BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield held its annual Bloomfield UNICO Columbus Day ceremony on Monday morning, Oct. 9. Because of a threat of rain, the awards ceremony for the Columbus Day essay contest winners was pushed into the Civic Center. It was the first time in 23 years, according to host Paul Alongi, that the weather had forced the ceremony indoors. Traditionally, the children, all fourth-graders, had received their plaques across Broad Street at the Columbus statue and this was followed by a pancake breakfast at the center. But this year, students and parents sat at tables with tablecloths for ceremony and breakfast.
“Maybe something good will come from the change,” Alongi told his audience.
He introduced Bloomfield UNICO President Michael Sisco and Mayor Michael Venezia. The mayor commended the children on their accomplishment and thanked the parents for their involvement.
Bloomfield Schools Assistant Superintendent Sandra Searing said that being able to write well puts a child on course for a good educational experience.
Alongi then introduced the elementary school principals and the teachers in attendance.
Monetary awards of $125, $75 and $50, were given to the top three essay writers with matching checks to their home and school association.
Following the awards, the celebratory tone of the ceremony changed to one as overcast as the sky.
“The holiday navigates troubled waters,” Alongi said.
As he had done in previous years, he was referring to a movement to abolish Columbus Day as a national holiday because of Columbus’ identification as a progenitor of enslavement in the Western Hemisphere.
Alongi had distributed an announcement upholding the preservation of Columbus Day and read from it. It was attributed to the Preserve Columbus Day Committee which, in the attribution, appeared as part of UNICO National and the Italian-American One Voice Coalition.
The statement said it hoped to enlist support against various organizations, including the National Educational Association, that “have chosen to eliminate the significance of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus from our history.”
Reading from the text, Alongi said organizations opposed to Columbus Day instead want to celebrate Indigenous Day on the second Monday of October.
“They could have chosen another day,” he said directly to the audience, “but they chose that day to target Columbus Day.”
Alongi said the announcement was to be published in papers throughout the state.
“We’ve all suffered from slavery,” he said to end his presentation.
Pancakes were then served.
The essay contest winners were — first place: Felipe Espinoza, Watsessing Elementary; second place: Chloe Barrett, Oakview; and third place: Sabrina Camacho, Brookdale. Honorable mentions were awarded to: Lyric Daniel Dozier, Fairview; Sam McCarty, Franklin; Leslie Ann Zambrano, Demarest; Olivia Winder, Berkeley; Audrey McLaughlin, Brookdale; Cayla Laviola, Oakview; Jalinda Rivera, Carteret; Diego Figueroa, Watsessing; Valentina Silva, Fairview; and Yianni Kostidakis, Franklin. Additional photos Page 4
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