The surface parking lot surrounding a medical office building in Baldwin Hills is up for redevelopment with affordable housing, per an application recently submitted to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning The proposed development from Farzad Amid of Crenshaw Medical Group, LP would rise from a U-shaped site located at 3756 W. Santa Rosalia Drive, across the street from the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza mall. The proposed development, which would make use of the Mayor's Executive Directive 1 calls for redeveloping the parking lot which surrounds the building with a new five-story structure containing 270 studio and one-bedroom apartments without on-site parking As a fully affordable housing complex, slated to serve low- and moderate-income renters the building would be eligible for density bonus incentives permitting waivers from certain zoning rules Metropolis Architecture is designing the apartment complex which is shown in plans as a contemporary low-rise edifice The proposed development follows plans from Harridge Development Group to add new housing and commercial uses to the nearby mall property. The first phase of that project would be a 636-unit apartment complex a few blocks north at 4005 Crenshaw Boulevard Another large commercial development is planned to the north at the former Marlton Square site along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where Hudson Pacific Properties has proposed offices, a grocery store, and other uses Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr and housing.lacounty.gov California's 2024 state income limits Click here for additional affordable housing resources Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker and she is the lifeline of Sicilians and migrants they walk the rugged path that climbs from the city to the summit of Monte Pellegrino which is the hill that dominates the Conca d’oro They do so to pay homage to the remains of a girl who and who is now venerated as an icon of freedom A saint who for four hundred years has held together in Palermo the piazza and the sumptuous terraces A saint who refused marriage and chose her own destiny and who for this reason has become an icon of the fight against violence against women This violence is not a scourge solely in Palermo experienced another terrible station in a seemingly endless via crucis This time it was the gang rape of a 19-year-old girl in an abandoned construction site at the Foro Italico which is a large green area on the seafront that has not yet been fully restored who is the author of numerous murals in Palermo celebrating popular icons - from the migrant saint Benedetto the Moor to the Franciscan “angel of the lowly” Biagio Conte the secretary of the Italian Communist Party killed by the Mafia - has in recent months created an enormous painting depicting Santa Rosalia He has done so in the heart of a difficult district like Sperone where the school and parish wage a daily struggle to snatch the children from a destiny of degradation and crime “The meaning I gave my Santa Rosalia allo Sperone painting,” he explained in a society that instead imprisons her in the cage of stereotypes expressed in her determination not to accept the marriage her father wanted to force her into the year in which we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Feast dedicated to her (the first was in 1624) is an opportunity to retrace a story that speaks to us today A story read in different ways by the Church of the 17th century and that of today by those who see in her the saint to whom to ask for a grace and by those who in her earthly parable secularly see the value of rebellion against male power but the Rosalies who speak to our society today are innumerable Which shows that she is a figure of still extraordinary strength became the liberator of Palermo from the plague - begins almost nine hundred years ago the first scene would show a large window of Palermo’s royal palace to King Roger II and his wife Elvira of Castile I announce to you that by God’s will a rose without thorns will be born in the house of Sinibaldo the prophecy took the form of a little girl called Rosalie Linguists explain that the name Rosalia actually has a Germanic etymology which evokes the meaning of shield and glory but it is known that people read what they want into words and in “Rosalia” the pious have always seen a rose and a lily grew up in the house of Count Sinibaldo Sinibaldi the lord of Monte delle Rose and Quisquina and a member of the Berardi family that boasts direct lineage from Charlemagne she could count on all the comforts that the era guaranteed to aristocrats she played in the royal court or in her father’s villa at Olivella and was educated as befitted a girl of noble birth At the age of 19 she was chosen to be maid of honour to Queen Sibylla of Burgundy It matters little whether the hagiography is the result of an invention a Latin word that indicates both inventio - the finding of his remains at Monte Pellegrino - and the fanciful construction of a story constructed at a desk which interweaves her noble origins with her kinship with sovereigns A necessary construction to make the upper classes accept an ancient cult venerated by the lower social classes to become rigid in the folkloric stereotype is enriched every year with new meanings and welcomes new requests to mend a community torn apart first by the plague and then by mid-century insurrections in the Kingdom of Spain Rosalia is the saint of the people of Palermo from all social backgrounds the saint of the immigrants who stayed in the city the saint of the Sicilian emigrants scattered throughout the world The saint of women rebelling against a written destiny She did not have the freedom to fall in love with an ordinary boy Least of all for a daughter of an aristocratic family whose name was Baldwin and had a special claim on the king It is said that the count had saved his life during a hunt This credit he decides to collect when he asked him for his niece Rosalie’s hand The legendary story of the future saint recounts that the day before her wedding to Baldwin she saw the image of Jesus reflected instead of her own This was a sign that marriage was not to be Rosalie cuts off her blonde braids and announced her decision Her parents and her betrothed do not take this news well So much so in fact that in the following months they visited her continually in the monastery where she had moved to which was then the present church of the Santissimo Salvatore This church was at that time dedicated - ironically - to the four patron saints that Rosalia will oust to become the devotion of the people of Palermo: Agata They visit her and try to make her change her mind to induce her to abandon her habit and veil The girl has made up her mind to become a hermit After several stages and years of prayer in caves and the Sicilian countryside the final stage of her hermitage was at Monte Pellegrino which was a sacred mountain in Palermo even in pre-Christian times It was here that the future saint ended her earthly existence Palermo was afflicted by a deadly plague epidemic which claimed the lives of ten thousand people who was also named Rosalia fulfilled a vow that she had made at the hospital and climbed Monte Pellegrino Our Lady appears to her in a dream and indicates a spot in that cave in which to dig the day that was to become the highlight of the patron saint’s feast these bones puzzled Cardinal Giannettino Doria The first experts he summoned claimed they belonged to three different people it would not be those remains that would drive away the pestilence invoking a miracle to release them from the nightmare a “saponaro” who climbed Mount Pellegrino to commit suicide after his wife’s death advised him to reassure the archbishop about the authenticity of the remains found there and to urge him to take them on procession Cardinal Doria then appointed another commission of experts 1625 gave a verdict that contradicted the previous one They found that the bones belonged to just one person The conclusion was clear: they were the “holy” remains of Rosalie the people of Palermo paraded behind the urn they hope will be miraculous a crowd made a pilgrimage to the saint’s grotto and the plague bulletin for the day reported There was enough to acclaim the “Santuzza” the patron saint of the people of Palermo four hundred years later they are still hoping for her help the evening of the patron saint’s “Festino” Archbishop Corrado Lorefice pointed out the rampant use of the chemical drug which is annihilating so many young people From a corner of the suburbs to the summit of her mountain from the popular festival in her name to the nocturnal pilgrimage that brings Palermitani and Sri Lankan immigrants together that courageous and determined young woman continues to tell us something important and President of the Foundation Le Vie dei Tesori L'Osservatore Romano00120 Vatican City.All rights reserved The Sicilian festival Festino di Santa Rosalia originates from a plague exactly 400 years ago