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I REALLY HATED TO STOP THE MUSIC, TO BE HONEST.
YOU, I WAS HOPING MAYBE WE COULD PLAY THE MUSIC A LITTLE LOW IN WHAT WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM, BUT IT WAS SO NICE.
IT FELT LIKE I WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH VENICE WHEN I WALKED IN EARLIER.
SO, BUT, UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES.
WE HAVE A BIG GROUP TODAY AND ALL WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY.
UH, AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING LIVESTREAM, UH, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS CARLOS POMAR AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSION THIS YEAR.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO A 2024 ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION.
SO IT HAS REALLY BECOME A TRADITION TO PAY HOMAGE, UH, AND RECOGNIZE THE MANY CULTURES AND ETHNICITIES THAT MAKE UP ESSEX COUNTY AND TO CELEBRATE OUR, OUR COUNTY'S GREATEST STRENGTH OF PEOPLE AND OUR DIVERSITY.
SO TODAY WE CELEBRATE ITALIAN AMERICANS AND ITALIAN CULTURE IS ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING CELEBRATIONS.
OUR HONOREES ARE JUST A MERE REFLECTION OF THE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY WHO ARE A BATTALION BACKGROUND.
SO TODAY, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE THE PLEASURE OF CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF FOUR OUTSTANDING HONOREES.
ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE VEIA, MONTCLAIR, CHIEF OF POLICE, TODD CONFORTI.
WE'LL BE GIVING UP PBA CARDS TODAY.
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AND THE GRANADA FAMILY OF BELLA ITALIA RESTAURANT IN THE CITY OF ORANGE.APPARENTLY THE AFTER PARTY WILL BE AT BELLA ITALIA RESTAURANT IN SI, CITY OF ORANGE.
UM, IT IS ALSO OUR TRADITION, UH, THAT WE WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE NUTLEY BELLEVILLE COLUMBUS DAY PARADE AND THE 2024 HONOREES.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND DURING THIS PROGRAM, WE HEAR THE DETAILS OF THE GREAT WORK THAT EVERYONE IS DOING.
I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO READ THE, UH, PROGRAM TODAY, BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO IMPART TODAY.
'CAUSE WE'LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT AND APPARENTLY THAT AFTER PARTY IS GONNA BE STRONG
SO, IN ADDITION TO THE BOARD'S COMMENDATIONS, WE ALSO HAVE CERTIFICATES FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, FOR OUR HONOREE.
SO TONIGHT, AS WE CELEBRATE, LET US CONTINUE TO DREAM BIG.
LET'S WORK HARD AND EXPECT MORE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO INTRODUCE REVEREND FATHER JOSEPH FERRARO, WHO WILL RENDER OUR OPENING PRAYER.
AS HE JOINS ME HERE AT THE PODIUM, LEMME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM.
FATHER, UH, FERRARO WAS BORN IN NEWARK AND GREW UP IN MY HOMETOWN OF BLOOMFIELD.
UH, BOTH HIS LATE PARENTS, UH, ARE FROM, UH, THE TOWN OF RI IN THE PROVINCE OF COSENZA IN ITALY.
I APOLOGIZE IF MY ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION IS OFF.
I'M CUBAN, SO, UH, IT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE CUBAN TOO.
FATHER FERRARO WAS ORDAINED IN NOVEMBER 17TH, 1990, AND JUST CELEBRATED HIS 33RD ANNIVERSARY AS IN THE PRIESTHOOD.
I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND HE ENTERED THE SEMINARY WHEN HE WAS 33 YEARS OLD, WHICH CAN'T BE RIGHT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T LOOK AT DAY OVER 45.
HIS ASSIGNMENTS AFTER ORDINATION TOOK HIM TO GARWOOD, TO JERSEY CITY, TO MAPLEWOOD BELVILLE.
I'M FINALLY HERE TO NUTLEY, WHERE HE CURRENTLY IS A PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY.
UH, FATHER FERRARO IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK.
HE'S A MEMBER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY, UH, SPILKER AND THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
HE'S ALSO THE 2024 NET LIAM, UH, ITALIAN MAN OF THE YEAR BY THE NUTLEY BELVILLE COLUMBUS DAY PARADE, AS YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SO, PLEASE WELCOME REVEREND FATHER JOSEPH FERRARO.
AS WE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS IN PRAYER, WE PRAY TO OUR LOVING AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY AND ASK YOUR BLESSING AND HELP AS WE GATHER TOGETHER, WE PRAY FOR GUIDANCE AND ASK THAT YOU CLEARLY SHOW US HOW TO CONDUCT OUR WORK AND OUR SPIRIT OF JOY AND ENTHUSIASM.
GIVE US, GIVE US THE DESIRE TO FIND WAYS TO EXCEL IN ALL THAT WE DO.
HELP US TO COME TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO EXCELLENCE.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU CHALLENGE EACH OF US TO REACH HIGHER AND FARTHER AND TO BE THE BEST WE CAN BE IN GIVING THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF OUR ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
AND WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.
AT THIS TIME, PLEASE, UH, WELCOME MY GOOD FRIEND, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL.
THANK ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR PRESIDENT, CARLOS RIS.
UH, UH, ONE OF THE MANY, UM, PLEASURES IT IS TO SERVE WITH PRESIDENT RIS, IS THAT HE'S CONTINUED, UH, THE TRADITION OF, UM, RECOGNIZING ALL THE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND ETHNICITIES THAT MAKE UP THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX.
AND I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, COMMEND YOU, PRESIDENT EZ FOR, UM, FOR CONTINUING THIS, I THINK GREAT TRADITION FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE THESE EVENTS, UH, AND RECOGNIZING ALL THE GREAT GROUPS THAT MAKE UP AND ETHNICITIES AND CULTURES THAT MAKE UP, UH, THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, AGAIN, MY NAME IS BRENDAN GILL.
UH, I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IS SERVING AS ONE OF OUR EXUS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT LARGE.
UM, IT'S NOW MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, UH, TO BRING UP A TALENTED SINGER WHO'S JOINING US, I BELIEVE FOR THE SECOND OR SECOND TIME.
WE BROUGHT YOU BACK AND YOU ACCEPTED
SO THAT, UH, FOR THIS EVENT, UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING UP TO THE PODIUM, DYLAN WIKA, WHO'S GOING TO SING OUR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
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THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE, UH, DYLAN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR, UM, MORE FROM HIM AND ABOUT HIM IN JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER.
I'D LIKE TO SEND WOMEN, HOW ARE YOU? THAT'S A GRAND ENTRANCE RIGHT THERE,
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, UH, A MOMENT ALSO, UM, AND ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PRESENT, UH, WITH US TODAY.
UH, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE, OF COURSE, FIRST, UH, MY OTHER COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES.
WE ALREADY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED OUR, OUR PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER RIS, UM, COMMISSIONER, THE DEAN OF OUR DELEGATION, UH, UM, AND A PERSON WELL KNOWN TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
COMMISSIONER PAT SEABOLD, WHO WAS WITH US, UH, TO MY RIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS.
IT'S MY TWO COLLEAGUES RIGHT HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, WHO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM IN JUST A SECOND.
AND COMMISSIONER COOPER, HEALING FROM THE GREAT CITY OF EAST ORANGE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, DIGNITARIES WHO ARE IN THE CROWD TONIGHT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, UM, AND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, OF COURSE.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE JUST THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT FOR THIS, UH, CEREMONY.
UH, FROM THE GREAT TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BEASLEY IS WITH US.
I KNOW SHE'S IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
UH, WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE BUILDING, UH, TONIGHT, BUT THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM OUR COUNTY IS HERE, OUR ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR, TED STEVENS.
WELL, TED, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE MONTCLAIR EAST ORANGE SCORE LATER.
UM,
MEGAN WATERS IS HERE REPRESENTING THE CONGRESSWOMAN FORMER, UH, PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.
UH, A PERSON WHO SERVES WITH DISTINCTION AS A SENATOR, UH, FROM DISTRICT 34.
UH, THE ONE AND ONLY SENATOR BRITTANY TIMBERLAKE IS WITH US.
UH, THE MAYOR OF ORANGE, DWAYNE WARREN IS IN THE BUILDING TONIGHT.
GREAT TO SEE YOU MAYOR, AS ALWAYS.
UH, HAILING FROM MY HOMETOWN OF MONTCLAIR COUNCILMAN ERIC DATOS, TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH ERIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
FROM THE GREAT TOWNSHIP OF THE CITY OF ORANGE COUNCIL MEMBER ADRIAN WOOTEN IS HERE.
