Community Corner
Photos: St. Liberata Festival 2012
Paul Felice honored as this year's Italian-American of the Year.
The fourth annual Patchogue Italian festival of St. Liberata took place on Main Street at the Four Corners area (intersection with North Ocean Avenue) in Patchogue Village Saturday.
People gathered along Main Street to enjoy a parade for the statue of St. Liberata followed by Italian food, music, bocce and various vendors.
Paul F. Felice was honored as this year's Italian-American of the Year at the festival.
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Felice is an active volunteer in the community. He has served over 52 years with the Patchogue Fire Department as well as many years with various civic organizations and two terms as a Village Trustee.
"I never expected this. There are so many people who deserve the same honor," Felice said.
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According to the event's program, the feast was founded by Carmine Bianco in 1923 who honored the saint by forming the Society of St. Liberata after recovering from an illness.
The Italian community of the Waverly Avenue area of Patchogue at that time helped Bianco organize the festival, which ran annually Labor Day weekend until 1962. The statue was put into storage until the festival was revived in 2009.
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Post St. Liberata Festival 2012 Photos Here
Photos: St. Liberata Festival 2011
St. Liberata Festival Brings A Little Italy to Main Street (2010)
