The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Drizzle doesn’t dampen Columbus Day spirit
It was a gray day around Northeast Ohio on Oct. 9.
But all one had to do to view one of the region’s most colorful affairs was take a trip to Cleveland’s Little Italy for the neighborhood’s 65th annual Columbus Day Parade.
Danielle Novario knows all about the color the event brings to town and has been coming to the event for years.
“We come every year,” said Novario as she sat on a blanket, beach style, on the corner of Mayfield Road and 124 Street while flanked by her twins Nikko and Jhett, both 3, and their 5-year-old brother, Cal, while they waited for the noon parade to step off.
“Our family lives right here on
124th Street, so it’s a family thing, definitely a tradition,” she said as the boys’ grandfather, John Novario joined the group. “Grandpa started bringing (Cal) not long after he was born.” John elaborated. “He was born in June,” he said. “I started bringing him in October. So he was just a little over 3 months old when he started coming and he’s been coming here ever since.”
John pointed to the halfdozen or so chairs lined up next to Danielle and the boys.
“These are all family chairs,” he said. “They’ll all fill up with family here in a bit. This is a family corner.’
He added that it’s a tradition to come to Columbus Day.
“It’s very important to honor tradition,” he said.
Danielle said the boys have undoubtedly embraced the tradition of sweets being thrown by parade participants.
“If you ask the kids, they would tell you it’s about the candy,” she said with a knowing grin.
As the Novarios awaited the rest of the family’s arrival, a quartet of ladies hailing from all over Northeast Ohio got into the spirit with some drinks as they took in all the hustle and bustle leading up to the three-hour parade. They talked about everything from shopping, their families and past Columbus Days.
From their streetside seats in front of Corbo’s Bakery, the longtime friends had front-row seats to the parade’s passersby.
All agreed it’s not an event to be missed.
“We have been coming for 12 years now,” said JoAnn Mason, a Parma resident, about the group. “It’s just a great time. Everybody’s friendly and it’s just such a good time. Plus, after this, I’m gonna go stomp grapes!”
Cathy Hogan, who lives in Auburn Township, said the event is popular with people from all over the
place, which is one of the reasons she likes to come.
“As you can see, it draws from everywhere. Everybody’s Italian today,” she said with a hearty laugh. “It’s super fun and you meet a lot of really nice people. It’s just... It’s just fun! People come out and you can just be yourselves and have a good time with everyone.”
Parma resident Kathy Szomotu agreed, adding that she’s got some family history, herself, in Little Italy.
“My one grandfather worked on the (Holy Rosary) Church and my great uncle worked on the (Lake View Cemetery’s) rock wall coming down the (Mayfield Road) hill,” she said.
Strongsville resident Donna Neal said this year’s turnout, itself, was a testament to the parade’s popularity.
“You can see all the people came, even with the rain,” she said.
The five friends also praised the food.
“There are a variety of
restaurants,” Hogan said. “So you’ll always find something that will please your appetite.”
Some folks at the parade have been coming for years, yet never had a bit to eat the whole time.
Take Mayfield High School alums Jesse Cvelbar, now a student at Case Western Reserve University, and Caroline Mazina, who attends Cleveland Institute of Art.
The pair said they played in Mayfield’s marching band, which performs in the parade regularly. But, by the time they’d do their thing in the show, pack up and be ready to head back home, they’d never have a chance to sample the fare there.
“Yeah — we’d have to go back and get pizza from... not here,” Cvelbar said as he and Mazina each enjoyed a local slice from the sidelines for a change.
“It’s different not being in it,” Mazina said. “It’s very exciting to be a part of the parade,” she said. “It’s
fun when you’re in it. You’re out there performing and you’re thinking: ‘Look at all the people looking. I’m so proud of what I do.”
They both agreed it’s a good time for all involved, though.
“I like how the whole community comes together and is here together. It’s unique for Little Italy,” Cvelbar said.
Although not in the same way, Willoughby native Eric Faidiga played a part in the show Oct. 9 as he did “a little bit of everything” working at La Dolce Vita Bistro, a job he just began about two weeks ago, he said.
A little before noon, he said he’s never been to the Columbus Day Parade but was eager to see how it played out.
“I think it’s really nice so far,” he said. “You get the whole Little Italy vibe and get a taste of what the neighborhood’s all about.”
As it neared 3 p.m., 11-year-old Mayfield Heights resident Johnny Koscho and his dad, Roman,
had a couple plastic grocery bags filled with candy and bread, thanks to the Orlando Bread Co. truck, a crowd favorite.
The pair said they spotted the truck as it cruised Murray Hill as they stood by a friend’s house. They ran over to Mayfield Road a little later to get seconds as the crew inside the brown bread truck tossed loaves from what seemed like every opening of the truck.
“Yeah, we come every year,” Roman said. “We like the candy, the free bread.”
Johnny corrected his dad.
“He likes the free bread,” the younger Koscho said with a big grin.
Roman said the neighborhood has a special place in his heart and he and Johnny look forward to the parade every year.
“It’s a great place to live,” he said.
Johnny echoed his dad’s sentiments.
“It’s a different place down here, you know?” he said. “It’s a historical place.”