MATILDA CUOMO AIDS COLUMBUS MEMORIAL.(Local)

Byline: Tim O'Brien Staff writer

To boost an effort to build a Christopher Columbus monument, one of the state's most prominent Italian-Americans, Matilda Cuomo, lent her support Thursday.

The city's chapter of the Sons of Italy hopes to build the monument at the intersection of King and Jacob streets next year.

The design features a ship's prow facing west, as did Columbus' ships, and a map of the world measuring 32 feet in diameter showing the explorer's route to America.

Plans for the $220,000 monument were unveiled in November, but the appearance of Cuomo was meant to put wind into the project's sails.

"This is the kickoff of …