Vice President Rick Mathias, Treasurer Bonnie Domer, Past President Kraig Rion. Standing Left to Right; Trustees Betty Jane Fischio, Don Gish, Dick Mason, Dolly Contini, Joe Sciarretti and Larry Fontana.
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On Saturday evening, November 13, at the annual Ohio Festival and Events Association Convention in Columbus, the OFEA honored two members of TCIAFFI during the dinner meeting. Dick and Fran Mason became the second and third members of our organization to be inducted into the Legion of Honor Hall of Fame. They received this honor for their distinguished service and dedication to the OFEA, TCIAFFI and the local community. They join seventy-six other members of OFEA awarded this honor since the organization began in 1961.
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Seated Left to Right: Treasurer Bonnie Domer, Corresponding Secretary Patty Knisely, President Marsha Mari, Vice President Kraig Rion, Recording Secretary Fran Mason, Past President John Correll. Standing Left to Right: Trustees Joe Sciarretti, Betty Jane Fischio, Larry Fontana, Dick Mason and RaeAnn Dabel. Absent: Trustee Rita Casella.
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Seated Left to Right; Recording Secretary Fran Mason, Corresponding Sercretary Eleanor Vesco, President Marsha Mari, Vice President Betty Jane Fischio, Treasurer Bonnie Domer
Standing Left to Right; Trustees Dolly Contini, Rita Casella, Dick Mason, Larry Fontana, Rae Ann Dabel, Patty Knisley
Absent; Past President Kraig Rion
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Seated Left: Rae Ann Dabel, Trustee; Dolly Contini, Trustee; Marsha Mari, President; Rita Casella, Trustee; Bonnie Domer, Treasurer. Standing Left: Bob Mueller, Vice President; Eleanor Vesco, Corresponding Secretary; Patty Knisely, Trustee; Fran Mason, Recording Secretary; Dick Mason, Trustee. Absent: Kraig Rion, Past President; Larry Fontana, Trustee.
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On November 10 at their annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Festival and Events Association honored Marsha Mari, the newly elected President of the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc. She was inducted into the OFEA Legion of Honor for her dedicated service to church, community, OFEA and the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival. She joined a select group of approximately 65 OFEA members, who have been awarded this honor since the OFEA began in 1961.
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Seated Left: Eleanor Vesco, Corresponding Secretary; Rae Ann Dabel, Trustee; Marsha Mari, Vice President; Bonnie Domer, Treasurer. Standing Left: Fran Mason, Recording Secretary; Rita Casella, Trustee; Dick Mason, Trustee; Kraig Rion, President. Absent: John Correll, Past President; Dolly Contini, Trustee; Larry Fontana, Trustee; Patty Knisely, Trustee.
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Kraig Rion
Marsha Mari
John Correll
Bonnie Domer
Salli Reese
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Dolly Contini
Rae Ann Dabel
Frank Dusini
Larry Fontana
Elena Littleton
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| John Correll
Kraig Rion
Fred Neff
Bob Mueller
Joyce Correll
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Dolly Contini
Frank Dusini
Sherry Everett
Elena Littleton
Marsha Mari
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| John Correll
Kraig Rion
Fred Neff
Bob Mueller
Joyce Correll
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Dolly Contini
Sherry Everett
Ann Simmers
John Vesco
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| John Correll
Kraig Rion
Fred Neff
Bob Mueller
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Tony Battalio
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Dolly Contini
Sherry Everett
John Vesco
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| John Correll
Kraig Rion
Fred Neff
Bob Mueller
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Frank Angelo
Tony Battalio
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Dolly Contini
Sherry Everett
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Fred Neff
John Correll
Robert Talarico
Bob Mueller
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Frank Angelo
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Sherry Everett
Pete Perazzi
Dan Pompey
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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Fred Neff
John Correll
Robert Talarico
Bob Mueller
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Frank Angelo
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Sherry Everett
Pete Perazzi
Dan Pompey
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Robert Talarico
Fred Neff
Guido Civiello
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Art Cicconetti
Vince Coniglio
Sherry Everett
Dan Pompey
Lou Tornabene
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Bob Talarico
Louis Tornabene
Guido Civiello
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Art Cicconetti
Vince Coniglio
Sherry Everett
Vern Littleton
Dan Pompey
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Bob Talarico
Louis Tornabene
Guido Civiello
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Eleanor Vesco
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Trustees
Art Cicconetti
Vince Coniglio
Ken Cook
Sherry Everett
Vern Littleton
Fred Neff
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Robert Mueller
Robert Talarico
Guido Civiello
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Vera Tornabene
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Ken Cook
Sherry Everett
Brett Greco
Ann Hootman
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Guido Civiello
Bob Mueller
Robert Talarico
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Vera Tornabene
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Trustees
Rita Casella
Vince Coniglio
Ken Cook
Alfredo Faustino
Bret Greco
Dan Pompey
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President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Guido Civiello
Robert Talarico
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Vera Tornabene
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Trustees
Vince Coniglio
Alfredo Faustino
Robert Mueller
Dan Pompey
August Rossetti
Lou Tornabene
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Angela Howard
Guido Civiello
Robert Talarico
Pete Perazzi
Joan Beitner
Vera Tornabene
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Trustees
Sam Baio
Vince Coniglio
Alfredo Faustino
Dan Pompey
August Rossetti
Lou Tornabene
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President
Vice President
Past President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Bob Talarico
Angela Howard
Alfredo Faustino
Pete Perazzi
Bob Mueller
Joan Beitner
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Trustees
Sam Baio
Tony Battalio
Guido Civiello
Vince Coniglio
Julio DiFederico
Armando Fragasse
Orlando Fragasse
August Rossetti
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President
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Bob Talarico
Angela Howard
Pete Perazzi
Beth Fragasse
Joan Beitner
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Trustees
Sam Baio
Tony Battalio
Art Cicconetti
Vince Coniglio
Rick Everett
Armando Fragasse
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President
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Al Maloney
Bob Talarico
Pete Perazzi
Beth Fragasse
Joan Beitner
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Trustees
Tony Battalio
Art Cicconetti
Julio DiFederico
Rick Everett
Armando Fragasse
Angela Howard
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Al Maloney
The first president
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President
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
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| Al Maloney
Bob Talarico
Pete Perazzi
Beth Fragasse
Jennifer Kleski
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Trustees
Tony Battalio
Art Cicconetti
Julio DiFederico
Rick Everett
Armando Fragasse
Angela Howard
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Alex Antonelli
Sam Baio
Tony Battalio
Bill Benedetto
Art Cicconetti
Jules DiFederico
Web DiGenova
Rick Everett
Tom Farbizo
Armondo Fragasse
Beth Fragasse
| Orlando Fragasse
Patsy Fragasse
Angie Howard
Mayor Tim Hurst
Mario Ionno
Don Kennedy
Jennifer Kleski
Al Maloney
Jeff Mamarella
| Bob Mueller
Nick Nigro Sr.
Pete Perazzi
Dan Pompey
Steve Smith
Mike Spinell
Carmen Spinelli
Bob Talarico
Joe Tripodi
Ernie Tristano
Connie Vincent
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