Baranello Lodge, Shepard Road (2026)

02/11/2026

What a wonderful evening! On Saturday, October 24th, The Baranello Lodge proudly celebrated its 90th Anniversary. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the 162 members, guests, and family members of our deceased members who joined us and helped make this milestone celebration such a tremendous success.

The evening was filled with great food, drinks, music, dancing, memories, recognitions, reunions, and, most importantly, the camaraderie and friendships that have been the foundation of our lodge for 90 years.

There are many people we would like to recognize and thank for making this celebration so special.

90th Anniversary Committee

A special thank-you to our Anniversary Committee members, Joe Camardo, John Colagiovanni, Pat DiChiro, and Nick Valletta, for their countless hours, dedication, and hard work in planning and organizing this event. Their efforts helped make the evening a tremendous success.

Baranello Women's Junior Auxiliary (BWJA)

We extend our sincere appreciation to the BWJA for their generous donation to the Lodge and for providing so many delicious homemade desserts. Your generosity and continued support are greatly appreciated, and everyone certainly enjoyed the desserts!

Our Sponsors and Donors

We are extremely grateful to the businesses and organizations whose generous financial contributions helped make this celebration possible:

Dobronos & Dyrda Law

Bianchi & Bianchi Attorneys at Law

Richard Dell'Aquila Attorney at Law

Cookie Cupboard

Signarama

Council of Italian-American Societies of Summit County

Collinwood Grape Company

We also want to thank our door prize donors:

Di Stefano's Authentic Italian Foods

Molisana Italian Foods

Please remember to support and patronize these businesses and organizations whenever possible. Their generosity and support of The Baranello Lodge are greatly appreciated.

Special Guests and Recognition

Thank you to Mayor Anthony Biasotta for joining us as our guest speaker. We also extend our appreciation to Richard Dell'Aquila for presenting the Lodge with an official proclamation from the State of Ohio congratulating The Baranello Lodge on its 90th Anniversary. This was a special recognition of our Lodge's long-standing history and contributions to the community.

Honoring Our Members and Our History

One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was recognizing the members who have dedicated so many years to the Baranello Lodge.

Members with up to 49 years of membership were recognized with a well-deserved round of applause. Those celebrating 50 or more years of membership, along with members who have reached the age of 90 or older, were individually invited to the stage and recognized. Once everyone had been acknowledged, they received a well-deserved standing ovation. It was truly a special moment and a reminder of the commitment and dedication that have kept our Lodge strong throughout the years.

We also took time to remember our deceased members with a moving video tribute honoring those who came before us and helped build the foundation of our Lodge.

Our past presidents who were in attendance were also invited to the stage and recognized for their leadership and service.

Finally, we gave special recognition to John Colagiovanni for more than 45 years of dedicated service as a Lodge officer. President John Manocchio presented John with a commemorative plaque in appreciation of his many years of commitment, leadership, and service to Baranello Lodge. This recognition was certainly well deserved!

A Special Thank-You

We also want to extend a special thank-you to Nick Valletta and his son, Roberto, for sharing their musical talents and entertaining everyone with their wonderful accordion playing. Their performance was truly one of the highlights of the evening! The familiar sounds of traditional Italian music brought back fond memories, reminded us of our heritage, and brought smiles to so many faces. It's easy to see how much everyone enjoys hearing the old Italian songs, and their contribution made the celebration that much more meaningful and memorable.

We also want to thank Margaret Valletta for photographing each attendee and capturing so many special moments throughout the evening. These photographs will help preserve the memories of this milestone celebration for years to come.

And, of course, thank you to our DJ for providing the music and entertainment that kept everyone enjoying the evening and dancing!

Looking Ahead

Ninety years is an incredible milestone, and this celebration was a wonderful reminder of what makes Baranello Lodge so special: our members, our families, our friendships, our Italian heritage, and our commitment to keeping the traditions of our founders alive.

Thank you once again to everyone who attended, contributed, volunteered, sponsored, and helped make this evening one to remember.

Here's to 90 years of friendship, family, heritage, and tradition — and to many more years of the Baranello Lodge!

21/10/2026

As another Bocce season comes to a close, we want to congratulate this year’s Bocce League Champions! Great job, guys, and congratulations on a terrific season!

