By Stephen Romano

The John Michael Marino Lodge Italian festival is offering people the chance to transition out of summer, going from hot dogs and hamburgers to authentic Italian cuisine. The festival, which will be held at North Hempstead Beach Park at 175 West Shore Road, will run from Sept. 7 to Sept. 11. "The purpose of the Italian festival is primarily to raise funds for our scholarships and charity awards," said Marianne Prince, the festival's chairwoman and a member of the lodge, which is part of the Order Sons of Italy in America. 

The local lodge, with the help of the money raised during previous Italian festivals, has awarded over 400 scholarships to high school students. It has also donated money to local charities, including the Port Washington Ambulance Fund, Port Washington Library Foundation, the Port Youth Activities, the Port Washington Manhasset Chapter of Cancer Care, and the Long Island Youth for Christ, the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society and others, Prince said. The festival originated in September 1979 and is currently on its 37th year.

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Source: http://www.theislandnow.com/