Marie P. Soliani says it’s an honor to be able to show respect for her Italian heritage. Soliani will get to do that in a big way this month as she has been Italian “Mayor Of The Day.” Soliani said she was initially “shocked” to learn she was receiving the award. “Then I felt gratitude,” she said, noting she is “very honored to be chosen.”

The Torrington Chapter of UNICO National and the city hold its Columbus and Italian Mayor of the Day Celebration at 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at Coe Memorial Park’s civic center, with Soliani as this year’s honoree. This week Soliani spoke this week at a forum held by “Vote Yes New School Bright Future”, a group promoting the approval of a project to build a new middle-high school in the city.