🏆 2026 Bocce League Champions

Captain: Frank DeNigris

Guido Cornaccione

Nick Ianetta

Tony Plazzo

Tony DiMassa

We also want to congratulate our Second-Place Team for a great season:

Captain: Joe Tomaro

Joe F. Tomaro

Tony Zullo

Pat McManus

Mike Discenza

All in all, it was a fantastic season! Everyone enjoyed playing on our new bocce courts, which have been a wonderful addition to the Lodge. We look forward to many more seasons of friendly competition, fellowship, and great times together on the courts.

Thank You to Our Columbus Day Parade Participants!
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the members who marched in this year’s Columbus Day Parade and proudly represented the Baranello Lodge at this prestigious event.

Thank you to:

Pat DiChiro

John Manocchio

John Colagiovanni

Joe Giovinale

Frank DeNigris

Ritchie DeNigris

Dante Cotugno

Tony Tomaro

Tony Manocchio

A special thank-you to Ritchie DeNigris for bringing his accordion and playing as we marched. His music added a wonderful Italian touch, and the crowd clearly enjoyed it!

We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate and help showcase our Lodge and our Italian heritage in the community.

Upcoming Event: Bocce Banquet
Our annual Bocce Banquet will be held on:

Friday, November 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Location: Baranello Lodge
Cost: $30 per person

Guests are welcome!

Please let your team captain, or Frank DeNigris, at 440-567-6945, Joe Camardo at 440-668-3622, know if you will be attending.

Please RSVP by Thursday, October 29th.

We look forward to celebrating another successful season with everyone!

Reminder: 90th Anniversary Celebration
For those who purchased tickets, our 90th Anniversary Celebration is this Saturday, October 24th, at 6:00 PM!

The event is sold out, and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our members and guests.

Thank you all for your continued participation, enthusiasm, and support. Whether it’s on the bocce courts, marching in a parade, or gathering for one of our Lodge events, it’s the involvement of our members that keeps the Baranello Lodge strong.

22/09/2026

Our 90th Anniversary year has truly been a great year for the Baranello Lodge, and we continue to celebrate with some outstanding events. Last Saturday, we held another successful Annual Steer Roast, and once again, it was a fantastic day and evening for our members and guests.

54 members and guests came out to enjoy a day filled with great food, drinks, bocce, poker, and, most importantly, fellowship and good times with fellow Lodge members and friends.

Mother Nature was kind to us, with only a few brief periods of rain, allowing everyone to spend most of the day and evening outside. Our new bocce courts were certainly put to good use, with games continuing until approximately 2:00 Sunday morning!

The food was outstanding from start to finish. We started with a great lunch of Italian luncheon meats, homemade dried meats, fried peppers, and homemade peppers. Dinner featured beef tenderloin, twice-baked potatoes, vegetables, salad, bread, peppers, and plenty of homemade w**e.

After dinner, the bocce games and poker continued into the evening. And for those who were still going strong, lamb was put on the grill around 11:00 PM. It truly turned into one of those long Lodge nights that everyone will remember.

A Special Thank You
We would like to give a special thank you to Frank Camardo, Joe Camardo, and Andy Camardo for hosting this wonderful event.

We also want to recognize and thank everyone who helped with the setup, cooking, serving, and cleanup:

Frank DeNigris

David DiNallo

Tony Velotta (B)

Nello Cotugno

Shawn Rayborn

Vito Rayborn

Pat DiChiro

Jim Manocchio's sons-in-law

And, of course, thank you to everyone who helped set up and take down the tables and chairs at the end of the night.

It takes a lot of people working together to put on an event like this, and we sincerely appreciate everyone's time, effort, and support. Events like this are what make our Lodge special.

As we celebrated into the early hours of Sunday morning, we couldn't help but think about the stories we've heard about our fathers' and grandfathers' generation and how they celebrated the Annual Steer Roast. Maybe next year, we can keep the tradition going and make it an all-night event just like they did!

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make another Baranello Lodge event a tremendous success.

19/09/2026

What a great day for BWJA & Baranello Lodge!

Last Sunday, 140 members, family members, and guests came together for our first joint BWJA & Baranello Lodge Clambake. The event was a tremendous success, and everyone enjoyed a fantastic afternoon filled with great food, drinks, friendship, and fellowship.

