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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
St. Ann's Italian Festa in Raritan returns for 116th running with pizza fritte and more
Volunteer Joe Cirillo spent years shepherding the efforts to revive the beloved St. Ann's Italian Festa in Raritan Borough − before he even had the opportunity to attend one. Due to COVID-19 and financial difficulties, the principal fundraiser for St. Ann Church and accompanying St. Ann Classical Academy was in purgatory for five years. But thanks to Cirillo and his fellow 100 volunteers' efforts, the festival in the primarily Italian borough returned last year − and it was worth every bite. 'On the first night of last year's Festa I said to Pastor Tom Odorizzi, 'Did you ever think we would make it to this point?' ' Cirillo recalled. 'We had so many obstacles we had to overcome. But it was everything that I thought it would be and more. That meatball sandwich never tasted so good.' Cirillo and the 2,000 people who attend the Festa each day are in for plenty more meatball sandwiches, pizza fritte, breaded eggplant, and sausage and peppers when the free-admission event returns for the 116th time. It runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 19, to Saturday, June 21, at 40 2nd Ave. This time, it isn't going anywhere. 'As far as I'm concerned, we are taking this as long as we can go,' Cirillo said. 'The goal was never to bring it back for just one year. This is the 116th and we want to get to 1,016th.' That's possible now that the Festa has new fridges, a new sauce vat and new grills, and machinery maintenance has been completed. An additional pizza fritte fryer was also recently purchased, which will speed up long lines for the fried, doughy delight. This year Festa attendees will also enjoy an additional 150 seats where they can chow down on the volunteer-made Italian fare that the Festa is known for. The Festa will also return to its roots this running for the first time in years when the procession of Saint Rocco, a statue inside the church and the patron saint of the Festa, takes place on opening night. Following a 3 p.m. mass at St. Ann Church on Thursday, June 19, the procession of the statue will begin at 4 p.m. and parade through the school and convent before its placed in a shrine around 5 p.m. Prayer cards will be set up so people can make donations. Almost all towns in Italy have a patron saint, and celebrations including food and entertainment are held on a patron saint's feast day. Saint Rocco is a common patron saint for various Italian towns since, as the patron saint of contagious diseases, he healed countless people from the Black Plague when he visited Italy during that era. Raritan news: The first cat cafe is opening in Somerset County. Here are the details So, when Raritan became a popular settlement for Italian immigrants, it was only natural that the patron saint became the one many borough residents shared no matter where in Italy they were from – Saint Rocco. However, one more piece of the pie is still needed. Since the Festa is labor-intensive, volunteers are needed for tasks such as setting up equipment, breaking down equipment, and stretching pizza fritte dough. Those interested can contact Cirillo at 201-724-7997 or sign up at People can also purchase $1,000 tent sponsorships by contacting Cirillo. Each sponsor is represented by a sign on one of the food tents, which can display business names, memorial messages and more. More: Dave Portnoy reviewed a Somerset County landmark pizzeria. Here's what he said Last year, the Festa raised $50,000 for the school and church, which was 'desperately needed,' Cirillo said. 'As long as people support the Festa, it's going to continue, so we're looking for new people to step up and volunteer, especially for leadership roles,' Cirillo continued. 'At some point our committee members are going to retire, so when that happens we need people willing to continue the tradition into the future.' Go: 5 to 10 June 19, through Saturday, June 21; 40 2nd Ave., Raritan; Contact 201-724-7997 to vounteer or donate, or sign up at Contact: JIntersimone@ Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she's a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State's buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone. This article originally appeared on St. Ann's Italian Festa in Raritan NJ returns in June
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
5 diseases caused by rats
In addition to being an annoyance for your home during the rainy season, rats and rodents can cause a number of health problems, the majority of which are fatal. The recent deaths in the US from hantavirus, which affects your organs, have sparked a conversation about a number of diseases that rats can cause. In addition, a variety of bacterial and viral illnesses are spread by house rats and other rodents. Among them are: Bubonic plague The bubonic plague, also known as the "Black Plague," and its variations are among the most historically devastating rat-borne illnesses. When human beings are bitten by rat fleas, transfer takes place. Millions of people died from this plague in the Middle Ages, which is thought to have been caused by fleas carried on rats. Rat infestations can be dangerous to human health because they can spread diseases including typhus, hantavirus, and bubonic plague. Hantavirus Humans are infected by a type of virus called hantavirus, which is spread by rodents. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, or HFRS, is a form of kidney disease brought on by hantaviruses that are prevalent in Europe and Asia. Other hantaviruses attack the lungs and fill them with fluid, causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS. Death results from around 38% of hantavirus infections. Early signs of this rat-borne illness include fatigue, fever, muscle soreness, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. Salmonella Bacteria Another illness that rats can carry is salmonellosis. It is an intestinal bacterial infection brought on by a species of bacteria known as Salmonella. This bacteria is present in the digestive tracts of certain rodents. Thus, there is a chance of contracting salmonella from any contact with rat excrement, particularly from eating tainted food. Numerous flu-like symptoms, including chills, fever, cramping in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can be brought on by the illness. Hemorrhagic fever Medical professionals describe viral hemorrhagic fever, or VHF, as a collection of viral infections that impact several organ systems, result in significant internal bleeding, and have the potential to be lethal. It is mostly transmitted by rats and rodents and is caused by five different families of viruses, including arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses, flaviviruses, and paramyxoviruses. In addition to bloody diarrhea, it also causes severely low blood pressure, seizures, coma, chest and stomach discomfort, fever, body aches, dizziness, exhaustion, headache, and rashes. Rat-bite fever The bacteria Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus, which are present in rats' urine, saliva, and feces, cause rat-bite fever, or RBF, a serious illness. In addition, other potential causes include scrapes and rat bites. The type of bacterial infection determines the signs and symptoms of RBF. The following are signs of streptobacillary RBF: rash close to the rat bite, lower abdominal joint and muscle pain, nausea, and sudden fever. Researchers find particle radioactivity associated with pollution-caused heart attack, stroke death One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Epoch Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for May 16–22
