The 4611 Mile Journey

By Michelangelo Lo Bue

At one of the many meetings regarding the planning of the Centro Cultural Italiano Di Buffalo, the subject of placing a fountain in front of the building was a topic for  discussion.  Present at the meeting was Dr. Giacobbe, President of CCI; Tommaso Briatico, Architect; Mario Avarello and Michael Giallombardo.

Tommaso had architectural plans for the lay out of the grounds in front of the CCI building, these included: a fountain, bocce court, garden, fence, benches, flag poles and landscaping.  The possibility of a statue and the cost of all of that mentioned was discussed. Pictures of fountains and statues were passed around in order to get an idea as what was doable. 

What took place next was a pleasant surprise,  Mario mentioned casually that some cousins in Sicily might donate the fountain and many other items that would be appropriate for the grounds at the Center. He said their business in Sicily is fabricating most of the items we were discussing. They ( Cousins) are well known throughout the world for their skills. Mario would contact his cousins if that would be okay with the group. Yes, of course, please pursue it.

After contacting his relatives, Marie Angela Gattuso and Michele Gattuso of Ravanusa, Sicily who operate the company, G.P.S. (Gattuso, Picone, and Stucci) and have clients all over the world, (Las Vegas, Dubai, and even locally, Statue at StMargret’s), it was agreed upon that they would donate the art work and items needed. They would send him a catalog. Mario shared the catalog with members ofthe CCI staff to select the items wanted.

The items selected: Lions, Benches, Statue, Lights and Light Post, Planters, Tables, Bird Bath, a large Fountain and other items. All in all, $250,000 in art work was donated by the Gattusos’, (Charging  CCI only $20,000 Euro for material etc.). The items were  shipped in a 48-foot container, which left the port of Massena, Italy, having arrived at the port of New York.  The container was put on a train and shipped to Buffalo where it then was transported to the warehouse of Picone Construction. (Also, cousins of the Gattusos’).  A 4611-mile trip.

Picones’ stored the items and assembled them at the CCI Center, doing it mostly as a donation.  It was not an easy job, special instruction had to be relayed from Ravanusa to Buffalo where Mario acting as interpreter for Tony Picone Jr. who put the whole project together. 

 A foundation had to be created to hold the large fountain and other items to be anchored.  New digging had to take place for the lamp post and new concrete be  placed in each one. Mario in his generosity, donated all the concrete for the post and the main stairs to the building. Another contributor was VCNA United Materials who provided all the concrete at cost for the walk ways and project.

Thanks to all the hard work by all, 98% of the project had been completed by the time the Italian Festival took place, where it was admired by many. The Fountain is especially attractive.

If you visit the Center, please take time to view the gifts from the Gattusos. The hard work done by Picone Construction Company and Mario and the  great items selected  by the staff at the Center.