A very special thank you goes to the BWJA for taking the lead in organizing and hosting this year's event. Their hard work, planning, and attention to detail truly made this one of the best clambakes in the area. They showed us how a clambake should be done, and we are extremely grateful for everything they did to make the day such a success.

We also want to recognize and sincerely thank all of the volunteers who gave their time and energy to make the event possible:

Stella Bucciarelli

Sue Discenza

Cristina Gualtieri

Michelle Barkoot

Jane Colagiovanni

Annette Spetrino

Natalie Buc

Gordana Giovenale

Antonietta DiChiro

John Manocchio

John Colagiovanni

Pat DiChiro

Joe Giovenale

Tony Tomaro (SH)

Tony DiMassa

Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.

We would also like to give special recognition to John Manocchio and John Colagiovanni, who went above and beyond to support this event. They spent all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Lodge, helping prepare for and run the event, and then returned all day Monday to help with the cleanup. Their commitment and willingness to step up are exactly what makes events like this possible.

As this was our first year holding the Clambake as a joint BWJA and Baranello Lodge event, we hope this will become a tradition that continues for many years to come. With 140 people attending, it is clear that this is an event our members and families enjoy.

As we continue this tradition, we encourage more of our Lodge members to get involved and volunteer. It takes many hands behind the scenes to put on an event of this size, and volunteering is a great way to meet other members, contribute to the Lodge, and be part of making these events successful.

Once again, thank you to the BWJA, all of our volunteers, and everyone who attended and supported this wonderful event.

Good food, great friends, and lasting memories—that's what Baranello Lodge is all about.

03/09/2026

We would like to thank everyone who attended Friday night's members meeting and helped us officially celebrate the Grand Opening of our new Bocce Complex.

It was a wonderful evening of friendship and fellowship. Everyone enjoyed a great meal prepared on the grill, and we were especially pleased to recognize the many members who contributed their time, talents, and hard work to building and completing the Bocce Complex. We also recognized the members whose generous support of our fund raising efforts helped make this project possible.

To officially christen the new courts, our first ceremonial ball was rolled out, marking the beginning of what we hope will be many years of great bocce competition, fun, and—most importantly—friendship, fellowship, and lasting memories.

We are incredibly proud of what our members accomplished together, and we look forward to seeing the new complex become a place where members and their families can gather and enjoy each other's company for many years to come.

20/08/2026

2026 has been a very busy and exciting year for Baranello Lodge!

Throughout the year, we have continued to make improvements to our Lodge and property, and we are proud of what has been accomplished. What makes these improvements especially meaningful is that so much of the work has been completed through the time, talents, and dedication of our own members.

Back in February, we began with improvements to the Lodge hall. The hall was painted, repairs were made to the walls and ceilings, old light fixtures were replaced with new LED fixtures, new blinds were ordered, and a general cleanup and refresh of the facility was completed.

We then turned our attention to what became one of the largest projects in recent Lodge history—the construction of our new Bocce Complex. After months of planning, fundraising, construction, and countless hours of volunteer work, that project is now complete and has already become a wonderful addition to our Lodge.

While the Bocce Complex was under construction, our Building Chairman, James Manocchio, was working on another important improvement—the new dessert buffet in our hall.

Knowing that so many of the Lodge's resources and volunteers were focused on the Bocce project, Jim took it upon himself to take on this project largely on his own. He designed the buffet, completed the necessary drywall work, installed the cabinets, and continued working on the project until the countertops were installed and the finishing touches were completed.

The finished buffet looks fantastic and is a beautiful addition to our Lodge.

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Jim Manocchio for taking on this project and seeing it through from the original design to completion.

Projects like these don't happen without members who are willing to step forward and contribute their time, skills, and hard work. Whether it was helping with the hall renovations, building the Bocce Complex, working on the new buffet, or assisting with any of the many other projects around the Lodge, our members have once again shown what can be accomplished when we work together.

2026 has truly been a year of progress for Baranello Lodge.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our members who have donated their time, talents, resources, and financial support throughout the year. Every contribution, large or small, has helped make our Lodge a better place for our members, their families, and future generations.

We should all be proud of what we have accomplished together.

Thank you for your continued support of Baranello Lodge!