WHERE IS COUNCILMAN WOO, UH, COLLEAGUE, UH, AND PARTNER TO ONE OF OUR HONOREES TONIGHT.
UH, ALSO FROM DISTRICT 34, OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN, CARMEN MORALES IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING WITH US.
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UH, AND LA LAST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, I'M GONNA ASK HIM, ACTUALLY, NOT ONLY TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT HE'S TAKEN THE TIME TO BE HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.I'D LIKE AT THIS TIME, TO BRING UP, UH, A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
UH, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU GOT A
LEROY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDAN AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO REVEREND CLERGY, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY, YOU KNOW, COGENT AND TOUCHING AND SPIRITUAL REMARKS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WILL EMBRACE, EMBODY THIS ROOM.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL HONOREES, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, THE MEMBERS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS AUGUST'S BODY, UH, YOU KNOW, SIEBEL, PALMER COOPER, LUCIANO MURRAY THOMAS, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY MY FRIEND, BRENDAN GILL.
UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR, UH, CONTINUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, BRINGING US TOGETHER TO, UH, TO RECOGNIZE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT DIVERSITY IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO MADELINE AND YOUR FAMILY, UH, YOUR MOM AND YOUR DAD, YOUR HUSBAND.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, AN OUTCOME OF FAMILY, TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, CHIEF, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, THOSE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE SWORN TO, UH, TO PROTECT AND SERVE US, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR SERVICE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY EXEMPLARY AND, UH, AND AN HONOR, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE HERE TODAY TO, UH, EMBRACE ITALIAN HERITAGE, UM, TO, UH, MY FRIEND MIKE VEIA, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO HAS, UH, YOU KNOW, SET, UH, YOU KNOW, A MORAL COMPASS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS YOU HAIL FROM BLOOMFIELD.
BUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO SPEAKS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE LENGTH AND THE BREADTH OF, UH, THIS STATE AND THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU REPRESENT.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MY FRIENDS, UH, FROM THE GRANADA FAMILY, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM BELL ITALIA, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE IN, UH, THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, IN THE CITY OF ORANGE, ORANGE, ONE MORE TIME TO SAL, YOU KNOW, SAL AND SAL, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDED A SERVICE THAT IS SECOND TO NONE.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS, UH, YOU KNOW, WARM AND EMBRACING TOUCH OF NOT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, MYSELF ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE OUTPOURING OF, UH, SUPPORT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A TREMENDOUS FAMILY EFFORT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITY OF ORANGE.
UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES, TO THE MEMBERS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, NUTLEY, BELLEVILLE, UH, YOU KNOW, ITALIAN, UH, YOU KNOW, HERITAGE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, PARADE COMMITTEES.
YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DAWN YOURSELF WITH THE RED, WHITE, AND GREEN SASHES.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A TREMENDOUS, UH, YOU KNOW, TESTAMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE YEARS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THAT THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TO THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
SO, WHEN YOU EMBODY ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A, UH, VERY SINCERE, MEANINGFUL TAPESTRY OF DIVERSITY THAT, UH, THIS COUNTY HAS PROMOTED, THIS COUNTY HAS RECOGNIZED AS ITS STRENGTH.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND RECOGNIZING ALL OF THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CLEARLY KNOW THAT WE WILL NEVER, EVER BE, UH, DIVIDED.
SO, UH, TO THE MEMBERS OF, YOU KNOW, THIS GREAT BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME OUT TO SHARE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR, UM, CONGRATULATIONS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YES, THERE WILL BE, UH, AN AFTER PARTY AT BELL ITALIA, CENTRAL AVENUE, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, DWAYNE WARREN, THE PRIDE OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY WILL BE THERE HOSTING US.
SO, UH, AS I TAKE MY SEAT, BRENDAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, THAT TIME OF YEAR, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THAT FOR FOLKS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ALREADY KNOW.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY TO, UH, TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DO.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EMBRACING, UH, YOU KNOW, ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND EVERY, YOU KNOW, EVERY ETHNIC AND
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CULTURAL CELEBRATION THAT TAKES, UH, TAKES PLACE UNDER, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WONDERFUL EDIFICE.BUT I WANT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER ONE THING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SPIRITUALITY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE COME FROM, FATHER, UH, I, YOU KNOW, THE BOOK OF ISAIAH 54 17, NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL EVER PROSPER.
THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, CHAIRMAN FOR, FOR JOINING US, UH, TONIGHT.
UM, AND, UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA STEAL A LITTLE BIT OF HIS, OF HIS, OF HIS THUNDER.
I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, UH, SHORTLY.
BUT, UM, UH, BOTH OF OUR, UM, USUALLY WE'RE, WE'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'M USUALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE IRISHMAN ON THE BOARD, AND HE'S USUALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE ITALIAN AMERICAN ON THE BOARD.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN THIS EVENT HAPPENS EACH YEAR, WE HAVE TO BREAK THE NEWS TO THE FULL GROUP THAT ACTUALLY, UH, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO IS HALF IRISH
SO YOU, SO YOU PUT US TOGETHER, WE HAVE ONE WHOLE ITALIAN AMERICAN ON THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSION.
SO, UM, BUT, UH, I ALSO JUST WANNA, AGAIN, JUST, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM BECAUSE HE ALSO, HE, UM, MAKES IT A POINT EACH YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THIS TOGETHER AS WELL.
SO, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK AND EFFORT ON THIS EVENT AS WELL.
UM, I, NOW, UM, NEXT UP I'M GONNA ASK MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD, UH, TO COME AND JOIN US AT THE PODIUM.
I FEEL SILLY INTRODUCING MYSELF AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I WAS INTRODUCED AT THE VERY BEGINNING, AND I'VE BEEN INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF TIMES.
BUT YOU ALL KNOW MY NAME IS PAT, AND I'M A COMMISSIONER, AND I'M A COMMISSIONER AT LARGE, AND I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.
SO I FEEL LIKE I'M AT HOME, AND SO MANY OF YOU HAVE KNOWN ME FOR SO MANY YEARS, BUT IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND TO CELEBRATE ITALIAN HERITAGE.
SO I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST HONOREE FOR THE EVENING, SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOM WELCOMING ASSEMBLYMAN MICHAEL VENETIA, TO THE PODIUM MICHAEL, NOW, PRESIDENT CARLOS POIS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME UP FRONT TO HELP PRESENT THIS ACCOMMODATION AS ASSEMBLYMAN VEIA IS A DEAR FRIEND OF YOURS, PLEASE DO SO.
NOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, CARLOS, BEFORE HE BECAME A COMMISSIONER, WAS ON THE BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL, AND WHEN HE WAS ON THE BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL, MICHAEL VEIA WAS THE MAYOR OF BLOOMFIELD.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A VERY LONG TIME, AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW BOTH OF THEM, BECAUSE I KNOW BOTH OF THEM WERE THEY WHEN THEY WERE SERVING FOR BLOOMFIELD AND SERVING SO WELL FOR THAT FABULOUS COMMUNITY.
SO, I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ASSEMBLYMAN'S COMMENDATION.
MICHAEL J VEIA IS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT AND FAMILY MAN ELECTED TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE ASSEMBLY IN 2024 TO REPRESENT THE 34TH DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES BELLEVILLE, BLOOMFIELD, EAST ORANGE, GLEN RIDGE, NUTLEY, AND ORANGE.
SO HE BELONGS TO SO MANY OF YOU HERE TONIGHT.
HE SERVES ON THE BUDGET AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEES PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN SHAPING THE STATE'S FISCAL POLICIES AND JUSTICE SYSTEM.
MICHAEL'S PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WAS SPARKED DURING HIS TIME WORKING WITH POLITICAL ICONS LIKE THE LATE CONGRESSMAN BILL PASCALL AND THE LATE SENATOR FRANK LAUTENBERG.
THOSE WERE EXPERIENCED THAT FUELED HIS COMMITMENT TO A ADVOCACY AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE.
PRIOR TO THE ASSEMBLY, MICHAEL SERVED, AS I SAID, AS MAYOR OF BLOOMFIELD FOR 10 YEARS, YOUNGEST MAYOR IN THE
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TOWN'S HISTORY.AND FOR THAT, HE GETS A LOT OF CREDIT.
HIS PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP SAW BLOOMFIELD IMPLEMENT ONE OF THE STATE'S FIRST PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCES AND ESTABLISH A $15 PER HOUR LIVING WAGE FOR TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES.
HE ALSO EXPANDED OPEN SPACE WHILE OVERSEEING RECORD ECONOMIC GROWTH, RISING PROPERTY VALUES, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION, AND STABILIZING TAXES.
