This year was the 25th St. Rocco Festival run by "Chairman Joe" Barnao. Speaking of anniversaries, this was the second year with Monsignor John Alesandro at the helm of St. Dominic's and it was the first year he made the zeppolis at the feast. "We told him he had to, that it was his initiation to the event," said Marie Knight.

She said, "Joe Barnao became the St. Rocco chairman after Louis Fuccio retired. Father Bud (Monsignor Charles Ribaudo) asked me for the names of people to ask. I gave him three names and he recognized the name Barnao. It rang a bell for him, he said, 'He just put carpets in the rectory.' Father Bud said when he called and asked Joe, he said no. I said, 'I'll get him to do it', knowing he would be the best.

"I went to his office (at Carpets by Barnao on Audrey Avenue). He said no, again, and tried to go out into the warehouse. I stopped him and told him he had to do it, and he said, 'not unless you do it with me.' So that's what we did," said Ms. Knight. She retired from the volunteer job last year.

Joe Barnao said this is his last time to run the St. Rocco's Festival. "It's time we got some new blood. Maybe Marie will take it over," he said. "I was there for 25 years as chairman but I was there for two years before that, so it's about 27 years in total."

He's enjoyed running the festival. 'We always have a good time and all the volunteers and kitchen help are the best. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The fireworks this year were good and the food was fantastic. It's nice for all of us to get together. Sometimes I don't see some of the people during the year."

He always talks about how great the volunteers are. "The people were great and they work hard. It's not easy. A lot of the food volunteers were there all five days and a lot of them aren't kids anymore," he added.

Financially, he said, "Anything we made was more than we had. This year's revenues were all right. Not as good as last year's, but it was good. There are ups and downs and so many people are having festivals now. And, we try to keep the prices low, and we haven't changed prices. People come with kids and that's why we have two family nights for the rides. We realize big families can't spend lots of money, so we don't zap them. They get lots for their money.

"Our food is made in our kitchens and not someone else's. It comes out of the rectory and social room kitchens and is inspected before it goes to the fairground. Terry Walston and her daughter Joan did a very good job again. Sbarro's donated all the Italian food. It comes in pre-heated and we warm it or cook it. It is sent every day and Sbarro's gives us a refrigerator truck so everything is kept nice and cold. Sbarro's does a lot for us.

"Did you know our sausages come four to a pound. They are the best you can buy anywhere," he said.

There was an extra bonus for the community. Starting Sunday, July 20 St. Dominic's sold all the left-over frankfurters, hamburgers and meatballs. "They were sold at what they cost us," said Chairman Joe.

The winner of the car raffle was Carl Limbacher of Sagamore Graphics. He was ecstatic at having won. "I decided to take the cash and use it for business improvement in the way of equipment. We are thrilled, flabbergasted, it's unbelievable. You buy tickets so many times and never expect to win. I bought four tickets and put the Sagamore Graphics stamp on them.

"We weren't at the festival and found out on Monday. Raffle Chairman Lou Pillari left the message on our answering machine. We're thrilled and surprised. I know people win millions but $25,000 is a lot of money. People have been calling and congratulating us and that's wonderful too," he said. People were happy for him and happy that someone local won the raffle.