The Belleville Chapter of UNICO Celebrated their 28th annual St. Joseph's Altar at St. Thomas R.C. Church, Bloomfield, NJ. The name UNICO, in Italian, means "One" or "Only One of a Kind". Additionally, the letters are interpreted as U-unity, N- neighborliness, I-integrity, C-charity, and O-opportunity.

For 28 years the UNICO A.C.E.S. (Athletic, Cultural, Educational, Service) Club and their sponsors, the Belleville Chapter of UNICO National, have celebrated their annual St. Joseph's Day Altar at the St. Thomas School auditorium in Bloomfield. The St. Joseph's Altar event is an old Sicilian tradition that is celebrated by providing funds and food to various charities and the needy.

This feast is provided at no cost to hundreds of guests. People come from all over the state to participate in their traditional dinner of Pasta con Sardi, various pastas, eggplant dishes, fruits, homemade bread, cookies and St. Joseph zeppoles. In return, the guests make donations which, in turn provide the funds for various charities.

The program began with a blessing of the food and altar by the Rev. Charles Miller, Pastor and a procession of St. Joseph and the holy family.

After the blessing by Father Miller the Chapter presented their "Mille Grazie Award' to Pat Miola and Peter Caggiano for their years of preparing the various pasta dishes for the feast.

The ACES and the Belleville Chapter OF UNICO presented donations to the Tomorrow's Children's Fund, UNICO National Foundation Scholarship Committee the UNICO ACES Scholarship Fund, Belleville High School scholarships (Nicholas Martini and Frank Garruto), the Jimmy V Cancer Fund, St. Thomas' Youth Club and Jessica's Fund Raiser event. Trays of food were prepared to feed the needy at the St. Rocco Shelter in Newark, NJ.

Any Italian Americans interested in joining the Belleville Chapter of UNICO are asked to call Dr. Manny Alfano 973 429-2818 or E-Mail him at [email protected]