Letter To The Editor: UNICO LaFesta

Dear Residents of Cedar Grove,

During the weekend of September 28-30 our Chapter of UNICO National held our second Italian Festa. This year's Festa provided our community the opportunity to give back and enjoy some great times, great food and lots of laughs. The funds raised this year will be directed to a number of national causes like the Jimmy V Fund and St Jude's Cancer Research Hospital for Children but also to local endeavors like our volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad and scholarships. Additionally the non-perishable food that was collected was donated to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair.

I'd like to thank those organizations in town that greatly contributed to this year's success, especially the Cedar Grove Police Department and the custodial staff of the Leonard R. Parks School. I'd like to thank our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Gene Polles and our School Board President Mr. Frank Mandala, Jr., and the rest of the Board.

I'd like to thank all the vendors who made our Festa the place to be on that weekend and most of all I'd like to thank our volunteer members and those volunteers who are not members but still contributed their time to ensure this event becomes an annual event for our community to look forward to every fall. I'd especially like to thank our Festival Chairman, Pat DeFrancisci and key Committee members Steve DeStefano, Mike DeJoseph and Cheri DiPrenda for all the planning and fresh ideas.

Our motto is “Service above Self” and that was truly exhibited that weekend in September. So to all those who attended, thank you and please mark your calendars for next year and our 3rd annual Festa Italiana.

Milli Grazie,

Sal Ingallina

President
Cedar Grove Chapter UNICO National