'Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories' exhibit opens at the Hoxie Gallery in Westerly, RI

"Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories" — which opens Wednesday, Oct. 1, with an opening night reception scheduled from 5-7 p.m. — tells the stories of families with last names like Luzzi, Pendola, DiSantis, Sculco and Gaccione — families who have made a distinct mark upon the cultural and civic life of Westerly, families responsible for major contributions to Westerly's growth and development, and to the vibrant, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic town it is today. 

Vito DiPaola stood in the dining room of his Westerly home one recent September morning surrounded by dozens of large, glass-framed exhibit panels — including one with an enormous and colorful map of Italy, divided up by region — which he had just finished putting together.