On Oct. 9, Newport Festa Italiana will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Columbus Monument, which was erected by the Italian community of Newport on Oct. 12, 1953. A special commemorative ceremony is being planned with descendants of the original monument committee in attendance.
Names of the original planners included Gabriel Russo, Enrico Cassese, Michael DeSantis, Donato D’Andrea, Armand Ruggeri, Ralph Paduano, Louis Amoruso, Carmelo Ripa, Rose Dorato, Alfredo Sciarotta, James Gizzi, and Edmund Baccari.
