BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Columbus Day was celebrated Monday, Oct. 8, for the 23rd time by the Italian community-service organization, Bloomfield UNICO, with its traditional presentation of awards for student essays followed by a pancake breakfast. A threat of rain relocated the observation from the Columbus monument, on the Green, to the Civic Center, where breakfast for the children and their families was to be served. The essay competition is open to Bloomfield school district fourth-graders.
The emcee of the celebration was Paul Alongi.
“We do this every year to celebrate Columbus and these young people who get to know about Columbus,” he said.
The event was attended by Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-28th District; Bloomfield Schools Superintendent Sal Goncalves; Bloomfield Director of Elementary Education Joseph Fleres, Mayor Michael Venezia, and a number of principals and teachers.
Invited to the podium by Alongi, Caputo spoke.
“How unique is this?” he said. “You will not see parents, teachers and administrators in a room when they don’t have to be here.”
Caputo thanked Alongi for maintaining the observation.
“To have UNICO and the educational process merge is unique,” Caputo said.
Alongi estimated that since Bloomfield UNICO has recognized Columbus Day essays, 600,000 pancakes have been served. He thanked Rosemary Petrano, the media specialist at Demarest Elementary School, for helping to coordinate the event.
Invited to the podium, Goncalves thanked Alongi and UNICO for providing opportunities for the community to come together. He said the essays were especially good this year. “It’s very difficult to learn to write well and to write well is a power,” Goncalves said. Alongi then called out the names of the first-, second-, and third-place winners. They were each given a plaque and checks for $100, $75, and $50, respectively. The home and school association of the student’s school was to receive a matching check. There were 10 honorable mentions. Each received a certificate.
Caputo followed this presentation with a surprise. For each student, he had a signed certificate from the NJ State Legislation recognizing the writing achievement. Parents looked especially pleased when they saw these handsome documents and said they would be framed.
Alongi took the podium again.
“I want to close with some words,” he said. “For years, I’ve been preaching we’re losing the recognition of Columbus Day.”
He said some cities no longer recognize it, instead recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“We may disagree with what happened in those days,” Alongi said. “We don’t need to honor the man, but honor the discovery.”
He said in NYC, there was an effort to remove the statue of Columbus from Columbus Circle, but under protest, Mayor Bill De Blasio relented.
“I hope you people understand the discovery,” Alongi said to his audience.
Following are the names of the winners and their schools.
First place, Tatum Michelle Cheplic, Brookdale; Second Place, Uchechi Chikezie, Franklin; Third place, Amani Hughes, Berkeley.
Honorable mentions: Roniyah Black, Berkeley; Theresa Bitecola, Brookdale; Gianna Guzman, Carteret; Semaj Spence, Demarest; Roy M. Comaingking, Fairview; Katelyn Estevez, Franklin; Jaylen C. Mekoba, Watsessing; Emma Waldron, Oak View;Olivia Dempster, Watsessing; and Tasiana Santos, Carteret.
Additional photos on Page 6
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