October is a busy month for organizers in the Italian American community in Monroe County. The leaders of 15 area civic organizations are preparing for their biggest event of the year; the 79th annual Columbus Day celebration.  Celebrating Italian heritage, exploration and the American dream will be the theme at the luncheon on Monday, Oct. 14 at the Diplomat Banquet Center in Gates. More than 600 people gather annually to hear from local Italian American dignitaries about their ancestral roots. 

Hosted by the Italian Civic League, the Columbus Day luncheon highlights local Italian American achievement. "We are celebrating our culture," said Quintino Dicesare, president of the Italian Civic League, the umbrella organization that connects with other Italian groups such as Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and Italian Women's Civic Club.