HE CERTAINLY WAS PREPARED TO BE AN ASSEMBLYMAN, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BLOOMFIELD.
MICHAEL HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY.
HE IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
MICHAEL AND HIS WIFE ARE RAISING THEIR DAUGHTERS IN THE TOWN.
SO, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PRESIDENT CARLOS POES TO ADD A FEW WORDS AND FIND SOMETHING I DIDN'T SAY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, GIVEN UP FOR THE QUEEN OF THE BOARD, EVERYBODY.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE A SCRIPT, BUT I COULD TELL YOU A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY TIME SINCE I KNEW MIKE.
WHEN I MET MIKE, I WAS 15 POUNDS LIGHTER.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED? UH, MY HAIR LOST.
YOU TWO, I'M SURE, RIGHT? I HEAR THAT.
YEAH, WE, WE, WE BOTH, UH, MOURN THAT LOSS, BUT MIKE HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC PUBLIC SERVANT, AND HE WAS A VERY YOUNG GUY, AND HE WAS WELL BEYOND HIS YEARS.
AND I HAD THE PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH HIM DURING A VERY UNIQUE TIME IN BLOOMFIELD'S HISTORY.
WE LIKE TO CALL IT THE BLOOMFIELD RENAISSANCE.
AND I WAS FAIRLY NEW TO BLOOMFIELD, HAVING COME FROM HUDSON COUNTY.
UH, BUT I CAME, UM, UH, TO AZTEC WITH A LOT OF, UH, HOPE AND, YOU KNOW, TO HERE TO BUILD MY, MY FUTURE, MY FAMILY, AND SO FORTH.
AND, UH, DIDN'T HURT THAT MY WIFE WAS FROM GLEN RIDGE, SO SHE WAS NEARBY, BUT WE CHOSE BLOOMFIELD, AND I'M SO GLAD IT, I, ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I EVER MADE.
AND THE SECOND BEST DECISION, AFTER ALL THE FAMILY STUFF THAT EVER HAPPENED IN MY LIFE WAS JOINING UP ON MIKE, BECAUSE TOGETHER AND OTHER FOLKS, WE PUT TOGETHER SOME GREAT THINGS IN BLOOMFIELD.
BUT REALLY, THE CREDIT GOES TO MIKE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT AS A HISTORY PROFESSOR THAT MIKE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST MAYORS IN BLOOMFIELD'S HISTORY.
HE WORKS WELL WITH OTHERS, AND HE REALLY BUILDS CONSENSUS.
AND SO FOR THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL, MIKE, THAT YOU DID A GREAT JOB DURING THAT TIME AND WILL CONTINUE A LITTLE JEALOUS.
NOW HE GETS TO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIEND CARMEN MORALES, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE BACK.
AND, UH, THEY ARE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM ALONG WITH BRITTANY TIMBERLAKE, WHO USED TO, YOU KNOW, SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY MANY, JUST, JUST AS I ARRIVED.
SO IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER, WHETHER WE SIT IN THESE EXACT CHAIRS OR NOT, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND EVERYBODY HERE IS A PART OF THAT.
WE'RE ALL PART OF THE FABRIC THAT MAKES EX ESSEX COUNTY.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FRIEND MIKE, BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THAT, CERTAINLY SINCE MY TIME HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
PRESIDENT CARLOS POIS, ASSEMBLYMAN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK, IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES AND ADVOCATING FOR THEIR NEEDS.
SO IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION AND A CERTIFICATE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE ASSEMBLYMEN TO SPEAK TO US AND TELL US ALL GREAT THINGS THAT HE'S GOING TO DO.
UH, WHEN CARLOS AND I MET, I HAD A, UH, FULL HEAD OF HAIR.
I WAS PROBABLY AT 25, 30 POUNDS LATER.
UM, AND WE WERE ACTUALLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES, AND WE BECAME FRIENDS, AND I RECRUITED HIM TO RUN FOR COUNCIL WITH ME WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR THREE YEARS LATER.
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UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK MY, UH, FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE.UM, IT'S GREAT THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.
AND, UH, I WANNA THANK THE COMMISSIONERS.
I ALWAYS, UH, I LIKE, UH, 50% ITALIAN LENNY BETTER THAN THE 50% IRISH PART, BUT, WE'LL, I'LL TELL STORIES ON ANOTHER DAY.
UM, AND MY FELLOW HONOREES, CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, IT WAS GREAT BEING IN THE, THE NUTLEY BELLVILLE COLUMBUS DAY PARADE THE OTHER DAY, AND THE, UH, BELLVILLE FLAG RAISING.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE A, A, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN TRENTON KNOW ME AS THE BLOOMFIELD GUY, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE BLOOMFIELD LEGEND WITH THE BLOOMFIELD BUSINESS WITH JEN'S BAKERY HERE TONIGHT.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THEY VERY MUCH ARE LIKE BELLA ITALIA TO ORANGE TO, LIKE WE ARE, THEY ARE TO BLOOMFIELD.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT HONOR.
I, UH, I AM, UH, I AM THIRD GENERATION HERE IN AMERICA.
MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS CAME IN, UH, THE 1920S.
UM, ONE SET SETTLED IN NEWARK, ONE SET, SETTLED IN JERSEY CITY.
AND THEN, UH, MY GRANDPARENTS BOTH SETTLED IN BLOOMFIELD.
AND I'VE BEEN A, I'M A THIRD GENERATION BLOOMFIELD RESIDENT.
UM, MY, THEY'VE BOTH BEEN HERE SINCE THE FIFTIES, SO IT'S, UH, I'M ALWAYS HONORED.
UM, I, I JOKE AROUND WITH REPRESENTING NOW BLOOMFIELD BELLEVILLE NUTLEY, AS WE NICKNAMED IT, THE PIZZA TRIANGLE.
SO IT, IT'S, IT'S GREAT THAT I REPRESENT IT.
AND THEN I'M LEARNING THAT ORANGE USED TO HAVE A, UH, VERY PROMINENT ITALIAN AMERICAN POPULATION.
SO, UM, YEAH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT HONOR.
UM, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE HONORED, ESPECIALLY FOR MY CULTURE AND MY, UH, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I HAVE KIDS, I APPRECIATE IT EVEN MORE TO TEACH THEM ABOUT THEIR HERITAGE AND THEIR, WHAT THEY COME FROM.
SO, UH, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OTHER HONOREES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ASSEMBLYMEN.
AND AT THIS POINT, I TURN THE PROGRAM BACK OVER TO BRENDAN GILL, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL.
UH, BEFORE I BRING UP OUR, OUR NEXT HONOREE, UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ALSO CONGRATULATE, UM, UH, THE HONOREES THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THERE'S ONE OTHER PERSON WHO, UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN SUMMERS FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF ORANGES HERE.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, OF COURSE, UM, TO, UH, TO MY FRIEND, ASSEMBLYMAN VEIA.
UM, UH, MIKE AND I HAD THE, UM, DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS COLLEAGUES, UH, IN THE LATE, UH, SENATOR BERG'S, UH, OFFICE.
UH, AND I DON'T SAY THIS AS A PARTISAN, UH, MATTER, BUT YOU KNOW, HE WAS, UM, EXEMPLIFIED, UH, UH, ALL THE BEST ASPECTS OF A, OF A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND, UH, WE SPENT SOME GOOD TIMES WORKING TOGETHER.
SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE, UH, YOU CARRY ON THAT TRADITION, UH, ASSEMBLYMAN AS YOU CONTINUE IN, IN YOUR OWN, UH, CAREER.
UM, OF COURSE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO MADELINE.
AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, AND IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AS WELL.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED A FEW TIMES.
ORANGE IS IN THE BUILDING, THE GRANADA FAMILY, BELLA ITALIA.
LIKE, LISTEN, YOU GOT MAYOR WARREN HERE, WHICH IS LIKE, NOT AN EASY THING.
SO THAT'S, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE ALL KNOW WHY, LIKE, WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S PRIORITY FOR HIM,
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, OF COURSE TO THE, UM, UH, TO THE HONOREES AND DIGNITARIES, UH, FROM, YOU KNOW, THE NUTLEY BELLVILLE COLUMBUS DAY, UH, PARADE.
SO MANY GOOD FRIENDS, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR EACH AND EVERY YEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, OPENING UP YOUR ARMS TO US TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FOR BEING HERE.
AND, UH, I'M SURE I CAN SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE BODY AND ALL THE, UM, PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UH, THAT WE'RE SO, UM, PROUD TO SEE THAT THIS TRADITION CARRIES ON AND THAT PARADE, UH, CONTINUES TO CARRY ON.