14/08/2026

Fellow Members,

Baranello Lodge is in full swing, with a busy calendar of events and activities planned for the months ahead!

We would like to thank the 60+ members and their families who came out for our Annual Family Picnic on Sunday, July 26. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and we were able to enjoy a wonderful afternoon together. There was plenty of homemade food, w**e, Ice Cream Truck, desserts, laughter, and great fellowship.

A special thank you goes to Frank DeNigris and Sue Discenza for hosting and helping make the picnic such a great success. We truly appreciate all the time and effort that went into putting this event together.

Upcoming Events
🦪 Baranello Lodge & BWJA Annual Clambake – Sunday, September 13

Our annual Clambake, sponsored jointly by the BWJA and Baranello Lodge, will be held on Sunday, September 13.

We are also looking for members who are willing to volunteer and help with the event. If you haven't had an opportunity to volunteer at one of our Lodge events this year, this would be a great one to get involved with. It takes many helping hands to make these events successful, and we truly appreciate everyone's support.

🥩 Annual Steer Roast – Saturday, September 19

Please mark your calendars and keep Saturday, September 19 open for our Annual Steer Roast.

A flier with complete details will be sent out shortly. We hope to see a great turnout!

🎉 Baranello Lodge 90th Anniversary Celebration – Saturday, October 24

This will be a very special evening as we celebrate 90 years of Baranello Lodge!

We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our members and making it a night to remember.

🎯 Bocce League
Our Bocce League is also in full swing as we reach the halfway point of the season. Everyone is enjoying our beautiful new Bocce Complex, and we couldn't be happier to see the courts being used and enjoyed by our members.

League play takes place every Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM.

Even if you're not on a team, come out and watch the matches! After the games, one of the teams prepares a great meal for everyone to enjoy. It's a great way to spend a Wednesday evening, enjoy some bocce, have a good meal, and spend time with your fellow members.

There is a lot happening at Baranello Lodge, and it's great to see so many members and their families getting involved. Your participation and support are what make our Lodge such a special organization.

We hope to see you at one—or all—of our upcoming events!

17/07/2026

Fellow Members,

Our 2026 Annual Baranello Lodge Golf Outing was a tremendous success!

Last Saturday, 50 members and guests teed off at Gleneagles Golf Club for a day of friendly competition and fellowship. The weather couldn't have been better, making it a perfect day on the course. After golf, everyone returned to the Lodge to enjoy a delicious steak dinner, refreshments, and the opportunity to play bocce on our beautiful new courts for the first time.

A sincere thank you goes to Rob Velotta and John Colagiovanni for serving as co-chairmen of this year's outing. Their planning and hard work helped make the event enjoyable for everyone.

We would also like to thank Rich Velotta and Frank Camardo for preparing another outstanding steak dinner. In addition, thank you to Joe Camardo, Andy Camardo, and Pat DiCicco for assisting with the cooking, serving, and cleanup.

It takes many volunteers working together to make events like this successful, and we truly appreciate everyone who gave their time and effort.

On Friday evening, July 10, several of our members proudly represented Baranello Lodge by volunteering at the Summit County Italian Festival at Lock 3 in Akron.

We would like to recognize and thank:

John & Jane Colagiovanni Jim & Tracy Manocchio Frank DeNigris John Manocchio Tony Tomaro (SH) and Joe Camardo.

Thank you for donating your time and helping promote both our Italian heritage and Baranello Lodge within our community. Your volunteer spirit reflects the values our Lodge has represented for nearly 90 years.

Whether it's organizing events, preparing meals, volunteering in the community, or simply lending a helping hand, it is members like you who make Baranello Lodge such a special organization.

Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Lodge events!

08/07/2026

Fellow Lodge Members,

We are proud and excited to announce that the Baranello Bocce Complex is officially complete!

The finished project exceeded all of our expectations, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. It is incredibly rewarding to see a dream shared by so many of our members become a reality. This project was made possible through the dedication, generosity, and countless hours of volunteer work by our Lodge members. It truly represents what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal.

Three years ago, Frank DeNigris and Joe Camardo envisioned building a first-class bocce complex that every member could enjoy and be proud to call our own. Through years of fundraising—including our Bocce League, 50/50 raffles, a dinner dance, generous member donations, and support from the Lodge's General Fund—we were able to raise the funds necessary to turn that vision into reality.