This week, we feature a riveting biography of a late 16th-century artist and an insightful account of one woman's unlikely challenge to forego screens. Biography ' By Andrew Graham-Dixon He is known as Caravaggio, though his name, which the artist adopted, stems from the city in which he was born. His childhood was inflicted by the horrors of the Black Plague, and his life and art often reflected the horrific and painful. Creating works of unmistakable originality, Caravaggio is one of the masters, known for his usage of light and shadow. Graham-Dixon has unearthed a volatile artist, presenting him in the same ferocity with which he lived his life. W.W. Norton, 2012, 544 pages Nonfiction ' Related Stories 5/1/2025 4/24/2025 By Hannah Brencher The heart of this book—which combines personal anecdotes and reflections on matters of spirit, religious faith, and culture—is the author's challenge: to endure 1,000 unplugged hours in one year. Feeling worn down and empty in 2021, Brencher got what she calls one of her nudges: to turn off her phone and keep turning it off. Here, she recreates that journey of reengaging with people and nature. It's an excellent reminder of the benefits and blessings received when we take some time away from our screens. Zondervan, 2024, 272 pages Energy ' By Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow Nuclear energy is regaining favor with some environmentalists. They see it as a green alternative to fossil fuel, but with greater reliability and smaller environmental impact than solar. It led to a 2024 decision to keep California's last nuclear plant open. This book explains how the reversal happened. It explores the emergence of a 21st-century nuclear power renaissance and shows how environmentalists joined forces with traditional nuclear advocates to create a reappraisal of nuclear energy. Algonquin Books, 2025, 288 pages Historical Fiction ' By L. Sprague De Camp Best known for his science fiction, De Camp also wrote five historical novels set in ancient times. Xerxes, King of Persia, desires immortality. His court magician claims Xerxes can get it with an elixir made from the blood of a dragon and the heart of a hero. He tells Xerxes that dragons live in the southern Nile River. Xerxes commutes the death sentence of Bessas of Zarispa, an officer, with promise of a pardon if Bessas returns with a dragon. This tale follows Bessas's adventures seeking a dragon. Phoenix Pick, 2013, 382 pages Classics ' By Boris Pasternak Set in Russia between the Revolution of 1905 and World War II, this 1957 novel roused enormous controversy, won the Nobel Prize for the author, and became a smash Hollywood hit in 1965. Physician and poet Yuri Zhivago, his family, and his love for Lara are at the story's heart, but the book is fascinating as well for its many discussions about Russia, history, art, faith, and more. Banned by the Soviets until 1988, Pasternak's romantic saga remains a warning against the dangers and cruelty of Marxism. Vintage, 2011, 704 pages For Kids ' By Alice and Martin Provensen French aviator Louis Blériot made the first powered airplane flight across the English Channel on July 25, 1909. This story begins with the Blériot family living in Cambrai, France in the year 1901 and depicts how Papa Blériot was inspired to fly and came to accomplish this monumental feat. It's a story of persistence, innovation, and family love. Puffin Books, 1987, 40 pages What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Khaleej Times
08-04-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Over 1.5 billion will be affected by disasters by 2030, top official warns
More than 1.5 billion people will be affected by disasters by the year 2030, a top UAE crisis management official has warned, calling on global stakeholders to act urgently and collectively before the world reaches a tipping point. 'Waiting is not a luxury - and luxury does not come to those who wait, but to those who act,' said Saif Al Dhaheri, Director of the National Operations Centre at the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA). Al Dhaheri was speaking during the World Crisis and Management Summit (WCEMS) at the UAE capital on Tuesday. As the frequency and intensity of global threats grow, technology is expected to play an increasingly vital role in mitigating impact and enhancing preparedness. Al Dhaheri said that by 2030, 'seventy per cent of crisis and disaster leadership decisions will be supported by artificial intelligence.' By 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population will be living in cities threatened by climate-related disasters, while autonomous and unmanned aircraft for disaster response are projected to increase twentyfold by 2028, he added. By 2040, he said 90 per cent of the global population will live within range of a 'real-time risk detection network', highlighting a dramatic shift from reactive to anticipatory crisis management. Looking back at the origins of catastrophic events, Al Dhaheri said disasters often begin subtly yet the cost of inaction can be global. 'Every major crisis began as a small dot, barely visible to the naked eye… the issue is not the size of the dot, but in ignoring it until it grows into a sweeping, cross-border global crisis.' He cited the Black Plague in the Middle Ages, a time when humanity lacked the tools to respond effectively to health emergencies. 'There were no early warning systems, no public health institutions, and no emergency plans - only fear, helplessness, and death.' Despite the devastation, the catastrophe marked a turning point in human consciousness. 'Societies realised that survival does not come from chaos, but from planning, science, and preparedness.' Today, the world possesses knowledge, data, and advanced tools to detect and respond to crises, but only if nations act decisively and collaboratively. 'We are the generation carrying an agenda from the past and a responsibility to build safety for the future,' Al Dhaheri said, urging swift, strategic, science-based planning. He stressed that resilience cannot be achieved in isolation, and that global safety depends on strong international partnerships. 'Countries around the world hold vast reserves of knowledge, capabilities, and resources to reduce and prevent future shocks,' he concluded, 'it is our shared destiny that drives us to focus on discovering our full capacities and to shape a future built on cooperation and capability.'