UH, AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
UM, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR SECOND HONOREE, UH, OF THE NIGHT HAILING FROM THE GREAT TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, TODD CONFORTI.
ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW DETAILS, UH, FROM THE COMMENDATION, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE.
TODD CONFORTI WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BELLEVILLE, GRADUATING FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1986.
HE OBTAINED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY,
[00:35:01]
AND THEN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.PRIOR TO WORKING AT THE MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF WORKED IN SOCIAL SERVICES AS A COUNSELOR.
HE WORKED WITH ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING, LIFE SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, MAINTENANCE, SOCIALIZATION, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THE CHIEF ALSO WORKED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN NEWARK ON AN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
IN 1994, HE GRADUATED FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY AND BEGAN HIS CAREER AT THE MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST 22 YEARS.
IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY,
WELL, IT'S GOOD WE DON'T DO THE MATH HERE.
UM, HE HAS WORKED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE'S BEEN AN ADVISOR ON THE MONTCLAIR POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, AND A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
FROM 1994 TO 2002, HE WORKED AS A PATROLMAN AND A DETECTIVE.
FROM 2002 TO 2009, HE OVERSAW THE NARCOTICS AND VICE BUREAU AS A SERGEANT, AND AS A LIEUTENANT EVENING BUREAU COMMANDER.
IN 2009, HE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE.
IN 2016, HE BECAME ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE.
AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, IN JUNE, HE WAS OFFICIALLY APPOINTED AS CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE TOWNSHIP FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR APPLAUSE AND THE BEST TRADITION OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN, HE IS A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN.
DURING HIS FREE TIME, HE'S IN THE BOXING GYM WITH HIS 13-YEAR-OLD SON, MICHAEL.
HE ALSO, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE YOU GET THIS, I DON'T MESS WITH HIM.
HE ALSO,
MICHAEL AND ANTHONY ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TOWNSHIP, UH, HAS PROVIDED.
UM, UH, IT'S CHIEF, IT'S REALLY MY HONOR, UM, NOT ONLY AS A RESIDENT OF MONTCLAIR AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COUNTY, TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR WORK, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK IT WAS, UM, NOTED IN YOUR COMMENDATION AND YOUR BIO, UM, YOUR WORK AS A COUNSELOR, YOUR WORK AS A TEACHER, UM, AND YOUR WORK OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT, I THINK HAS ALSO DEFINED YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THIS GREAT FORCE.
WE HAVE MANY OF THE MEMBERS I SEE WHO ARE HERE, UH, TONIGHT, THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND AT A TIME, UM, THAT IT IS, UM, MAYBE THAT WE ARE NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZING WHAT THOSE WHO ARE DOING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT AND TO RECOGNIZE YOU NOT ONLY, UH, FOR BEING A GREAT AND EX, A GREAT EXAMPLE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ITALIAN AMERICAN, BUT ALSO FOR WHAT YOU DO AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EACH AND EVERY DAY.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU BEING YEAH, OF COURSE.
WE'RE, WE'RE COUNTING ON THAT
I JUST WANNA GET THAT OUTTA THE WAY.
BUT I WANNA SPEAK ALSO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND DEPUTY CHIEF WILL YOUNG.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR, A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MONTCLAIR.
I'M, I'M SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE GUYS BACK THERE IF WE GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND I UNDERSTAND MANY COMPONENTS GO INTO RUNNING A POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, PROVIDING SERVICES.
AND WE KNOW WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OUR FRIENDS, PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO SUPPORT US.
AND I DO NOT WANNA LEAVE OUT PROSECUTOR STEVENS, WHO'S ALWAYS THERE ANYTIME WE CALL HIM HELPING US OUT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD.
SO AT THIS TIME IN THE PROGRAM, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A MUSICAL SELECTION FROM OUR TALENTED PERFORMER.
UH, AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, DYLAN'S MUSICAL TALENTS AND HIS BACKGROUND.
DYLAN IS A, COME ON,
UM, DYLAN IS A NEW JERSEY NATIVE, UH, FROM A FAMILY OF MUSICIANS.
HE ENTERED THE ARTS AT A YOUNG AGE AND HONED HIS CRAFT DURING HIS SIX YEARS STUDYING AND WORKING AND LIVING IN FLORENCE, ITALY.
HE IS FLUENT IN ITALIAN, IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER LANGUAGES.
[00:40:01]
OF CULTURE, LANGUAGE, CUISINE, AND HISTORY TO ACCENT HIS CAREER AS A FULL-TIME ENTERTAINER.DYLAN HAS APPEARED ON MANY STAGES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE MCDONALD'S GOSPEL FEST, SOUL FEST IN NEW ENGLAND, AND THE VOICE, YOUR INSPIRATION COMPETITION.
AT CARNEGIE HALL, DYLAN PLAYS PIANO AND ORGAN COMPOSES BOTH SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS MUSIC AND MINISTERS VERY FREQUENTLY AND VARIOUS HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
HE SPECIALIZES IN GOSPEL POP, R AND B AND SOUL, BUT IS VERSATILE WITH MUSIC, UH, WORKING AS A BAND LEADER, MC AND FRONT MAN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
HE IS CURRENTLY THE CREATIVE DECK DIRECTOR AT THE AVENUE CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY, IN YORKVILLE ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN.
AND WILL RELEASE HIS DEBUT ALBUM IN 2025, AS WELL AS LAUNCH HIS OWN MARKETPLACE TO SELL HIS ORIGINAL SHEET MUSIC RECORDINGS AND MORE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW DYLAN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AS DYLAN AND THE MUSIC DYLAN AND THE MUSIC.
SO HE IS HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME, UH, BEING WITH US, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN, WELCOME HIM BACK TO THE PODIUM, DYLAN WIKA.
SO I'M NOT GONNA LIE, I SORT OF STRUGGLED WITH TRYING TO FIND A SONG TO SING FOR TODAY, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M ACTUALLY GONNA DO WHEN THAT I USED TO SING AS A KID.
AND THAT IS, UH, WELL KNOWN IN THE HEARTS OF ALL THOSE WHO LOVE ITALIAN CULTURE OR WHO
[00:46:51]
EVERY TIME I THINK I HAVE FRIENDS ON THIS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, OR IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK WITH DEPUTY CLERK, UH, BROWN AND ADAM.I QUESTION IT WHEN I HAVE TO COME OUT OF AFTER PEOPLE LIKE DYLAN.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS IN THE BEAUTY, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT MUSIC WHERE EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WORDS, YOU CAN FEEL THE SPIRIT OF IT AND IT CAN SPEAK TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING THAT SPIRIT.
I WANNA START WITH A POEM, IF THAT'S OKAY.
AND IT'S CALLED THE BREAD WE EAT BY RENA LY.
THE BREAD WE ATE DID NOT HAVE A NAME, NEITHER DID THE WHEAT WE TOOK TO THE MILL.
THE FLOUR, THE RA MADE INTO DOUGH AT THE COMMUNITY OVEN TO USE A STARTER FROM AN EARLIER BATCH, AN INHERITANCE RECEIVED AND PASSED ON LIKE A BLESSING.
MOTHERS HUGGED THE ROUND LOAVES TO THEIR BREASTS AND CUT TOWARDS THEM.
WE KISSED IT AND SHOWED RESPECT AS WE KISSED OUR PARENTS, AS WE KISSED OUR PARENTS' HANDS IN THE MORNING AS WE KISSED OUR FINGERS WHEN WE CROSSED OURSELVES.
THIS IS A POEM FROM RENA FARELLI WHO ACTUALLY IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM CALABRIA, ITALY AT THE AGE OF 15.
AND I LOVE THIS POEM BECAUSE IT HONORS THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS MONTH IN ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH, FAITH, FAMILY, AND FELLOWSHIP.
IN FACT, I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT CITY THAT I'M FROM, CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND NOT TALK ABOUT FAITH, FAMILY, AND FELLOWSHIP, AND HOW THOSE VALUES LIVE THROUGH AND WITHOUT.
THROUGHOUT THE ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
WHERE WOULD WE BE? AS YOU COULD HEAR IN RENA'S POEM, WITHOUT THE PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES AND THE BREAD THAT WAS MADE WITH THEIR BARE HANDS FROM OUR MOTHERS AND OUR NONAS AND OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS, I'M SO HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE RICH HISTORY OF ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH BECAUSE THE CITY THAT I'M FROM, RIGHT HERE IN NEWARK, YOU THINK ABOUT 1870S, THE FIRST ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS TO COME TO THIS CITY.
