West Orange Township recognized October as Italian Heritage Month in a ceremony organized by the West Orange High School Italian Department and Italian Club, and sponsored by the local chapter of UNICO, on Oct. 15.

UNICO, an Italian American service organization, which stands for "Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity", was formed in 1922 and remains the largest Italian American organization in the world. Today, there are an estimated 18 million Italian Americans, comprising approximately 5.4 percent of the population. Frank Gonnella of the Orange/West Orange chapter served as emcee for the program, which also included a welcome from Mayor Susan McCartney, also of Italian American descent.