Sicily draws in travellers for its sparkling azure waters and sun-drenched beaches but the Italian island’s cultural landscape with its mosaic of influences is just as alluring One of Sicily’s most significant cultural events – Festino di Santa Rosalia – takes place annually every July The festival celebrates religion and folklore in connection with a devastating plague that hit Palermo exactly 400 years ago we tell you everything you need to know about the festival from why it is celebrated to some interesting facts about the honoured Santa Rosalia… The Festino di Santa Rosalia is an annual festival celebrated in Palermo to honour Saint Rosalia Saint Rosalia is venerated for having saved Palermo from a devastating plague outbreak in 1624 Rosalia’s relics were discovered after a divine vision and when her relics were carried in a grand procession through the streets of Palermo The festival celebrates Rosalia as an enduring symbol of devotion Her intercession and the ending of the plague represent a story of rebirth and hope for the city 2024 sees the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the body of Saint Rosalia and the subsidence of the plague The annual celebration of Festino di Santa Rosalia takes place from 10-15 July in Palermo with the popular processions on 14-15 July the procession carrying a chariot containing the relics of Saint Rosalia set off from the Cathedral going to the Foro Italico via the Cassaro – a route that references the historic suffering led by the Archbishop and the Mayor of Palermo the relics of the Saint are carried in another grand procession along Cassaro The relics are housed in a silver urn which is brought back to the Cathedral of Palermo and blessed by the Archbishop of Palermo at the end of the procession Masses are held throughout the day in honour of Saint Rosalia music performances and shows are held throughout the week for the celebration Local food of the celebration includes caponatina – chopped fried aubergine with olive oil celery and olives; babbaluci – boiled snails; and vugghiuta – boiled tuna Musical performances in honour of Santa Rosalia for the 400th Festino from 27 June to 3 August 2024 Santa Rosalia was born into the noble Norman court of Palermo the daughter of a lord and the niece of King Roger she had a vision before her planned wedding that prompted her to retreat to a convent and then live as a hermit in a cave on Monte Quisquina As word of her religious devotion and piety spread seeing her as a saint who could intercede for them with God she moved to an even more remote cave on Monte Pellegrino the traditions said that four centuries after her disappearance then to a hunter to whom she indicated where her remains were to be found She ordered him to bring her bones to Palermo and have them carried in procession through the city While ending of the plague in 1624 is the most famous miracle associated with Santa Rosalia many other instances of her miraculous intercession have been reported including the curing of serious illness after prayers and protecting Palermo from natural disasters such as earthquakes and storms For more information, visit ilfestinodisantarosalia.it Sign up to our newsletter for free with the Wanderlust Club Archive Projects The Feast of Santa Rosalia will mark its golden anniversary when it returns Aug The 11-day event celebrating Italian culture will take place on 18th Avenue between 68th Street and Bay Ridge Parkway an Emmy award-winning journalist for Fox 5’s “Good Day New York,” is the grand marshal “Our Italian heritage is the heart and soul of my family both here in America and back home in Italy,” Tomassetti told this paper “I was raised in a religious home filled with lots of love beautiful music and respect for one another (most importantly my elders) where family unity is of the utmost importance “I wish my grandparents were still here to share my joy 25 with a parade from 18th Avenue and 72nd Street to St Dominic’s Church on Bay Ridge Parkway and 20th Avenue + Rosalia is said to have been born to a noble family near Palermo, Sicily.  + At an early age she left home to live as a hermit in a cave at San Stefano Quisquina, near Bivona. An inscription is the cave is traditionally thought to have been written by her own hand: “I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibaldus, Lord of Quisquina and Rosae, have decided to live in this cave for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ.” + At some point, she returned to Palermo and lived in a grotto near Monte Pellegrino.  + Following her death in 1166, she was hailed as a saint and devotion to her spread throughout Sicily and southern Italy.  + Her name was added to the Roman Martyrology by Pope Urban VIII.  “My faith is firmly established, for I have built my life on Christ.”—from the Liturgy of the Hours, Common of Virgins On September 4 we also remember Saint Nicolò Rusca. A priest of the diocese of Como, Itlay, he worked to help implement the decrees of the Council of Trent in a region where Protestant reforms and ideas were taking hold. Falsely accused of being involved in violent acts against Protestant ministers, he was arrested in July 1618 and died from abuse and torture in prison in Thusis, Switzerland, on September 4. He was beatified in 2013.  O God, who declare that you abide in hearts that are pure, grant that through the intercession of the Virgin blessed Rosalia we may be so fashioned by your grace, that we become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. Would you like to read more like this?Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox A presentation scheduled for the November 7 meeting of the Crenshaw Corridor Design Review Board unveils new renderings for a proposed production campus in Baldwin Hills The project, called Stocker Street Creative, is named for its location at 3701 W. Stocker Street. Illinois-based developer 4SBay Partners, LLC is has proposed the redevelopment of the property with five buildings Plans also call for a 31,000-square-foot landscaped central plaza as well as a "paseo" off of Santa Rosalia Drive JGM is designing Stocker Street Creative which is shown with outdoor dining along the street MGP - Golf & Coastal Properties has built up an enviable reputation as the leading real estate agent selling bank-owned properties private resales and developer offers on golf resorts in the Region of Murcia and is in the fortunate position of not being tied to any developer meaning it can offer the best independent advice possible to all of its clients the specialist estate agent has sold hundreds of properties in resorts and has received numerous awards from Polaris World for outstanding quality of service to customers "We are the only Murcia agent that can offer properties from all sectors of the market therefore ensuring that our clients get to see the best offers on all the resorts," promises MGP All the company's staff and directors own property on the golf resorts and pride themselves on being "the most knowledgeable agents operating in this area".  "We are not 'pushy salesmen' – we want all our clients to recommend us to others." Visit the MGP website to find out more or call +44 745 740 5468 (UK) / +34 868 110 011 (Spain) to book an appointment with one of MGP's sales team and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article RosaliaBrian Logan Photography | Shutterstock It’s hard to visit Palermo without understanding the deep devotion that binds locals with their patron saint, St. Rosalia. The urban landscape of Palermo itself is dominated by the relationship between locals and the saint, with the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia towering over the Sicilian city from its hilltop location on Mount Pellegrino.  it was in a cave on this mountain just outside the city that on July 15 the relics of Rosalia – a local noblewoman who had retired to Mount Pellegrino to live her devotion as a hermit – were found inside a cave After the miraculous find, the relics were paraded through the city and the fast-spreading plague that had been tormenting locals for months ended Palermitani adopted Santa Rosalia as their patron saint with a moving and heartfelt celebration taking place each year during the Feast of Saint Rosalia on July 15 culminating with a procession from Palermo up to Mount Pellegrino This year marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the miraculous remains of Santa Rosalia and Palermo will celebrate the “Santuzza” (“little saint” in Sicilian) with a rich calendar of events and cultural initiatives starting from May until early 2025.  a large room lined with ceiling-high wooden shelves that used to host Palermo’s pawnshop where citizens could sell objects for cash locally known as “Monte Santa Rosalia,” has played a crucial role in the daily lives of people since its establishment in 1800.  “This year Palermo is going to celebrate a journey that began in 1624 and today is marking 400 years of history and traditions,” said the Mayor of the Municipality of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, in a press release “It is going to be a busy year of celebrations dedicated to Santa Rosalia which thanks to the active participation of the entire territory and institutions will allow the tourist revival of the city with a renewed metropolitan internationally oriented identity.”  Celebrations will likely draw many devotees from the US, where Catholics of Sicilian heritage maintain a special devotion to St Rosalia with dedicated parades held each year in New York “Palermo will express itself in all its beauty through spiritual and cultural itineraries showing the world its priceless historical and artistic heritage,” Mayor Lagalla concluded Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you Please make a tax-deductible donation today Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news plagued today by violence rather than illness but chose to renounce the pleasures of court life to life as a hermit she handed over “her own existence” and abandoned “the wealth of the world.” both in the times when our hermit Virgin lived and in our own is constantly marked by the cross,” Pope Francis continued but often in circumstances in which love is not understood or is even refused It remains a countercultural choice today,” he added He invited the people of Palermo to imitate their patroness “renouncing the superfluous” and “adopting the logic of the Gospel This hope in God and in the eternal joys of heaven helps people to “make room for love in order to give it to others.” The Pope encouraged them to be a “beacon of hope” and to ask St to dispel fears and overcome the resignations that suffocate the roots of goodness so as to be bold disciples of the Master and builders of hope.” Not many details are known about the saint’s life An inscription in the cave where she lived as a hermit mentions her noble family and an oral tradition recorded by a local historian says that she arrived in Palermo as part of the court of Queen Margaret She abandoned this life to live as a hermit in the mountains outside the city There is reason to believe she may even have had a wall built to close her into the cave to ensure her solitude with God (presumably with some opening to allow the entry of food and drink) probably in the very cave on Mount Pellegrino where she had lived her last years seems to have declared her a saint immediately Rosalia are found less than 30 years later After reviewing an array of creative and colorful submissions the Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) has announced the winner of its first annual Community Banner Contest Artist Adrian Stupica was named the winner for his unique and engaging banner design the Community Banner Contest was created “to honor the distinctive spirit of Bay Ridge and to enrich the visual landscape of Fifth Avenue with locally inspired artwork.” Stupica’s design will be prominently displayed “on the avenue” starting Aug A check presentation to Stupica will take place that day at 2 p.m “We are thrilled to announce Adrian Stupica as the winner of our inaugural Community Banner Contest,” BID Executive Director Elizabeth Lovejoy said “His design truly captures the essence of Fifth Avenue and will serve as a beautiful representation of our community’s creativity and spirit.” Here’s to a job well done and a prize well earned Next up “on the avenue” is the BID’s End of Summer Multi-Block Party art showcases and fun activities for all ages from 2 to 9 p.m along Fifth Avenue from 68th Street to 81st Street similar to Third Avenue’s recent Summer Stroll on 3rd program is expected to draw thousands of families to enjoy a vehicle-free farewell to summer the BID is planning some spooky fun at its Halloween Fest along Fifth Avenue from 72nd Street to 85th Street pumpkin decorating and more frightful festivities Business owners, artists and civic organizations are encouraged to sign up now to reserve a table at these events. Applications can be submitted online at bayridgebid.com/event “Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities to connect with our community,” Lovejoy said The party has been going strong for 50 years The 2024 Feast of Santa Rosalia kicked off “on the avenue” in Bensonhurst on Thursday Taking place along 18th Avenue from 68th Street to 75th Street the street annual festival features delicious food and treats live music and entertainment and lots of family fun The avenue will be closed to traffic from 4 to 11 p.m multi-night tradition is held in honor of St This year’s grand marshal is Emmy award-winning FOX 5 news reporter Briella Tomassetti who was honored by festival officials during a kickoff ceremony Aug both here in America and back home in Italy,” Tomassetti said where family unity is of the utmost importance.” on representing the very best of Italian culture If you’re doing something noteworthy “on the avenue,” reach out to me directly at [email protected] Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  Another beloved tradition will soon return from the COVID-19 doldrums Bensonhurst’s annual Feast of Santa Rosalia begins Aug with all the fanfare that people have enjoyed for 45 years The feast will take place on 18th Avenue – a/k/a Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard – from 67th Street to Bay Ridge Parkway from the chapel of Santa Rosalia on 18th Avenue and 72nd Street to St People will be able to follow a marching band during the procession and have refreshments after the Mass courtesy of Villabate Alba bakery There will also be a soccer tournament at FDR High School Medugno said he’s excited to perform at the feast “It’s like a huge Italian block party where all different cultures are invited in to celebrate music since we all took many things for granted,” he said and can come together to share it with great music.” “Having the Santa Rosalia festival back is an amazing next step for all New Yorkers,” said Carlo Scissura chair of Federation of Italian American Organizations “This feast brings together Italian traditions and allows Bensonhurst to shine and welcome people from across the region Also of interest: Where to eat on and around Santa Rosalía Lake & Life Resort In the shadow of the fight to save the storied Angel Guardian Home lurks the slated demolition of a nearby church with similar According to a February church bulletin distributed to parishioners is in the process of being sold by the Brooklyn Diocese and the site founded in 1902 as an Italian national parish The impending sale was first announced last spring via a decree from the Diocese “The Diocese has hired a broker to receive offers to buy the property,” wrote Monsignor Ronald Marino in the bulletin “It will be sold without the church building on it.” “is handling the sale of the property and the knockdown of the church building.” The church stopped celebrating mass and the sacraments in June 2016 by order of Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio “to remove the religious value of the building.” In addition “The Bishop decreed that the Church should be officially closed forever.” was the high cost of maintaining two churches within a single parish “Taking into consideration the needs of the entire Diocese of Brooklyn especially in light of the shortage of priests available for ministry as well as the significant financial burden that this structure is imposing on the Parish of the Basilica of Regina Pacis and in view of the current demographical shifts that have resulted in a diminished number of faithful in the surrounding area I have decided to permanently relegate this space to the profane but not sordid use,” DiMarzio wrote in the decree nearly a year after religious rites at the church ceased which permits light manufacturing as well as most business and retail uses and houses of worship While older homes may be found in M1 districts because they predate the 1961 Zoning Resolution new home construction is not permitted as of right The Department of City Planning’s Zoning Handbook identifies the site’s FAR as a relatively low 1.0 with FAR being a measurement that reflects the ratio between the total floor area of the building and the square footage of the lot on which it is built St. Rosalia Church is just blocks away from the Angel Guardian Home another Dyker Heights property with rich history facing the chopping block was sold by its owners – the Sister of Mercy – to a mystery buyer late last year residents and elected officials have rallied for its preservation most recently seeking support from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and the Vatican LPC said it is currently reviewing a request to evaluate St If LPC determines that the site merits consideration it will be added to the agency’s survey list This does not mean it will be recommended or formally considered or designated at that time; however it does stop the clock on any potential changes to the structure director of advocacy and community outreach at the Historic Districts Council says the pending demolition speaks to a larger issue not just in southwest Brooklyn “I think the overarching issue here is that this is happening all over the country where the diocese is closing churches and they do so without a sounding board,” she said “all private property is able to be demolished without public review or consent of the community…houses of worship feel like they are public assets because they are so ingrained in neighborhoods and are community spaces These sanctuaries which people have very strong connections to are being closed and demolished without consent and the public has no recourse except to be very upset.” Rosalia is the patron saint of Palermo [a city in Sicily],” she explained citing “a direct connection” to Bensonhurst’s yearly celebration of the Feast of Santa Rosalia a multi-day festival which dates back to 1624 in Italy It is the largest Italian-American celebration in the borough even though it was eventually absorbed by the much larger Regina Pacis Rosalia “still represents the mother church.” Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn Executive Director Nancy Sottile penned a letter to DiMarzio and Christopher Pierre Church has been the nerve center of a community where thousands of Italian immigrants called ‘la mia chiesa,’” she wrote “It would be a sad day in the history of the Italian Americans and Catholicism in general to disregard the affective significance that this Church means to generations of parishioners “I don’t think you need a lesson in the preservation of deep rooted values or religious beliefs,” Sottile went on “At a time in history when powerful forces are pushing humanity to a Godless society I think it would be the responsible thing to do the Churches that have kept communities together.” Dyker Heights Civic Association President Fran Vella-Marrone shared similar sentiments “There is so much history there for the Italian-American community especially but I think for the Catholic community and the Dyker Heights community at large as well,” she said “It’s absolutely something that should remain and I’m sad to see it for sale.” Carroll hopes this discussion will lead to a larger one when it comes to preserving neighborhoods like Dyker Heights “What I’ve been trying to drive home here is that these neighborhoods really lack in representation and parity with surrounding communities in terms of landmark status,” she said these were quiet residential communities that really staved off the real estate development pressure that’s been long-facing other parts of Brooklyn here we are yet again with yet another demolition.” the Dyker Heights church has donated such items as its memorial plaques chairs and even its main altar to other parishes and Catholic institutions “It is a sad moment in the history of our parish but we will move forward as usual,” Marino concluded a date has not yet been set “for the knockdown of the church.” People hoping to save St Rosalia are urged to contact DiMarzio and Pierre the good old days came to an end with all the financial support of the local Italians especially the rich ones With the Chinese “invasion” most moved away and left all the churches to the hands of their “owners” to do as they please And that’s making more $$$$$ without any real care or concern about the community that changes rapidly and the chance is now since the real estate is HOT We live to learn that the God fearing servants of the Lord is nothing else but a bunch of pagans with extra deep pockets Residents of Sicilian capital pray for another miracle from Saint Rosalia who they say rescued the city from a deadly plague in 1625 as a plague swept Palermo and killed dozens of people each day a young Sicilian hermit who died 500 years earlier told him that if the people of Palermo walked in procession while carrying her relics to be found in a grotto on Monte Pellegrino ShowThe World Health Organization is recommending that people take simple precautions to reduce exposure to and transmission of the coronavirus for which there is no specific cure or vaccine The UN agency advises people to: Many countries are now enforcing or recommending curfews or lockdowns Check with your local authorities for up-to-date information about the situation in your area.  NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days to avoid spreading the infection outside the home Thank you for your feedback.After months of debate over the authenticity of that apparition Saint Rosalia’s remains – among them a piece of her jaw and three fingers – were paraded through the city at an event attended by thousands of devotees she was proclaimed the holy protector of the city Four hundred years later, the prayers that Palermitans offer to Saint Rosalia travel in chain messages on WhatsApp. They are asking her for another miracle: free the city of coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,000 people in Italy The country has been under a government-imposed lockdown to contain the outbreak the streets of Palermo have been desertedt It is a surreal scene in one of the noisiest cities in southern Italy the virus has infected about 111 people in Sicily a relatively small number compared with the rest of the country Sicilians are well aware of Lombardy’s wealth If Covid-19 spreads with the same intensity in a disadvantaged region such as Sicily the consequences for the population could be catastrophic Via Maqueda in Palermo is normally teeming with tourists and shoppers Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The GuardianLeoluca Orlando mayor of PalermoThe last emergency in Palermo was in 1992 when the city was invaded by thousands of soldiers The bosses of Cosa Nostra waged war on the state the government dispatched 5,000 military personnel to contain what had become an all-out offensive against the Italian state “I’ll never forget those days,” says Leoluca Orlando “But it was also the beginning of a revolution that brought this city to raise its head against the mafia It took years before we managed to weaken the power of Cosa Nostra in our city “We didn’t resolve the mafia scourge in four days just as we won’t overcome coronavirus in a week Winning battles requires patience and determination.” 1:44Coronavirus: quarantined Italians sing from balconies to lift spirits – videoShortly after the prime minister hundreds of Palermo’s citizens besieged the few supermarkets that were open late to stock up on food and water “I’ve been at home in voluntary isolation for days we hold the city council meetings online to cope with the emergency In 24 hours we translated into 18 languages the new guidelines to avoid transmission of the virus.” Last year, Orlando defied the far-right former interior minister Matteo Salvini, who closed all the ports to rescue boats trying to save migrants at the end of this tragedy we’ll be better people the world views Italians as plague-stricken I hope people realise what it means to be discriminated against I hope they understand how it feels to have the doors slammed Massimo Milani, LGBT activist and coordinator of Palermo Pride. Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The GuardianExperts predict the economic impact of coronavirus in Sicily could be devastating. In a region where the strongest sector of the economy is tourism, the fear that people will not visit this summer is taking hold. “The price we’ll pay for this epidemic will be high,” says Milani, an LGBT activist and coordinator of the Palermo Pride festival. Enjoying the sun in her chair outside her famous leather-goods shop in Palermo, she takes in the eerie silence on streets normally teeming with tourists and shoppers. Even before Conte ordered retailers to close, few shopkeepers in Palermo were opening their doors for business. Read more“What worries me most isn’t the economy but the human cost This epidemic will have a lasting effect on interpersonal relations which were already compromised before coronavirus Now we keep a distance from each other for health reasons “This situation will leave a mark on everyone’s soul I’m thinking about those neighbourhoods in Palermo that thrive on human relations we must be vigilant because some people will try to get rich from the emergency as well.” Terza Putia at his fish stall Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The GuardianIn the historic open-air market of Ballarò the most noisy and colourful neighbourhood in Palermo a man has already taken advantage of the lack of masks in the city While pharmacists display signs telling customers that masks have run out he has set up a stall in the market selling packages containing 14 masks for €5 Despite the fact they resemble dust-cloths judging by the number of traders wearing them “Unemployment is widespread here in Ballarò and people make do as best they can,” says Francesco known in the area as Terza Putia (Third Shop) – the number of his fish stand after the government ordered the closure of all shops Before that traders wore masks and gloves though the streets were empty of customers “It is a very serious problem for us,” he says Our economy is based on the daily struggle to sell our products even a day without customers is a huge loss Samuele Agnetta Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The