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Feast of St. Rocco prevails over stormy weather

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Contributed by: Simon Moya-Smith/YourHub staff on 8/18/2008

John Gargano, 77, of Wheat Ridge, and honorary member of the Potenza Lodge, 1900 West 38th Ave., has attended the annual Feast of St. Rocco in north Denver for nearly 10 years.

"I like this feast because it brings all the different Italians together," he said. "This event is the life-blood of this lodge."

Held on Aug. 15 through the 17, the feast included live music, games, a raffle with a grand prize of $3,000 and, of course, an assortment of foods.

Festival-goers were offered numerous Italian delights which included cakes, pizza fritta, pie and pizzelles as well as the ever popular meal of the feast, sausage and pepper sandwiches.

"Friday night was a rain out. We only sold about 255 sandwiches," said Ralph Acierno, Denver resident and vice president of the lodge. "But we expect to sell about five to seven thousand over the weekend."

The feast saw its yearly abundance of visitors on late Sunday afternoon, prompting the 30 to 35 volunteer wrapers, cooks and peelers at the sausage stand to work post haste.

"They're buying them faster than we can cook them," said Acierno.

Although nearly hindered by an abundance of rain this year, there was another instance when stormy weathers postponed the feast.

According to president Billy Buscietta, 72, of Westminster, it was 11 years ago when the festival was canceled on an account of rain.

"We had it, though, the following week," said Buscietta, whose first time at the event was when he was 6-months old.

"This feast is a tradition and it's about heritage, love, as well as the pride of being Italian," he said.

Along with the festivities over the weekend was the traditional blessing and bidding of the statue of St. Rocco followed by a procession around the old neighborhood.

What's next for the lodge?

"Two or three things," said Buscietta. "We have a spaghetti dinner coming up and our Christmas party."

For more information on the lodge, go to www.potenzalodge.com.

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