AND WE KNOW THIS, THOSE OF US WHO TALK TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR GRANDPARENTS ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION STORIES, THEY WERE NOT EASY.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD A LOT IN THEIR POCKETS, BUT THEY HAD A LOT IN THEIR HEARTS.
AND WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THOSE SACRIFICES, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT LOVE.
I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IT RUNS THROUGH ME.
MY MOTHER, MY MY MOTHER'S MOTHER CAME HERE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE LATE 1950S AND SIXTIES, ESCAPING JIM CROW, JUST A FEW GENERATIONS REMOVED FROM SLAVERY.
MY FATHER'S FAMILY CAME HERE FROM BUR GUYANA.
SIMILARLY, NOT UNLIKE THE ITALIAN AMERICANS IN THE GREAT CITY OF ELIZABETH AND IN NEWARK, THAT THEY WOULD BUILD HOMES AND LIVES AND COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS WITH.
THEY HAD FAMILY, THEY HAD FAITH, AND THEY HAD FELLOWSHIP.
MY NAME'S A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS.
I'M SO HONORED TO SERVE AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER HERE FOR THE GREAT CITY, OR UM, CITY OF NEWARK AND COUNTY OF ESSEX.
IT'S WITH AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE THAT I BRING UP SOMEONE WHO HONORS THESE VALUES,
[00:50:01]
A FELLOWSHIP, A FAMILY OF FAITH, NOT JUST IN WHAT SHE DOES IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IN HOW SHE LIVES HER LIFE.MY DEAR FRIEND, MADELINE HICKS, IF YOU CAN WELCOME YOURSELF TO THE PODIUM, SO AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO MANY AS LANEY.
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MADELINE HICKS.
MADELINE IS AN ATTORNEY AT THE ANTONELLI CANTOR RIVERA PC LAW FIRM, WHERE SHE FOCUSES HER PRACTICE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW.
AND I THINK I SAW RAMON IN THE BACK.
HOW YOU DOING? MS. RAMON RIVERA
SHE COUNSELS EMPLOYERS REGULARLY ON FAMILY AND ME AND MEDICAL LEAVE WAGE AND HOUR LAWS, AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-RETALIATION PRACTICES.
HER EXPERIENCE INCLUDES NEGOTIATING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, CONDUCTING INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION OR OTHER IMPROPER WORKPLACE CONDUCT, PUTTING IN PLACE DIFFERENT PRACTICES THAT KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND HEARD AND PROTECTED.
MADELINE HALES FROM THE GREAT TOWN OF MAPLEWOOD, AND SHE EARNED HER JURIS DOCTOR FROM RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL IN 2016, WHERE SHE WAS AN EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY FELLOW.
SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH MINORS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AND SOCIOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST IN 2013.
SHE'S ALSO AN INSTITUTE CHAIR OF THE NEW LEADERS COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY, AND SERVES AS THE BOARD OF A WOMAN'S ORGANIZATION.
UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES FROM THE BIBLE IS PROVERBS 31 10, AND IT SAYS, WHO CAN FIND A VIRTUOUS WOMAN FOR HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES AS WE HONOR YOU TODAY, LAINEY FOR ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
WE NOT ONLY HONOR YOU IN THE RICH LEGACY OF THE MOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS AND FATHERS AND GRANDFATHERS WHOSE STORIES MAKE YOU AND THE RUBIES THAT YOU ARE AND THAT YOU GIVE TO THE WORLD, BUT WE HONOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO YOU LITERALLY MAKE TIME.
THIS GIRL IS A WHOLE LAWYER, IN ADDITION TO BEING LIKE THE BIGGEST FAMILY PERSON I CAN EVER IMAGINE.
AND YOU ALWAYS MAKE TIME AND SPACE TO GIVE BACK TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN NEW JERSEY, OF LEADERS IN ESSEX, COUNTY OF YOUNG LAWYERS AND FUTURE CHANGE MAKERS LIKE YOURSELF.
WE'RE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE YOU THIS ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THE IMPACT THAT YOU'RE MAKING ON OUR WORLD AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU TO THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UM, I KNOW WHEN YOU THINK OF ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH HONOREE, I MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY LOOK LIKE THE RECIPIENT, BUT WHAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL, I THINK ABOUT ESSEX COUNTY IS HONORING ALL THAT WE ARE.
AND AS A PROUD BLACK ITALIAN AMERICAN WOMAN, I JUST THANK YOU FOR SEEING THAT AND RECOGNIZING IT.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA THANK MY FAMILY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT FROM MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SIBLINGS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF FEISTY ITALIANS, UM, INCLUDING MY GRANDPA WHO IS VERY ACTIVE IN MAPLEWOOD POLITICS AND COMMUNITY FOR THE 60 YEARS THAT HE LIVED THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I TRY TO CARRY HIS HONOR AND SPIRIT IN EVERYTHING I DO.
AND ALSO EVEN BEFORE HIM, A FEW GREAT, GREAT-GREAT-GREAT UNCLES AGO, WE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S A CARDINAL FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BECOME A POPE AND HE WAS BLOCKED BECAUSE HE WAS SO PROGRESSIVE AND TOO RADICAL AND TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT HE STUCK TO HIS MORALS AND HE CONTINUED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN AT THE PRICE OF BECOMING A POPE.
AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY DOPE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY, I'M VERY PROUD OF MY, MY, MY FAMILY FROM ALL THAT IT IS.
AND I THANK, I'M VERY PROUD OF ESSEX COUNTY AND NEW JERSEY, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU PROUD AND THANK YOU.
[00:55:07]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.I AM TMI COOPER AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME ADDITIONAL DIGNITARIES THAT CAME IN THE ROOM, UM, FROM THE GREAT CITY OF EAST ORANGE TO MY TOWN, COUNCILWOMAN F LAVO.
PLEASE STAND UP, GIVE US A WAVE, AND WE HAVE OUR WONDERFUL HR DIRECTOR WITH US THIS EVENING WHO'S TRYING TO BE INCOGNITO.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING AND BRINGING UP OUR LAST HONOREE FOR THE EVENING WHO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DON'T NEED AN INTRODUCTION.
IF YOU KNOW THESE STYLE SENIOR AND THESAL JR.
SO, UM, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THEM UP TO THE PODIUM AS WE START TO, UM, BRAG ON THEM THIS EVENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF MAYOR WARREN IS STILL HERE AND THE COUNCIL FOLKS FROM ORANGE, IF YOU GUYS WANNA COME UP AND JOIN ME, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IN, UH, SENATOR TIMBERLAKE, PLEASE COME UP AND I'M CALLING EVERYBODY UP BECAUSE ALTHOUGH BELLA ITALIA IS IN ORANGE, IT'S SHARED WITH EAST ORANGE, IT'S HOME TO THE BOTH OF US.
SO AS THEY'RE COMING UP, I'M GONNA START BRAGGING ON THE SOWS THIS EVENING.
PROSECUTOR STEVENS, YOU WANNA JOIN US TOO, IF YOU CAN COME ON UP BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT BELLA ITALIA MEAN TO ALL OF US.
SO BELLA ITALIA, THE GRANADA FAMILY IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE ITALIAN HERITAGE HAVING IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM SOUTHERN ITALY IN 1972.
AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE IMMERSED THEMSELVES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR FOOD, AFFECTIONATELY CALLED BELLA, TO ALL OF US THAT FREQUENTS IT, IT IS A DELICIOUS ESTES COUNTY RESTAURANT THAT'S BEEN A STAPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
A LOT OF RESTAURANTS CAN'T SAY THAT 40 YEARS.
THAT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING.
UM, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET A NICE BIG PORTION THAT YOU'LL HAVE DINNER AND LUNCH LEFTOVER FOR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE DAYS.
SO FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING US GRACIOUS RECIPES AND WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY AND CATERING ON AND OFF THE PREMISES.
BEGAN WORKING AS A PREP CHEF IN 1972, AND HE WORKED HIS WAY ON UP TO BECOME THE EXECUTIVE CHEF IN THE RESTAURANT.
AND BECAUSE HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD, HE DECIDED TO BUY HIS OWN PLACE, A LITTLE BAR, HE SAYS IN 1980S, THAT SEEMS SO LONG AGO IN THE CITY OF ORANGE.
AND HE TRANSFORMED THAT INTO THE BELLA ITALIAN RESTAURANT THAT WE KNOW TODAY.
AND THEN SUDDENLY NO ONE WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT THAT PLACE GREW TOO SMALL FOR HIM.
SO HE HAD TO GO GET SOMETHING BIGGER.
AND HE LOCATED A PLACE ON CENTRAL AVENUE IN SOUTH JEFFERSON, AND HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1989.
