Columbus Day Parade in Cleveland

 The Columbus Day Parade, sponsored by Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), took place in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood on Monday, Oct. 10 along Mayfield and Murray Hill roads. Hundreds of units marched - elaborate floats, marching bands, local artifacts, and city leaders - to celebrate Northeast Ohio's deeply rooted Italian American culture.

After Mass at Holy Rosary Church, 92.3's Anthony Lima served as MC of the Parade.

He introduced ISDA National President and Greater Cleveland Columbus Day chairman Basil M. Russo who gave a few brief remarks.

Basil has said, "On Columbus Day, Italian Americans pay tribute to our ancestors, and to all walks of life, who arrived in Northeast Ohio and built better lives for their families. Many aren't aware of this, but Columbus' parades and statues were used by early Italian Americans to fuel assimilation and fight discrimination during a decades-long period of oppression. In fact, the first national Columbus Day celebration honoring Italian Americans was held in 1892 as a way to ease tensions after 11 innocent Italian immigrants were murdered in New Orleans, in front of the largest lynch mob ever to assemble on U.S. soil."

Watch a video of the opening before the Parade stepped off. 

Watch a video of highlights of the Columbus Day Parade. (As usual we did not include any of the many politicians who marched.)

 

See more pictures and video form the Columbus Day parade in Cleveland

Annual Magnum Party

Each year we like to gather an eclectic group of friends and business associates for a holiday lunch. No, it's not just techies. Media, non-profits, politicians, business, cultural - they were all represented. The food and atmosphere at Bo Loong at 38th and St. Clair is always terrific and our 75 guests maxed out the party room.

Dan Hanson and Cleveland Fire Chief Angelo Calvillo

Councilwoman Dona Brady, Qaisra Haider, Nate Curry, Basil Russo, Mayor Georgine Welo

Judge Dan Polster and Kevin Goodman

Mayor Ron Falconi and Deborah Yue

The attendees are involved in one or more of the projects that we are involved in such as:

• Computers Assisting People (CAP) Inc. which has refurbished and donated almost 20,000 PCs to over 500 schools and non-profits in Cleveland.



• ClevelandPeople.com where we celebrate the 100+ ethnic groups in the area and make it a more attractive destination for immigrant talent as well as showing what a cool and diverse city we live in.



• ClevelandSpeakers.com which has grown, by popular demand, from a section on GreatLakesGeek to its own website with some great speakers and topics.



• Cleveland101.com which was intended to give visiting reporters some interesting stories during the RNC and Cavs championship run but has evolved into a collection of great Cleveland stories, firsts and landmarks.



• ClevelandCooks.com which is for foodies, chefs and wannabe chefs as we celebrate how Cleveland has become a foodie town with great chefs and restaurants.



• Cleveland Food Adventurers a group that visits local ethnic restaurants and learns about the food and culture while enjoying camaraderie and a great meal.



• ClevelandSeniors.com for the 50 and over crowd and those who care for and about them.



• ClevelandWomen.Com for girls and women of all ages in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio



• Cleveland International Hall of Fame which recognizes lifetimes of important and enduring contributions to Cleveland's multi cultural communities.



• GreatLakesGeek.com. The business, science and technology information on GreatLakesGeek.com is becoming more essential as many of our longtime favorite print publications have disappeared or cut back.



• Magnum Computers Inc. where we try and earn some $ so we can volunteer more for CAP and support our other projects. (grin)



• ClevelandPets.Com for the four-legged (and other) members of our families.
• And some more projects we are working on

When asked what the diverse group of guests had in common, some reflection made it clear that they, like us, love Cleveland. Most have had many opportunities to work and live in other cities. But we have all chosen to be here because we believe in the city.

As attendees introduced themselves, this became evident and all were impressed by the positive outlooks expressed.

And though the techies naturally gravitated to their own area, as did the media, international, political and other types of guests the fun was when seemingly unconnected people discovered a thread that connected them to someone else in the room.

Want to be invited next year? Let's do some positive things together next year.
Let's talk.

Why Columbus Day is important.to Italians

The official opening of a month-long celebration of the Italian-American Community in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio was held on Monday October 2, 2017 in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall.

Basil Russo, the president of the National Italian Sons and Daughters of America, told why Columbus Day is important.

See more from the Italian Heritage kick off

Basil Russo inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductions continued with Dan Hanson introducing Basil Russo’s daughter Gabriella Russo Rosalina and son-in-law Joseph Rosalina to induct Basil Russo.

Basil Russo spoke of the Italian community as well as the contributions that all immigrants have made to the US.

Italians in Cleveland

Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Basil Russo to be inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Basil Russo will be inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame next Tuesday April 18. 

Not only has Basil been a great leader in Cleveland and NEO’s Italian community he is now serving as national leader of 3 Italian organizations including as the National President of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. 

Columbus Day, the Italian Film Festival, the Italian Cultural Garden and much more – Basil has led the charge.

 Read more about Basil Russo 

The true meaning of Columbus Day

Basil M. Russo is the National President of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. 

Russo spoke at the celebration of the beginning of Italian Heritage Month in the rotunda of Cleveland’s City Hall.  He told of the importance of Columbus Day and how some groups mischaracterize the meaning of Columbus Day for their own personal agenda. 

He said that Columbus Day represents the beginning of the historic process of immigration to America and should be celebrated by all ethnic groups.  

More about Italians in Cleveland