GuardianBars restaurants: everything is closed in the city The only business allowed is home delivery at the gates of the old Borgo Vecchio district The Confturismo-Confcommercio tourism confederation estimates a loss of €5bn-€7bn if the crisis continues until May with an estimated 22 million fewer visitors in the next three months has estimated a 0.2% reduction in GDP over the year it’s enough to look at his pizzeria to understand it will not be a rosy summer for Palermo “There was a queue here every night,” he says and 25 of the waiters and cashiers have stayed at home There is no point making calculations because the economic damage will be incalculable.” The statue of Saint Rosalia in the Sanctuary of Monte Pellegrino in Palermo Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The GuardianOn top of Monte Pellegrino in the place where the saint’s bones were found there is a gilded statue of her contained in ornate urns and surrounded by relics but those who stop by leave a message in the visitors’ book at the entrance save us from the coronavirus,” reads one of the most recent ones Gaetano Ceravolo Photograph: Lorenzo Tondo/The Guardian“From the beginning of the outbreak two out of three messages written in the visitors book are on the coronavirus,” Gaetano Ceravolo “Palermitans are very devoted to the saint “It is not the first time a virus has claimed victims in the city there were between 50 and 100 deaths per day Now, by order of the religious authorities, all masses, funerals and marriages are banned to try to limit the spread of coronavirus. To encourage his faithful to remain indoors, Gaetano live-streamed Pope Francis’s Angelus prayer service on the sanctuary’s website “It is not going to mass that makes us Christian This virus is likely to drive us away from each other “If we cannot embrace or exchange a handshake then we take the opportunity to smile at each other to exchange words of affection or simply to look at each other Visitors to the Sicilian city of Palermo can't miss the sanctuary built in honor of the local patron Saint Rosalia The towering shrine was built inside a natural cave located on Monte Pellegrino an imposing hill overlooking Palermo that inspired many writers and artists including the 19th-century German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The first evidence of a Christian temple in Monte Pellegrino goes back to the 12th century it was not until the 17th century that a full-blown shrine was built.  According to a local legend Rosalia helped Palermitans fight the plague a boat bearing gifts for the Viceroy of Sicily came from Tunisia and anchored in the port of Palermo Officials warned the viceroy that people on the foreign vessel were probably infected with the plague and suggested a period of quarantine for everyone on board But Viceroy Emanuele Filiberto ignored the warnings as he was eager to receive the exotic gifts the government officially declared a pandemic emergency in Palermo The plague had made it into the city.  climbed Monte Pellegrino and had a vision: St Rosalia appeared and disclosed the location where her bones had been buried an expedition was sent to dig in the spot indicated by the woman some bright white human bones were found amid rocks a strong smell of flowers started to inundate the mountain The bones were taken down to Palermo and their origin certified by Archbishop Giannettino Doria.  the city organized a procession in honor of Santa Rosalia while carrying her bones The devastating pandemic started to fade and a few months later Palermo had successfully put an end to the plague the city built the gorgeous shrine that still towers over Palermo today.  Visiting the shrine is a unique experience The small unassuming facade reveals an elaborately decorated church and convent excavated 82 feet into the mountain altars and crucifixes stand out from the jagged rock walls making it seem as if the church developed naturally from the inside of the mountain the sanctuary is an active place of worship with thousands of people ascending the mountain each day to pray tens of thousands of people walk up to the church barefoot to show their respect to the saint who helped fight the plague The shrine is open to visitors every day between 8 am and 8 pm with public transport buses running regularly from downtown Palermo 11 am and 6 pm between Monday and Sunday and at 11 am and 6 pm on Sunday.  And in these words he expresses the synthesis of a visceral bond between Palermo and its patron saint that spans the centuries the name of the saint resonates with that of the city: Long live Palermo and Saint Rosalie That the patroness is a woman is already something out of the ordinary a bridesmaid of honor of noble lineage who grew up at the court of King Roger II of Sicily at the beginning of the 12th century as the people of Palermo lovingly call her has saved an entire city centuries after her death It was May 1624 when a ship from Tunis brought the plague to Palermo A month later it was officially proclaimed a plague There are four saints to whom the population turn to but salvation comes from the “santuzza” Rosalia revealing a cave of Monte Pellegrino where her remains were found.  The following year she appeared to a poor soap-maker who climbed the mountain to commit suicide after the death of his wife There she told him that the cardinal of Palermo must put an end “to disputes and doubts” about her discovered bones and that they must be taken in procession throughout the city as the relics of the saint crossed the streets triumphed over death and became the city’s undisputed patron saint explains the anthropologist Deborah Puccio-Den.  “The miracle happened not because the saint is prayed to This is what creates that very strong bond between the saint and the polis which is renewed every year on the night between 14 and 15 July with the “Festino” procession through the streets of the old city This contact is important for the devotees and we can understand it by going up to the sanctuary on Mount Pellegrino We experience it on the night between 3 and 4 September when small groups or even entire families of faithful to commemorate the death and ascent to heaven of the “santuzza” To watch over her and the next day to celebrate her with a mass held by the bishop pieces of paper to be left at the sanctuary which are thanksgivings for grace received or invocations for grace to be received written meticulously in pen or in the stunted way of those who are unfamiliar with words the wooden statue of Saint Rosalie at the entrance it was all a matter of taking off bracelets beloved objects and putting them inside the case next to the statue lying wrapped in the golden cloak with the crown of roses on her head It was all a huddle of kissing...because relics and images are invested with their maximum saving power It was a Sunday in this autumn of 2020 when those who had died from the Coronavirus virus were beginning to be counted again in Italy too.  I went up to the sanctuary and at every tight turn there are signs of the arson attack that occurred in 2016 which stripped the landscape of eucalyptus pines and cypresses Here was a large white tent -like those that are raised to house people after an earthquake alluding to the small size of the sanctuary It is only once you pass the churchyard and disinfect your hands that you experience the sense of emptiness in that place that has always been so full of objects and the faithful on their knees or in prayer Even the taps from which we could once drink or touch the sacred water of the mountain are dry Along a path marked by stakes and red and white plastic chains which are used to demark an area we can see discreet but ubiquitous signs that mark prohibitions These warnings are repeated by the Civil Protection volunteers: No kneeling; No laying notes; No depositing flowers on the shrine; “give them to me no reaching out of hands to the system of sheets of metal that run along the cave to permit the sacred water of the mountain to run through you cannot touch!” A devotion denied in one of these most ordinary and spontaneous gestures there is no trace of all the precious gifts that have always covered the statue in the sanctuary The sanctuary’s vicar to whom I ask for explanations spread out his arms and everything was locked shut; no one was able to go up there except for the night between the 3rd and 4th some artists projected the image of the “santuzza” wearing a surgical mask on her face onto the facades of the palaces near the cathedral (where the relics are kept) A way of entrusting oneself to the patron saint that seems more like an invitation to protect oneself and to protect her “People want to find the saint who frees us from the plague but at the same time they cannot because if people keep on seeking to meet her and make her a saving saint in the traditional way would lead to an explosion of virus cases,” explains my anthropologist friend She is the one who explains to me that during the confinement last March every evening she followed the mass celebrated by a parish priest