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Community Corner

Profile: Lenny Locantore

Named Italian-American of the Year for the 2011 St. Liberata festival.

This year's title of Italian-American of the Year was bestowed upon Leonard Locantore.

Leonard Locantore, nicknamed 'Lenny', has been involved with St. Liberata and the Knights of Mt. Carmel for over 60 years.

"My Dad was an original member of the Society of the Saint Liberata, which goes way back to the 1920's," Lenny Locantore said. "The man that originated the feast [Carmine Bianco] came over then from Italy and the festival continued until the early 1960's."

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These charitable organizations have since been consolidated but continue to donate money to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on North Ocean Avenue.

His son, Michael J. Locantore, earned the title of .

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"It's wonderful that he's it. He actually deserves it more than I did last year," Michael Locantore said.

"It feels great to be [Italian-American of the Year]. I grew up with the tradition and I am now the oldest living member of the organization," Lenny Locantore said.

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