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Tommy DeVito has become an Italian American icon in the New Jersey area, but not all the attention has been positive. Social media has been flooded with Goodfellas and Sopranos references that enforce negative stereotypes — and it has angered some Italians. Ralph Contini, the national president of UNICO, an Italian American service organization, ha...

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UNICO National President Cav. Ralph Contini announced retired Army Lieutenant General Bob Caslen as Honorary Spokesman for UNICO National’s Military & Veteran Affairs. General Caslen was recently installed as a UNICO Member by President Contini at a ceremony held on the West Point football field. “General Caslen is a highly recognizable, decorated...

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If you regularly attend the Pittston Tomato Festival Parade, or the Columbus Day festivities in downtown Pittston, you’ll likely need no introduction to the Cino Paci Band. But if you haven’t yet had the pleasure of hearing the group play their Italian and American melodies, perhaps you would like to attend their 100th anniversary concert, set for...

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Big congratulations to the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of UNICO National for hosting their 2023 Community Leadership Award Gala at the magnificent The Union League venue in Philadelphia. An incredible event! Our UNICO National President, Cav. Ralph Contini, and First Lady Maria-Rose graced the occasion, joining distinguished honorees, members, and...

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UNICO National hosted its Italian American Awards Gala on November 5 at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, NJ. The special event honored Thomas Arnone, County Commissioner Director, with UNICO’s Public Service Award, for his effective leadership in Monmouth County. Dr. Joseph Scelsa, Italian American Museum Founder & President, received t...

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The Rehoboth Area chapter of UNICO will hold its second annual festa d’autunno at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 in the St. Edmund Parish Hall on King Charles Avenue. This event will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society to support their programs of assistance for local residents in need. The program will include an Italian dinner with wine and other beverages,...

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West Orange town officials, UNICO and the West Orange High School Italian Club recently partnered to hold an Italian flag raising ceremony at Town Hall. The event was emceed by Frank Gonnella of the Orange/West Orange UNICO chapter and welcomed UNICO national president Ralph Contini, who shared the New Jersey history of Italian American Heritage an...

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Several students were honored as the Columbus Day Essay Contest winners at the Clark UNICO Italian-American Festival on October 8. Winners included Jionni Jacobs, a fifth grader at Frank K. Hehnly School; Trang Le, a fifth grader at Valley Road School; Luca Fruzzetti, a seventh grader at Carl H. Kumpf Middle School; and Sienna Guarino, a sophomore...

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Plainfield's Chapter of UNICO celebrated Italian Heritage Day & Columbus Day on Monday, October 9th. Thank you to all who came out to attend this event, which was held on the corner of Belmont Ave & Hamilton Boulevard. Thank you to Bob & April Bengivenga for sharing your property for this event. Thank you to Congressman Pallone for joining us (alon...

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Currently, there are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent in the United States, with two million residing in the Garden State and, at a borough council meeting this week, Mayor Matt Anesh declared October 2023 as Italian Heritage Month in South Plainfield. In the proclamation, which was accepted by members of the Plainfields’ Chapter of UNI...

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