online and that concluded with the hymn to the Patroness: “O bright Rose...” Among the faithful who must abide by the prohibitions in the sanctuary there is a lady with long black braids her brown face carries the red pottu on her forehead symbolizing she is a married women She sits composed in her decorous attire on a stone seat with a tapered candle in her hands The Sicilian capital has the most populous and ancient Tamil community in Italy About 8,000 have arrived there as refugees since 1983 while in Sri Lanka one of the bloodiest and most forgotten civil wars between the Tamil minority made up of Hindus and Catholics The Tamil Hindus explain their devotion to the Mother of the Mountain which began with a miracle in the nineties “coming here to St Rosalia is like returning home with the heart”; “we also build temples in the mountains”; “we do not have our own temple” A 4-year-old girl woke up from a coma while her parents and hundreds of community members were shuttling back and forth between the hospital and the sanctuary Saint Rosalie has her place among the Hindu gods,  because “God is one Their religious affiliation is a strong element of their sense of identity; but who has a wide-ranging knowledge of the Tamil world in the city which is a church in the heart of the old town where mass is celebrated by a Sri Lankan priest have a cultural life of their own within the city which includes their own coordinating committee and videotapes produced by the Indian film industry They buy food and clothing from their compatriots’ stores They have very little contact with the people of Palermo but every Sunday at dawn they walk the two hours from their houses in the heart of the old city (in Ballarò To ask for a grace we have to put our body on the line This is the reason for a form of devotion that also manifests itself in ways proper to Hindu cults; for example the practice of piercing various parts of the body with hooks as a vow to divinity The journalist Marta Bellingreri recalls how during the night between the 3rd and 4th of September -and before the Covid pandemic hit- some men made their way to the sanctuary while hanging with hooks from a pole supported by their compatriots It does not seem to me that the pandemic is at the center of the prayers The vicar looks at the landscape of bare trees Evelina Santangelo is a writer and editor With the Italian publishing house Einaudi she has published the short stories L’occhio cieco del mondo (Berto prize etc.) and several novels: Senzaterra e Da un altro mondo (book of the year 2018 Fahrenheit Rai-radio 3; Superpremio Sciascia Also for Einaudi she edited Terra matta by Vincenzo Rabito she translated Firmino by Sam Savage and Rock’n’ Roll by Tom Stoppard Her articles have been published in national newspapers which starts at 68th Street and ends at Bay Ridge Parkway along 18th Avenue also known as Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard better known as the 18th Avenue Feast to locals is a longstanding tradition in our community,” said District Manager of Community Board 11 Marnee Elias-Pavia “The demographics in Bensonhurst have shifted we are a diverse and multicultural community The feast provides our residents with an opportunity to learn about the culture music and food of our Italian American community Attendees also said the 10-day festival was off to a great start “I was just up there Saturday night,” said Dyker Heights resident Thomas Tacopino “He lives on Staten Island and plays the goldfish game all the time,” he said The feast is a tradition for this neighborhood I’ve gone most years since I was a young boy It was always something to look forward to during the summer but it’s always still an enjoyment to go.” who performed with his band Cause and the Effects felt the positive atmosphere throughout the evening “It was our first time performing at the feast and we had a blast the turnout seemed great and people were enjoying themselves It was an honor to follow in the footsteps of the great bands that have been playing here for years A lot of us band members have Italian and Brooklyn roots I think the feast is a wonderful tradition and brings the neighborhood together to celebrate the Italian heritage of the area.” There will be a religious procession at 3 p.m For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/138536509512623 This year’s Santa Rosalia Feast Grand Marshal BENSONHURST — On the first night of the Santa Rosalia Feast in Bensonhurst the festival committee held a dinner in honor of this year’s grand marshal at Il Colosseo restaurant at 77th Street and 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst It was hosted by District Leader Joseph Bova who welcomed guests and told the story of St she turned to God at an early age and went to live in a cave Rosalia eventually moved to Mount Pellegrino She is said to have appeared after death and to have revealed that she spent several years in a little excavation near the grotto Her body was discovered several centuries later The feast in honor of Santa Rosalia has become a much-anticipated event in the Bensonhurst community It’s a time to honor the patron saint of Palermo rice balls and freshly made brick oven pizza a member of the Federation of Italian American Organizations 1 from 67th Street to 75th Street along 18th Avenue The Santa Rosalia feast has been held continuously in Sicily since 1624 and is the largest Italian-American feast in Brooklyn Andrew Gounardes; Assemblymembers Peter Abbate and Mark Treyger; Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann; former City Councilmember Vincent Gentile; Capt commanding officer of the 62nd Precinct; Community Board 11 Chair William Guarinello and Frank Naccarato past president of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn Bova stressed the importance of Italian Americans celebrating this event as a way of honoring their Italian heritage Bova cited two recent examples of Italians being slighted in recent weeks: Chris Cuomo being disparaged for his Italian ancestry and the city ignoring a popular vote to build a statue to honor Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini the patron saint of immigrants and a one-time Brooklyn resident “We have to continue to strive to instill in our children our traditions and let our public officials know that our traditions are important to us,” said Bova “We still have feelings and we still deserve to be respected… and it’s incumbent upon us to instill in the generations that follow the importance of these traditions And tonight we honor as our grand marshal somebody who actually took the city to task about the statue.” Brannan recently wrote a letter to the mayor asking why a public vote in support of Cabrini would be ignored Bova introduced Brannan as “the son of a record salesman father and educator mother.” Bova also thanked Brannan for improving the quality of life within the community who attended the dinner with wife Leigh and mother Mary received a plaque from the festival committee recognizing him as this year’s grand marshal “I grew up going to the Santa Rosalia 18th Avenue Feast so to now have the honor of representing this neighborhood but also being recognized by this organization is humbling Part of my family comes from Italy so it’s nice to remember this tradition.” beginning at 18th Avenue and 72nd Street and ending at St Dominic Church at 20th Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway where there will be a full mass at 4 p.m also known as ‘U Festinu’ as Italians call it is celebrated every year from July 10 to July 15 in Palermo It’s a regional public holiday in which the city honors Saint Rosalia It lasts for six days and includes a variety of unique events The celebrations’ highlights include a parade with lots of food on July 14 and a mass on July 15 where a silver urn with Saint Rosalia’s relics is carried around and is finally blessed by the Archbishop of Palermo Rosalia Sinibaldi was born in Palermo in 1126 to aristocratic parents He tried several times to arrange a marriage for his daughter she became a devout Christian and cloistered herself in a convent she realized there was too much gossip and jealousy in the convent She lived in her father’s cave in Mount Pellegrino where she died alone at ‌35-36 years old in 1166 have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ.” She was admired throughout her lifetime for her devotion and had been linked to a few miracles as Italy was being ravaged by the Black Plague to whom she showed where her bones were and told him to parade them around the city The plague stopped after he did it three times they added Saint Rosalia’s name to the Roman Martyrology on July 15 and a sanctuary was built in the cave where her remains were discovered her father is Count Roger I — she refuses his marriage arrangements and becomes a devout Christian hermit in a cave he owns on Mount Pellegrino She appears to several people in their dreams and to carry them around to save the city from the Black Plague — and miraculously they add Saint Rosalia's name to the Roman Martyrology