Festa Italiana Peekskill, a registered trademark owned by Peekskill Pageants is excited to announce Vincent DiPierro as the 2013 Honorary Italian Citizen. The Festa Italiana Peekskill annually chooses an Honorary Peekskill Italian Citizen who has shown exemplary community service to the Church of the Assumption and has given back to the Peekskill Community.

Last year the honor was bestowed upon The Risoli family, Alexander, Barbara, Allison and Carolyn for their extensive volunteer service to the church and community. The 2011 Honorary Italian was Salvatore Scaramellino, owner of the former Sorrento's Restaurant and in 2010 Leopoldo Soricelli, one of the last postmasters in the US to be appointed by a president (which was Lyndon Johnson) was the first Honored Italian.

Mr. DiPierro, who emigrated from Bisceglie a small town in the Bari region of Italy arrived in New York on the Andria Doria on June 17,1953 at the age of 14. He attended school in Peekskill until he started working. Avid Church of the Assumption parishioners, he and his wife Marie Bertoline have devoted hundreds of hours in volunteer time to the church. They were married, baptized their children and raised them within the Assumption Church. All three of their sons attended Assumption School.

Mr. DiPierro is a firm believer that when you sign up to do something, you do your best, which is apparent in the many years of volunteering he has done in the Peekskill Community. He is a former member of the Christopher Columbus Society, a life member of the Elks Club, a Paul Harris Fellow recipient from the Peekskill Rotary Club (as well as a Rotarian). He has served the Columbia Hose Fire Company for 54 years and the Cortlandt Hook and Ladder Fire Company for 42 years. He has also volunteered several years as a soccer referee for the Peekskill community.

The Honored Italians usually are honored at the Festa Italiana Peekskill, the Italian festival which happens every year, where the proceeds go to the Church and area Peekskill Charities. This year, since the city allowed an outside for profit company to run the festival, Mr. DiPierro will be honored at the Italian Heritage Gala Ball on November 23, 2013 at the Harbor at Charles Point. Tickets are still available, so contact Jillian Clausen at 914-930-4730 or via email at [email protected].

The Festa Italiana Peekskill is anticipating a return in 2014 to once again benefit the Church of the Assumption. The Miss Italia Peekskill Pageant sponsored by Helping Hands Advocacy, Tree Tops Photography, The Harbor at Charles Point and Peekskill Pageants will run on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Harbor at Charles Point. Tickets will be available for sale at the door