Nutley UNICO awards scholarships, recognizes members

Nutley UNICO's top three scholarships were announced and awarded April 6, at Mamma Vittoria's in Nutley before a crowd of 80 members and guests.

Alan Genitempo, chairperson of the scholarship program presented the Academic Scholarship to Michael Thompson, Michelle Fleitell presented the Pride & Achievement Scholarship to Sofia Snoha and Danielle Ferrara Manganello presented the Scholastic Achievement Scholarship to Marcella Blancato.

The three scholarship awards will be distributed equally to each of the students over the next four years.

Over the next two months, an additional 22 scholarships will be awarded on the following dates and locations:

May 4, membership meeting at Mamma Vittoria;

May 21, Nutley UNICO Brian Piccolo Breakfast at the Chandelier, Belleville;

June 1, membership meeting to be held at Mamma Vittoria. For the 2023 year, Nutley UNICO and its member donors will have contributed more than $36,000 for Nutley resident seniors. For additional information please refer to the Nutley UNICO website (www.nutley UNICO.org).

Also at the meeting, Nutley members were recognized and awarded special recognition for their years of service to UNICO.

Twenty-five years of service awards were given to: Joseph Cervasio, Barry Maurillo, Thomas Sposato, Thomas Tucci, Mark DiMaggio, Mario Cocchiola, Lenny Guglielmello and Joseph Zarro.

A 30 Years of service award was given to Gerard Tolve.

A 40 years of service award was given to Michael Moscara. UNICO National is the largest Italian American Service Organization in the U.S. celebrating 100 years of Service

Above Self 1922-2022. The Nutley Chapter of UNICO has been promoting and preserving its Italian Heritage since 1959.

Above, from left, Frank Cocchiola, Lenny Guglielmello, Joseph Cervasio and Danielle Ferrara Manganello at the April 6 UNICO meeting. Below, Alan Genitempo, Marcella Blancato, Michael Thompson, Sofia Snoha and Danielle Ferrara Manganello at the April 6 UNICO meeting. Blancato, Thompson and Snoha received scholarships from the organization.

NUTLEY — Three people have been arrested in connection to a robbery of the Washington Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts on Easter morning, according to a statement from Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo.

On Sunday, April 9, at 5:45 a.m., police were called to Dunkin’ Donuts regarding an armed robbery, Strumolo said.

The suspects described to police matched those wanted by the Secaucus Police Department for a robbery at one of their locations. Through the ensuing joint investigation, detectives were able to obtain enough information about the vehicle used in the robberies to disseminate it to surrounding agencies, the statement said.

The following day, a Springfield police officer noticed a Grey Chevrolet Equinox with no license plates fitting the description given by Nutley and Secaucus police.

The officer stopped the vehicle and police in Springfield recovered a handgun in it which led to the arrest of Ocean Roberts, 19, of Bayonne.

Over the week, police were able to secure enough evidence to charge Roberts as well as Wilmer Arias-DeJesus, 19, of East Newark and Yanik Pendleton, 22, of Bayonne, with armed robbery and conspiracy charges, the statement said.

Strumolo said Secaucus, Springfield and Nutley had worked since April 9 to identify and arrest these suspects. He commended detectives and the other agencies for their cooperation and assistance.

“I vowed we would apprehend these suspects,” Petracco said. “All the defendants are presently detained while our investigation continues. We may uncover information that leads to accomplices who will be subject to arrest and prosecution as well.This was an outstanding effort by multiple agencies, all of which were integral. I thank them and am happy that no one was injured.”