1989, THE CITY OF ORANGE BELLA ITALIA.
OVER THE YEARS, ALTHOUGH THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR DECOR AND THEIR APPEARANCE, THE FOOD AND THE QUALITY AND THE HOSPITALITY HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
SAL SR HAS CONTINUED TO GROW THAT BUSINESS ALONGSIDE HIS SON SAL JR.
AND HIS WONDERFUL WIFE JOHANNA WOO, AND THEIR CHILDREN CONTINUING TO GROW THE BUSINESS INTO A WONDERFUL STAPLE HERE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
ALTHOUGH IT'S ABOUT RESTAURANT AND FOOD, THE HEART OF THEIR BUSINESS IS REALLY ABOUT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WE KNOW THAT THE SOWS, YOU KNOW, THEY DO THANKSGIVING DRIVES, THEY FEED OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ALL THE TIME, WHENEVER WE CALL ON THEM, IF WE HAVE A FIRE, THEY NEVER TELL US NO.
AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOTE THAT THE RESTAURANT HAS BEEN VOTING ONE OF NEW JERSEY'S, 50 GREATEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN NEW JERSEY.
IT'S ALSO BEEN VOTED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES FOR FINE DINING BY THE STAR LEDGER.
AND ZAGGED HAS RATED IT ONE OF NEW JERSEY'S TOP RESTAURANTS.
[01:00:01]
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE TO VISIT THEM, PLEASE DO SO.'CAUSE DON'T FORGET, THE AFTER PARTY IS AT BELLA ITALIA.
SO IF YOU GO TONIGHT, YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE IT.
SO THIS ESTABLISHMENT HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE WITH THE SAME LOVE, DEDICATION, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 40 PLUS YEARS.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HONORING YOU TONIGHT FOR ALL YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND COMMUNITY AND COMMITMENT.
DO ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SAY SOME WORDS BEFORE WE LET THESE TWO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING.
SO HAPPY TO BE HERE REPRESENTING, UM, BELLEVILLE AND NUTLEY AND ORANGE, WHO IS CERTAINLY ALL IN THE HOUSE.
UM, I HAD TO JUST COME AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE YOU TO SO WELL DESERVED.
WHEN YOU WALK INTO ITALIA, YOU FEEL AT HOME.
WE'RE NOT JUST HERE JUST CELEBRATING, UM, A RESTAURANT.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY MAY SAY, WELL, IT'S, IT'S A RESTAURANT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? NO, IT'S HOME.
AND THE WAY THAT THEY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL, I'LL TELL YOU, IF EVERYONE HAD THAT ABILITY AND SKILL, MAYBE OUR WORLD WOULDN'T BE IN SO MUCH TURMOIL RIGHT NOW.
LIKE WHAT WE SEE WITH THE DIVISION, NO MATTER WHAT ETHNICITY YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, WHEN YOU GO THERE, IT'S LOVE.
THEY SET, THEY, THEY EMBRACE MY CHILDREN AL'S GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO LET THEM RUN WILD.
I WILL REPORT THAT THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE CAME AND MY HUSBAND WAS PRESENT WITH US, THOSE CHILDREN SAT THERE LIKE ANGELS
AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS A DIFFERENCE.
BUT, UM, I, I'M, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY AND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO.
IT DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO ITALY LAST SUMMER.
WENT TO CUOMO, CROSSED OVER THE BORDER FROM SWITZERLAND.
THE FOOD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE OTHER HONOREES.
OH, AND BRENDAN, WHEN IT'S IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE, I'M GONNA COME BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE BLACK AND ITALIAN HERE.
WE GOT BLACK AND IRISH HERE,
SO I MADE IT ON THE IRISH AMERICAN LIST ALL BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THIS THING WITH BRENDAN GILL.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND ALL THE HONOREES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.
UM, I PROBABLY, SINCE I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, I PROBABLY HAVE SOME ITALIAN MEN IN ME AS WELL.
MY, IF YOU READ AN ARTICLE TODAY BY 23 AND ME WATCH YOUR STUFF, IT'S IN, IT'S IN JEOPARDY.
UM, LISTEN, UM, I'M NOT REALLY HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, CLEARLY THAT BELLA HAS, UH, CERTAINLY DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH THAT.
BUT MY WIFE, RITA BUTTS IS HERE AND SHE OF COURSE IS THE MANAGER OF SENIOR SERVICES IN EAST ORANGE.
AND SO THE WORK AND THE, THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDED FOR THE SENIORS IN EAST ORANGE, IT'S SECOND TO NONE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE, I'VE HAD TO, UH, FRONT A LOT OF MEALS AFTER THAT.
TED, WHERE'D YOU GET THAT FOOD FROM? LET'S GO BACK THERE.
SO, BUT IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO DO THAT.
EVERYBODY ON YOUR STAFF IS THE BEST.
AND WE CONT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU, I PROMISE YOU, FROM NOW ON UNTIL THE DAY IS DONE.
I AM THE BETTER HALF OF MAYOR DWAYNE WARREN.
HE, HE HAD TO LEAVE, BUT I WANTED TO REPRESENT HIM BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ONLY SOMEBODY WHO WE LOVE, HE HIS FAMILY, THEY BOTH ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY.
THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE CITY OF ORANGE AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THERE.
AND I JUST WOULD NOT MISS THIS DAY TO CELEBRATE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHO YOU ARE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE TO CARE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL P, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COME ON.
THE ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY IS I BROUGHT MY FAMILY HERE FROM NORTH CAROLINA, TOOK 'EM TO BELL ITALIA.
THEY THOUGHT I WAS THE QUEEN
WHEN WE GONNA GO TO SOW, CAN YOU FREEZE SOME BRUTA AND BRING IT TO ME? CAN YOU GET TOMATOES FROM BIG SOUTH'S GARDEN? UM, BUT IN ALL OF THAT, THIS IS A RESTAURANT THAT'S MORE THAN A RESTAURANT.
THEY'VE SERVED PEOPLE IN TIME OF NEEDS, DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.
[01:05:01]
AND THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE.SO WE ARE ALWAYS FOREVER GRATEFUL TO YOU.
WE, UH, THANK GOD FOR YOU BEING IN OUR CITY, IN THE CITY, THE GREAT CITY OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.
WE BROUGHT OUT A COUPLE OF FIRE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PEOPLE AND NURSES AND FINANCE PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE YOU, YOUR FAMILY, UM, FOR YOUR RESTAURANT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP.
HI, I AM COUNCILMAN FROY FROM THE CITY OF EAST ORANGE.
AND I, I, I AM SUPER EXCITED TO CONGRATULATE YOU BOTH, UM, ON THIS HONOR, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR EAST ORANGE COMMUNITY AND OUR REGIONAL AREA.
IT'S REALLY WHAT YOU DO FOR MY FAMILY AND, AND MY WORK FAMILY.
ON THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE LOST, UM, UH, COWORKERS ON THE DAYS THAT WE'VE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS, WE GO TO SAL AND SAL AND THEY TAKE CARE OF US ON THE DAYS THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR BEST DAYS, UM, VICTORIES ON ELECTIONS, BIRTHDAYS.
UM, MY SON IS 12 YEARS OLD AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A 12-YEAR-OLD TO COME OUT TO A POLITICAL EVENT AFTER SCHOOL.
UM, BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT MR. SAL AND MR. SO WERE BEING HONORED, HE, HE WALKED IN THE ROOM, HE SAID, WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THEY? BECAUSE EVERY WEEK, EVERY SINGLE WEEK, I'M IN THAT RESTAURANT BUYING A PINT OF MR. SAL'S VODKA SAUCE.
HE WILL NOT EAT ANY OTHER SAUCE ON ANYTHING ELSE BUT THAT VODKA SAUCE.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING IN OUR HEARTS, UM, FOR FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY, FOR FEEDING OUR SOULS WHEN WE'RE THERE.
IT FEELS MORE LIKE HOME SOMETIMES THAN MY OWN OFFICE DOES OFTEN.
AND I THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU GIVE TO US.
SO ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES IN EAST STAR MAYOR TED, OUR GREEN, AND MY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNON PULLINS, CONGRATULATIONS.
JUST ONE QUICK SECOND I WANNA SAY TOO, THEY CATERED THE PORT STRIKE FOR THE PORT WORKERS.
SO WHEN I PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THEM AND SAID, HEY SALLY, I NEED YOU TO GO DOWN TO THE PORT.
THEY, THEY WENT RIGHT ON DOWN THERE AND THEY FED.
SO THESE ARE WORKERS WHO ARE STRIKING ALL OVER.
