BUFFALO, N.Y. — Western New Yorkers are celebrating Italian Heritage Month with a series of events honoring Italian culture, tradition, and community.

The festivities began Sunday morning with a special Mass in Italian and a wreath-laying ceremony at St. Anthony’s of Padua. The celebration continues throughout the month with concerts, cooking classes, parades, and lectures designed to highlight the lasting impact of Italian Americans in the region.

Frank Caruso, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, emphasized the importance of preserving and passing down these traditions.

"Events like this are important to continue going down from one generation to another, to continue the traditions and continue the history of people knowing the history of their culture," Caruso said. "I think

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