THE EASTCHESTER COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

THE EASTCHESTER ITALIAN AMERICANS CITIZENS CLUB

The Eastchester Italian-American Citizen's Club was founded in 1933 by a group of  Italian and Italian Americans whose families had settled from Italy in the Eastchester area. After long hard days at work, this group of individuals needed a place to gather with their family and friends to socialize and discuss their hometown memories. Thus the beginning of the E.I.A.C.C….

Thanks to their hard work and their monetary contributions, this group of individuals pulled together their financing for the purchase and the building of our present day Clubhouse on Post Road in Eastchester. The members, mostly tradesmen, donated their time in building our clubhouse. Our present and past members are grateful for our forefathers foresight, which has allowed us the opportunity to have a place to meet for the past 75 years.

Besides socializing, the E.I.A.C.C. is a very large advocate of promoting Italian Culture and Language and preserving the Italian Heritage. Our organization distributes Scholarships to all types of students in our community and encourage the recipients to carry on in our Italian American traditions. Also, the E.I.A.C.C. has donated the funds for the hiring of an Italian teacher for the instruction of the Italian language to our Town’s Senior Citizens. In addition, our organization, donates funds to various community organizations, who are in need of funding to carry the fine work they do.

Carmine Gizzo - President

Dan Galella - 1st Vice President

John Gherardi - 2nd Vice President

Peter Arvonio - Treasurer

Ralph Ressa - Recording Secretary

Peter Telesco - Secretary & Membership Chairman

Anthony Nunno - Corresponding Secretary

Joe Bruno - Director

Peter Cirrincione - Director

John DiMarzo - Director

Vito Pinto - Director

Peter Visci - Director

Dan Grogan - Director

John Arvonio - Sergeant At Arms

JUDITH BLAU

Judith Blau and her late husband Lawrence moved into the Town of Eastchester over 50 years ago.  Together, they raised their children, Laura (Jonathan Paul) and Richard (Arleen Mileo) right here in town.  

Their grandchildren Joseph Blau (Amanda Gallucci), Ethan Paul, and Cassie Paul were also raised in Eastchester and nearby Scarsdale. 

Professionally, Judith Blau is a published author of 15 books and is also an award-winning product inventor in the children’s toy, gift, home furnishing, and apparel industries; a number of her books and products have been inducted into the Strong National Museum of Play located in Rochester, NY. with is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. (delete this highlighted part of sentence)

Judith’s commitment to service, in dedicated partnership with her late husband Larry, to the benefit of the residents of the Town of Eastchester began in the 1970’s and has remained a constant in our neighborhoods, still, more than 40 years later.

Local Committees & Boards:

The Eastchester Beautification Foundation, President/ Co- President,

The Town of Eastchester Sign Committee, Board Member

Architectural Review Board, Appointed Alternate

Safety Always First for Eastchester (S.A.F.E.), Founding Member

League of Civic Association Leaders (L.O.C.A.L.), Founding Member

Channing Place Cooperative Board

National/State Committees & Boards:

Britton Fund /WISA Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture

Tree Circus/Trail of Trees- Tim Womick with Treeture Costume Characters

Friends of Thirteen Board of Directors (WNET/PBS Tri-State area)

Special Projects & Programs:

Oakridge Park “Gazebo Park” renovation

The Bronxville, Eastchester, Tuckahoe Nature Preserve

The Eastchester Magic Treetures Forest Nursery Planting Program

Trees America, with Admiral Stan Arthur, Chair and President Herbert W. Bush, Honorary Chair

Millennium Green White House Council, with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton

National Tree Trust with General George Cates

Awards:

Woman of the Year – Eastchester/ Tuckahoe Lion’s Club, 2012

The Green Angel Award – Girls Scouts of America, 2004

NY Children’s Empowerment Award, 2001

Woman of the Year – Eastchester High School, 1999

U.S.D.A. Forest Service’s Performance Award of Excellence for Treetures

U.S.D.A. Forest Service Centennial Legacy Award, 2004

United States Department of Agriculture Certificate of Appreciation, 2000

United Nations Environment Program endorsed as partner in the “Plant for the Planet - Billion Tree Campaign”, 2008-2010

American Forests Magazine Named an “Earth Keeper”, 1998

National Arbor Day Foundation Merit Award 

N.Y. State Department of Conservation, Forestry Board - Region 3 Environmental Educator’s Award, 2003

Hasbro Toy Company, Inc. Hasbro Inventor’s Hall of Fame Award, 2001

Toy and Game Industry Life Time Achievement Award, 2017

JOSEPH SANTAMARIA

Joseph, a resident of Eastchester for 20 years, has been in the electrical industry for 35 years in New York City with Local #3.  Joseph graduated from cardinal Hayes High School and continued his studies later receiving his Bachelors in Labor Science in 2006.

Joseph has been married to his wife Carolyn for 29 years and they have been blessed with their son Eric, 22 who recently graduated from The University of Delaware, and their twin girls Lisa who attending Manhattanville College and Christina who is attending Penn State University/ University Park.

Being dedicated to his family, and passionate about giving back to his community, Joseph has served as Vice President of the Memorial Park Association for 15 years and has been integral in keeping his neighbors safe in a well maintained neighborhood.  Also, Joseph has been a board member of the Lake Isle Advisory Board and town's Long Range Planning Board for 10 years.

Joseph brings joy, laughter, and smiles to people of all ages when he volunteers each year as the Columbus Day Parade's Christopher Columbus as he embodies the spirit of Eastchester, Italian-American Culture, and happily shares this enthusiasm each year with the residents of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxille, and all the other people from surrounding communities that take part in these events.

NANCY VETRINI

Nancy Vetrini was born in Naples, Italy in 1951.  She is one of 6 siblings.  She came to America in 1966 and settled in Mt. Vernon, NY.  She has two daughters,  Rosanna and Gabriela and 6 grandchildren, Anthony, Joseph, Nicolas, Giuliana, Silvana and Alessia.

Nancy is a warm and loving Nonna.  She values her time immensely with her grandchildren and daughters.  She loves cooking for her grandchildren, going to the beach with them and sharing her childhood stories with them.  She also enjoys watching them during their sporting events and school shows. Nonna Nancy also values holidays with her grandchildren. 

One special tradition is Thanksgiving.  Every Thanksgiving nonna makes individual turkeys for each grandchild and creates a display of turkeys together with their nonna turkey.  Her grandchildren look forward to this every year! There are so many reasons why she is special however the most important reason is the love she has for her family.  She is special in so many ways.