IT IS JUST SO GREAT TO HAVE A FRIEND IN YOU STANDING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY THE WAY YOU ALL DO.
UH, WHEN YOU SAID THAT, UH, WE HAD VARIOUS EVENTS THERE, I CELEBRATED MY SON'S 13TH, MY SISTER'S 50TH, MY MOTHER'S 80TH.
AND UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO CELEBRATE MY FATHER'S REPAS AT BELLA'S.
UM, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SAD OCCASION, IT, IT'S BELLA'S LIKE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST FAMILY AND IT'S HOME.
SO I'M ALWAYS THE TEARY EYE ONE, BUT IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING AN ITALIAN AMERICAN WHEN I'M EATING THERE, YOU CAN'T TELL ME I'M NOT IN ITALY.
I JUST THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR MY FAMILY.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT MY KIDS EAT.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE STRONG LITTLE MEN BECAUSE OF YOU.
UH, YEAH, THEY HAVE TO HAVE, THEY KNOW THE MENU BY HEART.
WE GO THERE FOR MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, UM, EVERYTHING WE GET MY MOTHER JUST, I NEED, I NEED LOBSTER.
WHO JUST SAYS THAT? OKAY, LET ME CALL SAL SAL.
I NEED LOBSTER, YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES, I'LL BE THERE.
ALIA IS ABOUT CELEBRATING TRADITION, TOGETHERNESS AND FAMILY DINING.
WHEN MY DAD CAME FROM ITALY, HE MADE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO GO TO WORK WITH HIM EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHY I LEARN IT'S BEEN A LONG, YOU LEARN A LOT IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE CUSTOMERS AND PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY THAT COMES TOGETHER AND MAKES BELL ITALIA FAMILY, IT MAKES IT A HOME.
SO FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE A GOOD MEAL TO BRING FOOD, LAUGHTER, AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE TABLE.
AND FOR US, WE APPRECIATE THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
WE LOVE EVERYONE THAT COMES TO OUR RESTAURANT.
WE LOVE DOING WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.
[01:10:14]
OH MY GOD.DO WE NEED TO BE BACK? I LOVE IT.
WE'RE GONNA, WE CAN FILL, WE CAN MOVE BACK.
LET HER, LET HER GET ON THE OTHER SIDE.
WE'LL DO MORE PICTURES LATER, PLEASE.
SO, WHILE WE'RE WAITING, UM, AS PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR SEATS, I WANNA, UM, MAKE A TAKE A QUICK POINT OF, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, HOSTING THIS PROGRAM, OUR PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, FOR CELEBRATING ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
I WANNA CONGRATULATE ALSO ALL OF THE HONOREES AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, MY, MY HUSBAND IS ITALIAN AND, UM, HIS FAMILY IMMIGRATED HERE FROM CALABRIA.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I QUICKLY LEARNED ABOUT HIM AND HIS FAMILY WHEN WE GOT MARRIED WAS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT BIND US TOGETHER.
WE MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT OUR TRADITION AND PASSION AND LOVE FOR COMMUNITY IS ALL THE SAME.
SO NOW, YOU KNOW, DESPITE ALL THE CRAZINESS THAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION, IF WE ALL HOLD FAST TO KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING THESE PROGRAMS, THIS IS HOW WE LEARN ABOUT ONE ANOTHER TO KEEP MOVING THINGS FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, AS, AS A CHRISTIAN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT LET THE WORK THAT I DO SPEAK FOR ME AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALL DONE IS WHY YOU ARE ALL HERE WHILE WE'RE HONORING YOU, THE ITALIAN PARADE AND ALL THE OTHER HONOREES, BECAUSE WE MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND OUR FAMILY TO KEEP MOVING IT FORWARD.
SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
LET ME FIRST START OFF BY THANKING THE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSIONER BOARD, UM, TO EVERYBODY THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER, THANK YOU TO KATHY AND TO ADAM AND TO EVERYBODY THAT HELPS OUT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A BOARD OF NINE.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW 13 AND A HALF YEARS, FIVE TERMS SECOND ONLY TO OUR FREE COMMISSIONER, FORMER FREEHOLDER, PATRICIA SEABOLD, WHO'S BEEN OUR LONGEST TENURED.
PAT'S BEEN ON THE BOARD A LONG TIME.
I, I REALLY HAVE TO SAY I ENJOY THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND BEING A LEGISLATOR, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE IS THIS TYPE OF CELEBRATION TO HONOR ETHNICITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, THE FOLKS THAT BUILT ESSEX COUNTY, AND ALSO TO HONOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN.
WE BRING IN A LOT OF FOLKS AND THESE ARE THE TYPE OF CEREMONIES THAT I REALLY THRIVE AND LIVE FOR.
SO IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE HERE.
I'VE HAD A 24 HOURS THAT ONLY A GUY LIKE ME COULD IMAGINE.
UM, I WAS IN THE BRONX LAST NIGHT FOR THE YANKEE GAME, AND UH,
[01:15:01]
IT WAS NICE TO, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE YANKEES MAYBE.UM, BUT
UM, BUT YEAH, MY 24 HOURS WAS A LITTLE BUSY, YOU KNOW, BUT I WILL SAY THAT I HAD TIME TO REFLECT, UH, A LITTLE BIT LAST NIGHT AND TODAY, UH, FIRST GOING INTO THE BRONX, YOU KNOW, AND ARTHUR AVENUE, AND YOU START TO THINK ABOUT LIKE A COMMUNITY THAT WAS BUILT ON A LOT OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, RIGHT? YOU TALK ABOUT RESTAURANTS AND BAKERIES AND MARKETS, YOU KNOW, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY BUILD COMMUNITIES.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY JUST, THEY STAND OUT AND, AND YOU CAN'T, YOU JUST, YOU JUST CAN'T OVERLOOK LIKE WHAT IT MEANT, YOU KNOW? AND, AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO'S THREE.
AND WHEN I SAID I HAD A REALLY LONG DAY AT 24 HOURS, I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY TODAY, UM, FOR THE FEAST OF ST.
LUCY'S, WHICH IS OCTOBER 16TH.
MY DAUGHTER, ANGELINA MAYELLA, UM, HER MIDDLE NAME WAS THE, UH, IS GIVEN THE LAST NAME OF ST.
GERARD, UM, BECAUSE SHE IS A SAINT GERARD BABY.
AND WE WERE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HER.
UM, SHE SPENT THE DAY WITH ME IN CHURCH, THEN WE HAD LUNCH, THEN WE WALKED WITH THE SAINT.
TODAY WAS THE DAY THE SAINT CAME OUT.
WE HAD A LOT OF THE, UH, CAR AIR FROM ITALY WE'RE HERE, UM, WHICH IS LIKE THE ITALIAN MILITARY POLICE THAT CAME FROM ITALY.
UM, AND AGAIN, MORE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT ITALIANS CONTRIBUTED HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND IN THE UNITED STATES.
GERARD WAS BORN IN, UM, I THINK IT WAS MURROW ITALY, UM, PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 26, BUT AGAIN, HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON RELIGION, UH, AS DID MANY ITALIANS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, OUR VATICAN IS IN ROME.
SO IT JUST, AGAIN, A LOT OF REFLECTION DURING MY 24 HOURS OF THE CON CONTRIBUTIONS, UM, THAT ITALIAN AMERICANS.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN BENEVENTO, ITALY.
HE ACTUALLY CAME HERE AT AGE 13 IN 1902.
MY FATHER, WHO'S SECOND GENERATION, IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN MY OFFICE.
HE'S 86 YEARS OLD AND HE WAS ONE OF 12 CHILDREN, THE 12 CHILDREN THAT GREW UP ON A FARM IN LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY.
AND I SAY THAT AGAIN, A FARM LIVINGSTON WAS ALL FARMS YEARS AGO.
UM, BUT MY GRANDFATHER CAME HERE, HE WORKED ON THE RAILROAD AS A TEENAGER.
HE MET MY GRANDMOTHER WHO GREW UP AND WAS BORN, UH, SECOND GENERATION ITALIAN ON LAFAYETTE STREET IN THE IRONBOUND HERE OF NEWARK.
UH, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT STORY, UM, TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF MY GRANDPARENTS WERE ALIVE, NOT JUST TO SEE ME HERE TODAY AS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT TO SEE ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEIR 12 KIDS, UM, AND ALL THEIR GRANDKIDS HAVE MADE, YOU KNOW, FROM DOCTORS TO LAWYERS, TO BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, IT'S JUST REALLY, AGAIN, IT'S HUMBLING.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T FORGET MY IRISH SIDE, COMMISSIONER HILL, MY MOTHER'S IN THE OFFICE TOO, SO I WILL MENTION THAT, RIGHT? SHE ALWAYS SAYS, YOU ARE WHO YOUR MOM IS, RIGHT? YOU CAME FROM ME, SO YOU'RE IRISH.
