July 24, 2023 11a
(WGTD)---A group that’s dedicated to preserving Racine’s Italian heritage is celebrating its centennial anniversary.
Roma Lodge traces its roots to the mutual aid societies that popped up to help immigrants in the 1920s and earlier, according to Rick Bonanno, current president of Roma Lodge who appeared on a recent edition of Community Matters.
Roma Lodge moved to its current location on Spring St. in 1986, and supports itself through hall rentals, a part-time public restaurant, bingo games and a festival that’s coming up this weekend.
The 44th annual Italian Fest will feature Italian dinners and a craft fair.
In the program, Bonanno talked about the Lodge, immigration and his experiences of growing up in a five-generation Italian family.
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