A Neighborhood Tradition In Franklin Square

By James H. Burns

You could see the lights,and the Ferris wheel, above Hempstead Turnpike, in Franklin Square, well before smelling the pork braciole, and sizzling steaks, cooking on an open grill:

The annual Saint Catherine of Sienna's Feast was held last Wednesday through Sunday, and featured a combination of carnival rides and games, pop bands, classic street fair food offerings, and religious tributes.

For some of the thousands who attended, the highlight of the gala was its sense of community.

"I love the food, the music and the PEOPLE," said Leonora Munno, a retired guidance counselor and reading teacher, who's lived in Franklin Square for eighteen years.

"It's a family festival," said Munno's husband, Ralph, a pharmacist, who with his Knights of Columbus brethren was helping to man the zeppole booth. "All these people live here." (A zeppole, of course, is an orb of dough, deep fried, and usually topped with powdered sugar.)

Saint Catherine's is a Catholic church located on New Hyde Park Road (the extension of Franklin Avenue), just North of Hempstead Turnpike, between Holtzheimer and Lutz Streets. The festival was divided in half, with the carnival rides and games to the south, just beyond the Taco Bell parking lot.  (Older residents can remember when the fast food destination was an Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips, and before that a Wetson's Hamburgers).

Just across Holtzheimer were a booth with information on Saint Catherine's and its many outreach programs, the food vendors, a performance stage, and several other attractions.

For those for whom the neon and the noise may have been too much, it's important to note that there are always children for whom a carnival is their first carnival. As in decades past, kids could still win a goldfish by accurately tossing a ping pong ball, or get a prize by throwing a dart into a balloon.  There was the chance to buy a temporary airbrushed tattoo, make sand art, or have a face painting session.  A small petting zoo, with pony rides, marked its third appearance in Franklin Square in the last eight months, having also been a popular attraction at the Franklin Avenue Street Fair, in October and June,

A special childrens' carnival section also presented a nice array of fun games, which guaranteed that virtually everyone was a winner.

One could also go inside, to  "The Cafe Sienna," the lovely restaurant set up inside the church's gymanisum, serviced by members of Saint Catherine's Morning Star Youth Ministry

Overseeing all of the revelry was a seventy foot "Giglio," the name for a pillar created to honor San Paolina di Nola (Saint Paulinus, of Nola, Italy).  The gift of the local branch of the Sons of  San Paolino, this year's structure, constructed almost entirely of wood, was designed by John Spampinato and Peter Buonaiuto. The front of the Giglio, called "the face"-- decorated with religious art, topped by a statue of the Saint--was on loan from the Sons chapter in East Harlem, and was originally brought in from Brusciano, the Italian town in Naples where such festivities originated.

On Sunday afternoon, after a blessing by Reverend Monsignor Richard M. Figliozzi, over seventy men raised the SIX THOUSAND POUND edifice, in what is usually called a "giglio lift," or "the dancing giglio."  First, the Sons of San Paulino TURNED the movable monument, and then they walked it hundreds of feet, as well as making the configuration actually seem to bounce up and down!  The devoted legion included the feast's special honoree, Mitch Farbman (who's been involved with "Giglio's" since 1958!), and the society's local president, Tony Passalacqua

Farbman said: "My grandfather... MANY of our grandfathers, came from Brusciano, and settled in East Harlem. They helped begin the giglio festivals....  My grandfather died before I was born. I learned about the giglio and "the lift"  from my uncle. I'm half Jewish. My father and uncle were the best of friends.  I grew up with, and know the importance of heritage! We all feel that It's important to keep this alive, for the next generation."

A storm had postponed the lift from Saturday evening, along with many of the Feast's activities. Amidst Saturday afternoon's downpour, the only bright spot seemed to be when the CBS FM 101.1 radio van showed up. With the rain whipping and the temperatures dropping, Grace Acciardi and Nohely D'Oleo, two newcomers to the station's promotions department, gainfully set up the CBS tent and prize table.The sound of CBS-FM on their portable sound system, and the sight of the bright red CBS banner, could be seen to palpably lift the spirits of both the spattering of patrons, and the vendors, who were otherwise facing a disastrous day of sales, on what is usually the festival's biggest day.

(One policeman even walked over to the gals, to test if they knew who was singing the "Soul Man" rendition, playing over 101.1 FM!)

Sunday's early afternoon sun, after hours of drizzle, marked  a welcome continuation of the yearly assemblage.

"Monetarily, this a great help for the church," said Rob Tinelli, a corporate chef, who was helping to run the food tent. "It also helps to bring our parish together."

"People really look forward to this, the companionship and fellowship," said Pat Lannon, who's been volunteering at the Feast, since 1990. "There are lonely seniors, who get to meet people, and make friendships."

For those who have just moved to the neighborhood, in addition to all the youngsters at the fair, the festival can also be about beginning new traditions.

James H. (Jim) Burns is a writer/actor living in Long Island.