UNICO Heritage day

By ROSE SGARLATO
ANDOVER — “Rediscovering your Italian heritage” was the theme at Sparta UNIICO’s open house last Sunday at Hillside Barn.
UNICO is a national entity that bills itself as the largest Italian American service organization in the United States. Each local chapter aligns with its community to give back in a variety of ways such as granting scholarships and donating to local non-profits.
In an effort to drive membership, the Sparta chapter initiated the Italian Heritage event to connect people with all things Italian: music, food, cultural memorabilia and even Italian language lessons were on hand.
President Ken Carafello, a founding member since 1998 explained the idea behind the first–time event.
“The idea is to generate members," he said. "We invited people who have an Italian connection. This is an opportunity to tell people what we do at a local level for charities and other organizations.”
Presently, the Sparta chapter has about 60 members.
Chairperson Linda (Puntasecca) Grinthal, farm owner of Sunset Vista Community Garden & Learning Center, Inc in Andover was excited about the response and turnout.
“It’s a way to celebrate how Italian we are. A lot of people didn’t know that UNICO existed,” Grinthal said. “I am of Sicilian background and everything I do is Italian.”
Grinthal runs the cultural heritage club and Italian lessons for Sparta UNICO. She has hosted events at Sunset Vista Farm that is fashioned after a farm in Tuscany.
Linda Castronovo who was enjoying some Italian delicacies came from Pallisades Park to attend the event.
“I took Italian lessons at Linda’s farm. UNICO seemed like a great bunch of people,” said Castronovo. “ And what’s also great about being Italian is the food.”
And the event welcomed all nationalities and enthusiasts of all things Italian.
Valentin Hunsicker of Sparta was adopted from Romania to a father who is half –Italian and half- Romanian and has enjoyed his exposure to the Italian culture referring to his “nonna” or grandmother.
“My nonna and I were in the kitchen a lot,” Hunsicker recalls fondly.
Ray Shupak, membership chairperson of Sparta UNICO has an Italian wife, thus the longtime association since 1998.
“We invite people to come see who we are and what we do. In addition to all the community work we do, we also run social events throughout the year,” said Shupak.
Sparta UNICO meets every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the PAL building in Station Park in Sparta. Membership costs $75 a year. More information on Sparta UNICO can be found on Facebook.