13th Annual Little Italy Precious Festa

10/13 & 10/14, Saturday & Sunday

Little Italy Association and Precious Cheese are proud to make the Little Italy District come alive. Saturday's program consists of NO VENDORS, Corso degli Artisti (Street of the Artists): Little Italy's Street Painting Festival and a few other small entertaining features. Sunday's program consists of over 150 Italian Food & Crafter Booths, 3 stages of entertainment, Corso degli Artisti (Street of the Artists): Little Italy's Street Painting Festival, an Italian Motorsport Show, a Stickball Tournament and 2 Beer and Wine Gardens. Load up the family, friends & pets and come to the Largest Italian Festival outside of New York City. This event is held on India Street between Ash and Grape Streets from 10:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.

It seems that finally the time has come for a concerted effort to minimize the train noise in our neighborhood.  The following message was originally sent by Sandra Simmons of Viva-city to alert our group of the actions being taken on this issue.

On 12-18-04, Federal Railroad Administration 49 CFR Pars 222 and 229, Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Rule takes effect.
 
The Rule REQUIRES all locomotives to sound a horn sequence of two longs, one short, and one long starting at least 15 seconds, but no more than 20 seconds before reaching the grade crossing. The Rule REQUIRES the horn sound to be a minimum of 96 dB(A) and no louder than 110 dB(A) measuring 100 feet in front of the locomotive and 15 feet above the rail.
 
The good news is the rule provides for an exception that grants local political jurisdictions the authority to establish a quiet zone.  
 
In order to expedite a quiet zone for Downtown, our city officials should begin the quiet zone investigation process, improvements, and submission of application to the FRA prior to December 18, 2004. This will ensure our quiet zone can be instituted at the earliest possible date after the Rule becomes effective.
 
Rather than delay the application due to the problematic Park Blvd/Harbor Drive intersection, city officials are strong urged to consider making application immediately for a quiet zone within 5th Avenue to Laurel Street, and work expeditiously to expand the zone from 5th Avenue to Sigsbee Street.
 
If you would like to express your view point on this quality of life issue, a list of city officials are provided below.