She is frequently depicted carrying a skull which depicts her martyrdom and her slain remains Francis of Assisi are the patron saints of the country Nestled against a stone cliff wall on Mount Pellegrino it's a pilgrimage spot for both religious people and tourists Goethe visited the site and described the place as "one that better befits the humility of the saint than the sumptuous festivities that are celebrated to commemorate her retirement from the world." a statue of Rosalia was paraded through Palermo on a massive and elaborate boat-shaped chariot that’s built differently each year It’s pulled by oxen and accompanied by colorful dancers They follow a path full of references to pain that culminates with a big show of fireworks Many traditional Italian dishes are also served at this event the relics of the Saint are carried around the city in a silver urn the urn returns to the Cathedral and it’s blessed by the Archbishop of Palermo It has an estimated population of over 650,000 and it’s the sixth most populated city in Italy Palermo experiences over 2,500 hours of sunlight every year The Teatro Massimo was designed to seat 3,000 people in its auditorium and it’s one of the biggest theaters in Europe When monks ran out of space in their cemetery and wished to preserve the lives of important and affluent people The Port of Palermo is over 2,700 years old and serves over two million passengers and around five million tonnes of cargo every year making it one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean Her sanctuary is the best place to visit for people who have these beliefs It’s said that thanks to Saint Rosalia’s miracle We can think of the feast as a celebration of being able to live one more day Perhaps you’re a tourist that only wants to visit on these days because of the feast but there’s also a beach and more — even a palace We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Located between Don Felipe Drive and Santa Rosalia Drive in Baldwin Hills this landmark project aims to support the revitalization of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Boulevard Corridor the dynamic new film campus under construction in South Los Angeles has reached a significant milestone by submitting its development application to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning With a focus on television and film production SSC aims to revitalize a 5-acre site into a thriving creative campus fostering economic development and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities within the creative sector.Jessica Sarowitz an Afro-Latina entrepreneur and visionary behind SSC is reshaping LA’s creative landscape through philanthropy I am committed to leveling the playing field by providing economic development and growth to underserved communities around the country," she said Funding for SSC is provided by 4S Bay Partners a single-family office dedicated to eradicating prejudice and societal inequities through innovative private investments Collaborating with communities locally and globally 4S Bay fosters economic opportunities and amplifies the narratives of marginalized groups.Sarowitz has assembled a diverse team of local experts in development and design to ensure SSC becomes one of Los Angeles' most innovative projects SSC will convert a 5-acre site currently occupied by office buildings into approximately 200,000 square feet of creative space including approximately 50,000 square feet of soundstages and 145,000 square-feet of commercial office and pre- and post-production facilities. Additional amenities will include restaurant and retail spaces and parking for more than 250 vehicles.Partnering with local stakeholders SSC aims to cultivate a vibrant creative ecosystem that nurtures diverse talent and fosters growth opportunities Notable Black-owned architecture firm JGM has been enlisted to design the development and LA-based Pantheon Business Consulting LLC will spearhead the redevelopment rice balls and freshly-made brick oven pizza the feast will be celebrated this year from Thursday 1 from 67th Street to 75th Street on 18th Avenue has been a Bensonhurst tradition for over 44 years,” said District Manager of Community Board 11 Marnee Elias-Pavia “While the neighborhood’s demographics have shifted residents will have an opportunity to share in the culture food and music of our Italian-American community.”  The Feast of Santa Rosalia has been held continuously in Sicily since 1624 and is the largest Italian-American feast in Brooklyn This year’s grand marshal is City Councilmember Justin Brannan who said he was honored to have been given the title “I grew up going to the 18th Avenue Feast as a kid so this is a real honor for me,” Brannan told this paper “It’s a Brooklyn tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation started by Sicilian immigrants who wanted an American version of the famous Festino di Santa Rosalia that takes place in Palermo every year.” Brannan said that it was a way to pay homage to his cultural heritage “As an Italian-American from Brooklyn whose ancestors came from Naples this festival always makes me proud of both my Italian and Brooklyn heritage,” he told this paper “And it reminds me of how immigrants have always made Brooklyn the beautiful and diverse place that it is today I’m truly thrilled to be the grand marshal this year.” president and CEO of the New York Building Congress has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event a success “The feast is an important tradition for not just Bensonhurst but all of Brooklyn a part of the Italian community,” Scissura told this paper which is about a patron saint that was important for people from Sicily once made up one of the largest groups anywhere in Brooklyn “The nice thing is now with the changed community and many different ethnic groups it’s a place for people to come together for 10 days bring their kids out and just enjoy walking around the community,” he added Scissura was also delighted to have Brannan as this year’s grand marshal very excited that Justin is the grand marshal They told me I was a tough act to follow as grand marshal so I said then Justin is the only one,” continued Scissura “We’re very happy about it and I think he will be great He’s been a staunch community advocate and he supported the feast even before he was an elected official I think he will be making his Italian grandparents proud Justin is as Italian as they come,” he added BENSONHURST — The tradition continues Bensonhurst’s 43rd annual Feast of Santa Rosalia bringing back the fanfare that has made the festival a mainstay in the neighborhood with Lucy’s Sausage stand being a favorite https://community.ebanman.com/jnx-usa123hd-watch-ne-zha-2019-online-full-for-free according to festival organizers and attendees “The feast has gone through many changes throughout the years and is a much anticipated event for our multicultural community,” organizer Anna Marie Mistretta Paunetto said “I love the feast and how there are people of all ethnic backgrounds coming together and enjoying it,” said Marie Johnson I live two blocks away and we are so excited that this year we were not on vacation for it The weather has been fantastic and it has been so crowded every day.” “I love to go to the feast and support my heritage,” said Margaret Ann It’s not unusual for former neighborhood residents to return to Bensonhurst for the festival “I’m Brooklyn born and raised and moved to Jersey many years ago Rosalia Feast every year,” said one attendee until either I die out of the Feast does because not only is this a neighborhood tradition it’s a way to show that you support the old school ways and the old school neighbors that still live there.” “I was pleasantly surprised on Saturday when we were there “It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it like that.” 1 procession from from the chapel of Santa Rosalia at 18th Avenue and 72nd Street at 3 p.m. Dominic’s Church at Bay Ridge Parkway and 20th Avenue at 4 p.m “Our feast is also important for our elderly who attend the mass at St Dominic,” she said “These are the elderly that can no longer go to their homeland so it’s important to keep the traditions not only for them but for our children the future generations that will keep the Italian culture alive.” This year, Councilmember Justin Brannan was named grand marshal of the feast. For more information about the feast, go to https://bit.ly/2ZuYp82 BENSONHURST – The recent 43rd Annual Santa Rosalia Festival a celebration of Italian-American pride that drew tens of thousands of people to 18th Avenue to munch on sausage sandwiches and rice balls and enjoy rides on the Ferris wheel was plagued this year by rowdy young people bent on causing trouble Things got so bad that police had to order the street fair to close down early on three of the 10 nights it took place the commanding officer of the 62nd Precinct to say the least,” Longobardi told the community board at a meeting on Sept “We had to shut it down early three nights.” but things got tense on a couple of nights mainly due to outside