Bloomfield UNICO, the Italian community service organization, hosted its 30th consecutive Columbus Day student essay awards ceremony and pancake breakfast on Monday, Oct. 12. The threat of inclement weather pushed the awards ceremony from the Christopher Columbus monument on the Green, across Broad Street, into the Civic Center meeting room, where it would normally wind up with the flapjacks.
But the basic ingredients of the ceremony and breakfast were in place: children with their parents and, at the microphone, master of ceremonies Paul Alongo, with Tina Buontempo, the UNICO member who coordinates the event. In the kitchen, UNICO volunteers mixed batter and cooked. The essay contest was open to all school district fourth-graders. At least 50 people were in attendance.
