Italian-American Heritage Committee Dinner 2024
More than 50 educators indulged in Italian cuisine and culture on Oct. 22 when the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee staged its annual fall dinner at Mario’s Restaurant, a staple for Italian Americans for more than 100 years on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT retirees Two women in attendance at a UFT Italian Heritage Committee dinner hold up their](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5764.jpg?itok=xTCAqwnZ)
Retired secretary Carolina Lombardo (left) and retired paraprofessional Vivian Columbano show off the T-shirts they received at the event.
![Aqeel Williams UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5871.jpg?itok=z3G-e62h)
UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song, delighting attendees.
![Bronx teachers Two teachers in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner smile for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5749.jpg?itok=tO2hj-n2)
Chapter Leader Manjola Prela (left) and Julia Mezo of MS 127 in the Bronx are ready to celebrate.
![Retired secretaries Retired school secretaries pass the bread at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5767.jpg?itok=yconowf2)
Retired school secretaries Mary Anne Cuttita (left) and Cathy DeLuca pass the Italian bread.
![Bronx representatives Two guests in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner wave their napkins in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5811.jpg?h=36004ed5&itok=jFvApG4s)
UFT Bronx High Schools District Representative Dario Shore (left) and Health and Safety Representative Corrine Barros join in the napkin twirling that got the celebration started.
![Getting ready for the event to start UFT members gather for a photo at the Italian American Heritage Committee's awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5850.jpg?h=10807121&itok=ITclM3k4)
Getting ready for the big night are (from left) UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, Marla Smith of PS 106 in the Bronx, UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Dana Falciglia, and Education Liaison Christine O’Callaghan.
![Outside of Mario's Restaurant A group of attendees at the UFT's Italian American Heritage awards dinner take a group photo outside of Mario's Restaurant.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5784-Enhanced-NR.jpg?h=3ae9bde8&itok=zXDcsjQq)
Meeting outside the restaurant are (from left) UFT District 7 Representative Bill Woodruff, UFT Education Liaison Laurie Lubman and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT retirees Two women in attendance at a UFT Italian Heritage Committee dinner hold up their](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5764.jpg?itok=xTCAqwnZ)
Retired secretary Carolina Lombardo (left) and retired paraprofessional Vivian Columbano show off the T-shirts they received at the event.
![Aqeel Williams UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5871.jpg?itok=z3G-e62h)
UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song, delighting attendees.
![Bronx teachers Two teachers in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner smile for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5749.jpg?itok=tO2hj-n2)
Chapter Leader Manjola Prela (left) and Julia Mezo of MS 127 in the Bronx are ready to celebrate.
![Retired secretaries Retired school secretaries pass the bread at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5767.jpg?itok=yconowf2)
Retired school secretaries Mary Anne Cuttita (left) and Cathy DeLuca pass the Italian bread.
![Bronx representatives Two guests in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner wave their napkins in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5811.jpg?h=36004ed5&itok=jFvApG4s)
UFT Bronx High Schools District Representative Dario Shore (left) and Health and Safety Representative Corrine Barros join in the napkin twirling that got the celebration started.
![Getting ready for the event to start UFT members gather for a photo at the Italian American Heritage Committee's awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5850.jpg?h=10807121&itok=ITclM3k4)
Getting ready for the big night are (from left) UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, Marla Smith of PS 106 in the Bronx, UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Dana Falciglia, and Education Liaison Christine O’Callaghan.
![Outside of Mario's Restaurant A group of attendees at the UFT's Italian American Heritage awards dinner take a group photo outside of Mario's Restaurant.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5784-Enhanced-NR.jpg?h=3ae9bde8&itok=zXDcsjQq)
Meeting outside the restaurant are (from left) UFT District 7 Representative Bill Woodruff, UFT Education Liaison Laurie Lubman and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
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![Retired secretaries Retired school secretaries pass the bread at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5767.jpg?itok=yconowf2)
Retired school secretaries Mary Anne Cuttita (left) and Cathy DeLuca pass the Italian bread.
![Bronx representatives Two guests in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner wave their napkins in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5811.jpg?h=36004ed5&itok=jFvApG4s)
UFT Bronx High Schools District Representative Dario Shore (left) and Health and Safety Representative Corrine Barros join in the napkin twirling that got the celebration started.
![Getting ready for the event to start UFT members gather for a photo at the Italian American Heritage Committee's awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5850.jpg?h=10807121&itok=ITclM3k4)
Getting ready for the big night are (from left) UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, Marla Smith of PS 106 in the Bronx, UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Dana Falciglia, and Education Liaison Christine O’Callaghan.
