More than a century ago, Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry's great-grandparents took a chance. Separately, they boarded a ship in Naples, Italy, and sailed thousands of miles to a land of great opportunity. They were willing to risk it all to provide a better life for their family. They built a life that was based on love, family, hard work and tradition, and they passed that along to their children.

On Thursday, Catazaro-Perry was recognized for her commitment to her Italian heritage and to her community with the 2019 Stark County Italian-American Festival Dedication Award. The festival kicked off Thursday, and it runs through Saturday.