A special thank you goes to Frank DeNigris for his outstanding leadership throughout the project. Frank designed the entire complex, prepared the bill of materials, coordinated the resources, and helped guide the project from concept to completion. His dedication and commitment were instrumental in making this dream come true.

As construction began, we were fortunate to have three of our younger members step forward and provide the equipment, expertise, and leadership needed for a project of this magnitude. We extend our sincere appreciation to Alex DeNigris, Geo Carnivale, and Mario DeNigris Jr.

Alex and Geo generously donated the heavy equipment required to excavate and prepare the site. They volunteered countless evenings and weekends, contributing not only their time but also their professional construction knowledge to ensure the courts were built correctly. Geo also provided valuable resources through his construction company and with assistance from Alex oversaw all of the concrete work.

Mario took charge of the entire electrical portion of the project, installing all new conduit, wiring, breakers, outlets, and LED lighting. Like Alex and Geo, he dedicated many nights and weekends to completing the work. We are truly fortunate to have younger members who are willing to step forward, lead by example, and invest in the future of our Lodge. Without their commitment, this project simply would not have been possible.

We would also like to recognize the dedicated group of members who worked tirelessly over the past six weeks. They spent countless hours building the courts, spreading gravel, moving dirt, assisting with electrical work, installing lighting, applying and leveling the three playing surface layers, and completing the many other tasks required to bring this project to completion.

Their hard work, teamwork, and dedication made all the difference.

Special thanks to:
Frank DeNigris, Joe Camardo, Frank Camardo, Andy Camardo, John Manocchio, John Colagiovanni, Tony Zullo, Tony Tomaro ( SH), Nello Cotugno, and Jim Manocchio

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to every member who participated in our Commemorative Brick Campaign. Your support was overwhelming, and we are proud to say that every available brick was sold. Your contributions will forever be a part of the Baranello Bocce Complex and will help preserve the legacy of our Lodge for generations to come.

The new Bocce Complex is much more than three beautiful courts. It is a symbol of the pride, generosity, friendship, and volunteer spirit that make Baranello Lodge such a special organization.

We hope every member has the opportunity to stop by, see the new complex, and enjoy it for many years to come.

Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, supported our fundraising efforts, and believed in this project. This accomplishment belongs to all of us.

Fraternally Yours,

The Officers and Trustees
Baranello Lodge

09/06/2026

We are excited to report that construction of the Baranello Lodge Bocce Complex began two weeks ago and is already making great progress.

As part of this exciting project, we are launching a Commemorative Brick Campaign. Proceeds from the sale of these personalized bricks will help offset the cost of the Bocce Complex and provide members, families, and friends with a lasting way to support and be recognized as part of this project.

Commemorative bricks may honor a family member, celebrate your family's Italian heritage, memorialize a loved one, recognize a family business, or simply show your support for Baranello Lodge. Each brick will become a permanent part of the Bocce Complex and a lasting legacy for generations to come.

4" x 8" Commemorative Brick

Cost: $100Up to 3 lines of inscription Maximum of 16 characters per line
Example:

JOHN & MARY
MANOCCHIO
BARANELLO LODGE

Spaces, punctuation, symbols, and numbers count as characters.

8" x 8" Commemorative Brick

Cost: $250Up to 6 lines of inscription Maximum of 16 characters per line
This option provides additional space for family names, memorial tributes, business names, or special messages.

Please note that the number of commemorative bricks available is limited. To ensure your order is included in the initial installation, please submit your order no later than Monday, June 15th.

To place an order or for additional information, please contact:

Frank G. DeNigris
Email: [email protected]
Phone/Text: 440-567-6945

or

Daniela DeNigris
Email: [email protected]
Phone/Text: 440-667-6679

Daniela will be assisting with order entry and processing.

Thank you for supporting this important project and helping create a lasting legacy at Baranello Lodge. With your support, the Bocce Complex will become a gathering place where members, families, and future generations can enjoy fellowship and continue the traditions that make our lodge special.

Fraternally,

The Officers and Trustees
Baranello Lodge

Baranello Lodge

02/11/2026

21/10/2026

22/09/2026

19/09/2026

03/09/2026

20/08/2026

14/08/2026

17/07/2026

08/07/2026

09/06/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request