groups coming in and acting in a disruptive fashion Board 11 Chairperson Bill Guarinello said officials will sit down at some point to discuss ways to make the popular street fair safer next year “We will have a dialogue about it,” he said “There was some trouble there this year,” Guarinello added 1 on 18th Avenue from 68th Street to Bay Ridge Parkway and featured live music One festival-goer said she was shocked to learn there had been trouble at the street fair “I went with my children and we had a fabulous time I think the people who organized the feast do a fantastic job I never felt like I had to worry about my children’s safety,” the woman told the Home Reporter The feast hearkens back to the days when Bensonhurst was predominantly an Italian-American community In tribute to the Italian-Americans who made Bensonhurst a strong community New York City co-named a portion of 18th Avenue after Christopher Columbus nearly 30 years ago New street signs were unveiled on the avenue reading “Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard,” a nod to the Italian version of the explorer’s name while Bensonhurst is still home to many Italian-Americans the neighborhood has become culturally diverse Guatemalans and Middle Eastern residents all making a home there has the highest percentage of immigrants of any community board in Brooklyn according to a 2018 Community Health Profile study done by the New York City Department of Health The study found that 56 percent of the residents living in Board 11 were born outside of the U.S But even with the cultural changes taking place in Bensonhurst the Santa Rosalia Festival still draws large crowds to 18th Avenue each year to revel in Italian-American food and culture The annual festival is sponsored by the group Figli di Santa Rosalia One of Brooklyn’s most iconic events returned last week after a year off The annual Feast of Santa Rosalia began Aug 19 on 18th Avenue – a/k/a Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard – from 67th Street to Bay Ridge Parkway Bensonhurst resident Paul Gordon said the event’s return is important to local history and culture “It’s great to see not only Italian-Americans but people of all races and demographics together enjoying the feast at a time when it is needed so much as also a means and form of social gathering and togetherness,” Gordon said The feast was canceled in anticipation of Hurricane Henri Aug who will perform on 18th Avenue and 73rd Street Aug called the festival’s return a sign of hope “It’s going to bring Italians back together in their old neighborhood again,” Venuto said Venuto will play old and new songs that represent all cultures “to make [all different races] feel the warmth of togetherness.” “It’s a beautiful outdoor atmosphere,” he said everyone is happy to finally go out and enjoy an Italian feast.” The spirit of Sicily will be coming to southwest Brooklyn once again as Bensonhurst gears up for the 42nd Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia known by locals as the 18th Avenue Festival will span 18th Avenue (aka Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard) from 65th Street to 75th Street from Thursday “It’s a tradition that’s been passed down from generation to generation Sicily to honor the patron saint of Palermo an organizer of the feast and treasurer of Figli de Santa Rosalia we hold a procession where we take the saint to Saint Dominic Church and have a full mass.” Santa Rosalia performed miracles in Palermo and has been honored in the town with an annual feast since 1624 As part of the festivities along 18th Avenue rides and a variety of food will be available Timoneri noted that although the festival has continued to serve as a pillar of Italian heritage in Bensonhurst it has come to attract a diverse crowd over the decades “The demographics have changed on 18th Avenue people have come from all around Staten Island New Jersey and all parts of Brooklyn to enjoy the feast It’s multicultural and not just an Italian feast Several honorary guests will also be in attendance at the feast State Senator Marty Golden and Assemblymember Peter Abbate with the street being closed to vehicular traffic during that time or @Strosaliafeast on Twitter and Instagram The Feast is here to stay whether you like it or not soccer — aka the world’s game — takes center stage during the Santa Rosalia Cup tournament The tournament made its triumphant return Aug 28 at Dyker Beach Park after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic The first weekend included the seeding matches while the second weekend featured the semifinals and tournament championships Born and raised in Bensonhurst – the site of the annual Feast of Santa Rosalia – Anthony Catanzaro has spent the better part of his life either watching the Santa Rosalia Cup began with local cafes to the point where players from Italy made it a point to be in Brooklyn each summer for the tournament players from throughout the tri-state area and South America — among many other locations — joined in for the annual soccer tradition “It evolved into an extremely competitive semi-pro and professional tournament due to the competitive nature of Italian-Americans,” said Catanzaro who is a member of the tournament’s sporting committee The tournament is a 7-on-7 format played on a slightly smaller field than a regular 11- on-11 contest and another three teams squared off in the over-40 division and — most importantly — bragging rights until next year’s tournament Just under 100 total players competed this year A number of notable players with local soccer connections have played over the years Men’s National Team members Carlos Llamosa the tournament is made possible through the dedicated support of a handful of local sponsors it’s been a truly personal journey of seeing how the tournament has grown and changed over the years He began as a spectator in his early teens and soon made his playing debut in 1982 as a 14-year old while he was a student at New Utrecht H.S. “My goal has been to keep the spirit and the competitive nature of the tournament and its roots alive and kicking,” he said I can pass it along to the next generation and make it better than how we found it.” The excitement generated by the tournament reverberates throughout the community up-close look at some top pro and semi-pro soccer players “It’s tangible instead of watching something on TV,” Catanzaro said and you look at the speed and the competitive nature This tournament allows you to rate and gauge yourself against some top players you forget everything for the hour and a half “It’s a beautiful way to express yourself in an artistic way on the field.” For more information about the tournament and for a full recap, check out the Santa Rosalia Cup Instagram page — @torneodisantarosalia and so is the spirit of soccer in South Brooklyn Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com Your email will be used to send you The Tablet newsletter. 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Website by 345 Design Performances dedicated to Saint Rosalia for the 400th Festino The homage concert to Ennio Morricone’s music for cinemaConcerts on the steps of the Opera house and the ballet “Carmen” This morning we presented the 2024 Summer Season that will open on June 27 with the world premiere of “4 Canti per Santa Rosalia” The Quattro canti (4 corners) are the intersection of the two main road axes of the historic center of Palermo and a symbolic place for the celebration of the Festino The Teatro Massimo’s has commissioned the new oratorio to four female composers: Valentina Casesa “The Teatro Massimo is one of the main cultural reference points in Palermo and I am happy that one of the threads of the summer season is Santa Rosalia as in 2024 our city celebrates the four hundred years of its Patron Saint – says the President of the Teatro Massimo Foundation and Mayor of Palermo Roberto Lagalla The offer promoted by the Teatro Massimo for this summer is rich and varied and certainly has the intention of embracing a wide audience of different age groups.” “It will be a summer mainly dedicated to the celebrations in honor of Santa Rosalia for the 400th Festino – adds General Manager Marco Betta – which will begin with a dedication entrusted to four composers A choral song from 27 June to 3 August in the venues of the Theatre to the monumental staircase of the Massimo and the Teatro di Verdura with our musical director Omer Meir Wellber all the workers of the Teatro Massimo will rejoys in the paths of great music” Tickets on sale from Thursday May 30 Download the press release of the 2024 Summer Programme (in Italian) No Brooklyn summer is complete without the Feast of Santa Rosalia The 11-day event on 18th Avenue between 68th Street and Bay Ridge Parkway will offer plenty of food WCBS-TV reporter and native Sicilian Tony Aiello is the grand marshal Those with a sweet tooth can head over to 18th Avenue and 70th Street on Aug 24 for Villabate Alba Bakery’s first annual cannoli-eating contest 27 with a parade from 18th Avenue and 72nd Street to St