AND I TELL PEOPLE, I'M HALF GAELIC, HALF GARLIC.
I KNOW HOW I KNOW HOW TO EAT AND DRINK.
I CAN DO IT ALL FOLKS, OKAY,
SO I AM CLEANING UP THE ACT HERE TONIGHT, UH, AND ONLY FITTING FOR ME TO AGAIN, RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE THAT WE ALREADY HONORED.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UM, BUT IN ADDITION TO THESE HONOREES, UH, THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE IS THAT WE'RE GONNA HONOR THIS YEAR.
IT'S NUTLEY AND BELLEVILLE, COLUMBUS DAY PARADE COMMITTEE, AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE THE HONOREES AND DIGNITARIES.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB EVERY YEAR OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE PARADE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENT HAS LANDED AFTER THE PARADE.
THE PARADE WAS THIS PAST SUNDAY.
UH, I BRING IT UP BECAUSE LISTEN, THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR WE NEED TO KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE AND CONTINUE.
UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CONTRIBUTED.
BEFORE I BRING UP THE PARADE COMMITTEE AND DIGNITARIES AND MENTION THEM ON RECORD, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP MY PARTNER WHO'S BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH ME, UH, AND THAT HE'S ALMOST LIKE A BROTHER.
WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR SINCE WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND WE STARTED HERE AND THAT SPRING UP OUR FORMER PRESIDENT, UH, HAILING FROM MONTCLAIR, COMMISSIONER GILL PRESIDENT.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS THE 42ND ANNUAL PARADE THAT WAS HAILED IN BELLEVILLE AND NUTLEY.
UM, AND AGAIN, FATHER TOM, THE CASTRO, AND I WAS WITH HIM EARLIER AT ST.
LUCY'S, WHO PLAYS SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE, WOULD BE HERE TONIGHT.
BUT HE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE FEAST DAY OF ST.
GERARD, HE HAS SO MUCH GOING ON.
UH, BUT WE CAN GIVE IT UP TO HIM.
AND VICE CHAIR EDIE PETERS, RIGHT?
[01:20:01]
LING ED.AND OUR PARADE COORDINATOR, WHO'S ALWAYS A GREAT FRIEND AND ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, SUSAN LAMORTE.
AND LET ME GO THROUGH THE, UH, DIGNITARIES OF THE PARADE THIS YEAR.
AND THEN AGAIN, ALL TOGETHER, I'LL BRING YOU GUYS UP AND YOU CAN STAND HERE.
UM, BUT WE HAD OUR GRAND MARSHALL, WHO WAS MARY ELENA, MARLO.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR GRAND MARSHALL.
OUR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE WAS, UH, EUGENIO.
PAST, PAST, WHERE ARE YOU? YEP.
WE HAD ITALIAN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR.
WE HAD ROCCO, DEANNA AND VINCENT JEN CARELLI.
LET'S GIVE IT UP TO THE JEN CARELLI FAMILY AND THE JEN CARELLI BAKERY.
A NUTLEY ITALIAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
WE HAD DANIELLE FERRARA MANGANELLO.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR DANIELLE NUTLEY.
ITALIAN MAN OF THE YEAR WAS REVEREND JOSEPH.
REVEREND, OUR BELLEVILLE ITALIAN WOMAN OF THE YEAR WAS PATRICIA VAN.
WHERE IS PATRICIA VAN? AND OUR BELLEVILLE ITALIAN OF THE YEAR.
ITALIAN MAN OF THE YEAR WAS DR. FRANK ARENA.
WHERE'S, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAD OUR RENAISSANCE MAN, CAVALIER, LOUIS N. CASTRO.
DANIELLE ARDI, AND OUR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA BRING YOU GUYS ALL UP HERE.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, EDEDIE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I'M BRING YOU UP HERE 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.
SO WHY DON'T YOU GUYS COME UP, UH, AND I'LL TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO EDEDIE HERE.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, EXCUSE, JUST GIVE THEM A SECOND.
EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF JUST FILL IN BEHIND EDEDIE.
AND AGAIN, ALL OUR MEETINGS AND OUR SPECIAL BROAD, UH, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS ARE BROADCASTED LIVE STREAM AND ON TV.
SO WE DO THIS NOT JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT'S HERE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUDIENCE THAT WATCHES THIS LIVE STREAM.
THEY ALSO WATCH IT ON RECORDING.
UM, SO AGAIN, LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME.
UH, AGAIN, AS COMMISSIONER LUCIANO SAID, FATHER TOM THE CASTRO IS OUR CHAIRPERSON THIS YEAR, BUT HE IS AT THE FEAST OF ST.
GERARD TODAY, SO HE COULD NOT BE HERE.
SO I'M SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF.
I AM, UH, CAVALIER, EDIE PETERS LEG, AND I WAS A CO-CHAIR THIS YEAR, A VERY SPECIAL YEAR.
WE HAD FABULOUS HONOREES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMITTEE THAT PUTS ON THIS PARADE EVERY YEAR.
AGAIN, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO ALREADY STATED FATHER TOM, MYSELF AND SUSAN LAMORTE.
BUT WE HAVE VITO AND MELISSA HURRO THAT ARE PART OF OUR COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE, AND AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
I THINK, UH, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO SAID IT WAS A WEEK.
WELL, IT'S BEEN A WEEK FOR THESE PEOPLE TOO.
EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING GOING ON SOMEWHERE TO GO.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALL A LITTLE LIKE, UH, WILTED FLOWERS, BUT WE HAVE BARBARA AND BILL FRIDA.
THEY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
DIANE STANZIONE, CAVALIER PASQUA MEOLA.
WE HAVE DIANE STANZIONE, JOE JENCARE.
HE HELPS OUT ALSO PART OF CARELLI BAKERY THERE, HER COUSINS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, EXCUSE ME, ANTHONY SANTA.
UM, AM I FORGETTING ANYBODY? OH, BEN, UH, BEN AND ROSEMARY COSTA.
SO THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR PUTS ON A PARADE THAT COSTS OVER $30,000.
AND WE DO THAT WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT.
AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE COMMISSIONERS, REALLY.
SO I WANNA THANK, UM, THE PRESIDENT PALM AND VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
AND YOU ARE JUST, KATHY, YOU'RE INCREDIBLE.
YOU, YOU HELPED SO MUCH WITH EVERYTHING.
THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER AND ALWAYS ASK US TO COME DOWN AND BE A PART AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE HONOREES.
SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU HONOREES.
I THINK BELLA ALIA DID HELP US IN THE PAST TOO, WITH THE PARADE.
AND WITH THE FEDERATION, WE, WE HAVE OUR POLICE, AS HE MENTIONED, MARCHING IN THE PARADE.
[01:25:01]
THE FEDERATION FOR ITALIAN POLICE THAT COME EVERY YEAR.AND, UH, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL WITH THAT TOO.
AND TO OUR HONOREES, I, I'M JUST SO PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR THESE PEOPLE THAT GIVE BACK.
AND AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY, WE REPRESENT OUR PARENTS, OUR GRANDPARENTS, AND ALL OUR ANCESTORS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
WE ARE MAKING THEM PROUD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
SO HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT THE PARADE.
SO AGAIN, LET'S LEAVE IT UP FOR Y UM, BEFORE I ASK FATHER FERRARO TO, UH, TO LEAVE US WITH A PRAYER, UH, AGAIN, I INVITE ALL OF YOU, THERE'S FOOD DOWN AT THE END OF THE HALL, PLENTY OF TABLES TO SPEND SOME TIME.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF, UM, THE FOLKS WE HONOR HERE.
WE ARE GONNA TAKE A PROFESSIONAL PICTURE WITH YOU IN ONE GROUP AND ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
UH, TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, TO MY PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
AND LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR DYLAN WACO.
FATHER, I TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND I HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
YOU WANT US TO SIT BACK? NO, WE'RE, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE FIRST.
I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANNA HOG THE, UH, PART
MAY WE BE JOINED TOGETHER IN THE COMMON GOALS OF SERVICE TO OUR GOD IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND LET US DRIVE SAFELY AND CAREFULLY TO OUR HOMES.
AND MAY GOD'S BLESSING BE WITH US ALL IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GO, MY COMMISSIONER, COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO JOIN AND THEN WE'LL GRAB YOU GUYS ONE AT A TIME.
SCOOCH THROUGH HERE REAL QUICK.