BEREA, Ohio (WTRF) – There are just three days until the start of the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival.
In Bellaire, members of the Sons of Italy Lodge are making sausage for their booth for the Italian sausage sandwich, a festival staple since 1983.
The year started with 1,160 pounds of pork delivered yesterday.
They cut the meat, season it, grind it, stuff it into casings, and cut the links to the length needed to make the perfect sandwich. They are experienced and organized.
“Everyone goes to their post and does their job, and believe me, it all runs very smoothly and is a lot of fun to watch. They can talk to each other if they want, but most of the time they're focused on their work. I've heard many times that that's why people come to Wheelin' for the festival – they want the sausage sandwiches.”
Bill Ort, Chairman, Sons of Italy, Bellaire Lodge
We packed our last 500 pounds of sausage today.
There are 16 volunteers in the kitchen, with many working at the festival booth. The sandwiches are grilled with peppers and onions and served on soft Italian buns. The price remains $8.
This is just a sneak peek – we'll have more details in our special show on Friday. festival The 5 and 6 o'clock editions of 7News.