![Outside of Mario's Restaurant A group of attendees at the UFT's Italian American Heritage awards dinner take a group photo outside of Mario's Restaurant.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5784-Enhanced-NR.jpg?h=3ae9bde8&itok=zXDcsjQq)
Meeting outside the restaurant are (from left) UFT District 7 Representative Bill Woodruff, UFT Education Liaison Laurie Lubman and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT retirees Two women in attendance at a UFT Italian Heritage Committee dinner hold up their](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5764.jpg?itok=xTCAqwnZ)
Retired secretary Carolina Lombardo (left) and retired paraprofessional Vivian Columbano show off the T-shirts they received at the event.
![Aqeel Williams UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5871.jpg?itok=z3G-e62h)
UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song, delighting attendees.
![Bronx teachers Two teachers in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner smile for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5749.jpg?itok=tO2hj-n2)
Chapter Leader Manjola Prela (left) and Julia Mezo of MS 127 in the Bronx are ready to celebrate.
![Retired secretaries Retired school secretaries pass the bread at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5767.jpg?itok=yconowf2)
Retired school secretaries Mary Anne Cuttita (left) and Cathy DeLuca pass the Italian bread.
![Bronx representatives Two guests in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner wave their napkins in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5811.jpg?h=36004ed5&itok=jFvApG4s)
UFT Bronx High Schools District Representative Dario Shore (left) and Health and Safety Representative Corrine Barros join in the napkin twirling that got the celebration started.
![Getting ready for the event to start UFT members gather for a photo at the Italian American Heritage Committee's awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5850.jpg?h=10807121&itok=ITclM3k4)
Getting ready for the big night are (from left) UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, Marla Smith of PS 106 in the Bronx, UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Dana Falciglia, and Education Liaison Christine O’Callaghan.
![Outside of Mario's Restaurant A group of attendees at the UFT's Italian American Heritage awards dinner take a group photo outside of Mario's Restaurant.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5784-Enhanced-NR.jpg?h=3ae9bde8&itok=zXDcsjQq)
Meeting outside the restaurant are (from left) UFT District 7 Representative Bill Woodruff, UFT Education Liaison Laurie Lubman and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT retirees Two women in attendance at a UFT Italian Heritage Committee dinner hold up their](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5764.jpg?itok=xTCAqwnZ)
Retired secretary Carolina Lombardo (left) and retired paraprofessional Vivian Columbano show off the T-shirts they received at the event.
![Aqeel Williams UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5871.jpg?itok=z3G-e62h)
UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams belts out a song, delighting attendees.
![Bronx teachers Two teachers in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee dinner smile for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5749.jpg?itok=tO2hj-n2)
Chapter Leader Manjola Prela (left) and Julia Mezo of MS 127 in the Bronx are ready to celebrate.
![Retired secretaries Retired school secretaries pass the bread at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5767.jpg?itok=yconowf2)
Retired school secretaries Mary Anne Cuttita (left) and Cathy DeLuca pass the Italian bread.
![Bronx representatives Two guests in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage Committee awards dinner wave their napkins in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5811.jpg?h=36004ed5&itok=jFvApG4s)
UFT Bronx High Schools District Representative Dario Shore (left) and Health and Safety Representative Corrine Barros join in the napkin twirling that got the celebration started.
![Getting ready for the event to start UFT members gather for a photo at the Italian American Heritage Committee's awards dinner on Oct. 22, 2024.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5850.jpg?h=10807121&itok=ITclM3k4)
Getting ready for the big night are (from left) UFT District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, Marla Smith of PS 106 in the Bronx, UFT Italian American Heritage Committee Chair Dana Falciglia, and Education Liaison Christine O’Callaghan.
![Outside of Mario's Restaurant A group of attendees at the UFT's Italian American Heritage awards dinner take a group photo outside of Mario's Restaurant.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5784-Enhanced-NR.jpg?h=3ae9bde8&itok=zXDcsjQq)
Meeting outside the restaurant are (from left) UFT District 7 Representative Bill Woodruff, UFT Education Liaison Laurie Lubman and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.
![UFT representatives UFT representatives in attendance at the UFT Italian American Heritage awards dinner pose for a photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/603A5795-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=ELQpLQLI)
Flanking UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro, are committee Chair Dana Falciglia (left) and Manhattan Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator Christopher Verdone.