What better timing than Italian-American Heritage Month to officially welcome Michele Misto in his new post as consul general of Italy in Miami. “Now you have a second home in Palm Beach County,” Vice Mayor Maria Sachs said at the College of Arts & Letters’ official welcome luncheon in the East Engineering building on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus.

Sachs, whose mother hailed from Napoli, read a proclamation declaring the month-long observance. She and county Commissioner Maria Marino introduced Misto and Italian-American organization leaders earlier Tuesday at the regular county commission meeting in West Palm Beach. “Washington and Rome are united to strengthen our democratic bond,” Misto said, as Sachs pinned a Palm Beach County pin on his lapel.