Page 18 - Italian American Herald - August 2019

18 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | AUGUST 2019 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
LOCAL
UNICO bocce tournament benefits high school athletic programs
Symposium and walk-a-thon
supports Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
Italian-American Herald
MILTON — Eight teams participated
in UNICO Delmarva’s fifth annual Bocce Tournament at Dogfish Head Brewery on June 15. Proceeds of the tournament will be donated to the UNICO Delaware 1 Brian Piccolo Award and Ceremony to be held at St. Edmond Education Center in Rehoboth Beach in November.
A $1,000 award is given each year to a Sussex County high school athletic team, won by one of its senior members who is of Italian origin. All nominees receive a gift bag valued at over $200, filled with movie tickets, gift cards and passes to area attractions donated by local businesses and merchants. They will also have the right to list this nomination to a National Award on applica- tions for higher education and employment, citing good character and sportsmanship in the tradition of the famed Brian Piccolo, a running back for the Chicago Bears who died at age 26 from an aggressive form of cancer.
Applications for this award will be
UNICO Delmarva Chapter President Vincent Catania presents the first-place trophy and cash prize to Dino Nardo Sr., whose team also included David Sciortino, Dino Nardo Jr. and Diaz Nardo.
available at the beginning of the school year to high school senior athletes from their guidance counselor or athletic director.
Bocce is a sport first documented in a painting in an ancient Egyptian tomb. It has become a popular sport in the area, with many courts available to homeowners in various neighborhoods and also public courts. IAH
For more information contact event chair Mary Catania at MCAT@MCHSI.com or Maria Teresa Morrison at unicodelawaredistrict1@gmail.com.
Italian-American Herald
REHOBOTH BEACH — St. Edmond Education Center was the site of an exceptional program to support thalassemia (Cooley’s Anemia) research. This disease, which affects many of Mediterranean heritage and others, and usually discovered in children, was the unknown cause of death, thought to be the result of heart or kidney failure, for many adolescents. It has been identified through years of research and support from donors across the nation.
An awareness symposium and walk-a- thon was sponsored by UNICO Delaware in May, to educate the public about the challenges of living with thalassemia and the need for continuing research to find a cure.
Dr. Steven Stanzione, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University in New York City, presented an informative lecture on the disease, the history and progress of research and the level of success which has been reached. Newark resident Ralph Colasanti, a representative and board member of the Thalassemia Foundation in New York City, was also present to provide information about ongoing research, some
of which is being done at the University
of Delaware. IAH
Speakers Ralph Colasanti of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation (left) and Dr. Steven Stanzione of Columbia University.
For more information or to donate to the Cooley’s Anemia (thalassemia) Foundation please contact unicodelawaredistrict1@gmail.com.
Senate OKs Albence, DeMatteis as new state commissioners
Italian-American Herald
DOVER — The state Senate has approved Gov. John Carney’s nomination of Anthony Albence as Delaware’s next election commissioner and Claire DeMatteis as the next correction commissioner.
In his new role, Albence, who served
as director of the New Castle County Department of Elections, will replace Elaine Manlove, who has served in the position since 2007. DeMatteis, a former senior counsel to U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, will be the first female Commissioner of the Department of Correction. She replaces Commissioner
Perry Phelps, who retired on July 15..
As election commissioner, Albence will direct the operations of the Department of
Elections, investigate potential violations of campaign finance laws, and collect and report on election results.
Since 2007, Albence has served as county director at the Delaware Department of Elections, overseeing staff and operations
in New Castle County. In that position, he coordinated with the election commissioner on policy initiatives, and led community outreach programs for the department. Previously, Albence served as director of Public Allies Delaware, and as a training specialist at Catholic Youth Ministry in Wilmington.
“For more than a decade, Anthony has directed our elections operations in New Castle County, and I’m confident that he has the skills and experience necessary to serve as Delaware’s next Election Commissioner,” Gov. Carney said in nominating Albence. “This is an important position that helps safeguard our elections, and make sure that all Delawareans have access to the voting booth. I want to thank Elaine Manlove for her service to our state, and I look forward to the Senate considering this nomination.”
Since 2017, DeMatteis has served as Gov. Carney’s special assistant at the Department
of Correction. In that role, DeMatteis worked alongside Commissioner Phelps, and led implementation of the governor’s reform efforts in the wake of an inmate at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on Feb. 1, 2017, that left a correctional officer dead.
Anthony Albence
considering her nomination.”
Gov. Carney’s plan included a 22%
increase in starting pay for correctional officers; significant investments in new technology, equipment and training; the creation of a Labor-Management Committee to more effectively recruit officers and decrease mandatory overtime; and renewed efforts to help inmates successfully re-enter their communities. IAH
“For much of the last
two years, Claire has
worked side-by-side with
Commissioner Phelps to
lead reform efforts at the
Department of Correction
— to make our facilities
safer, to invest in new
equipment and training,
and to recruit correctional
officers to do one of the toughest jobs in state government,” said Gov. Carney. “Over three decades of experience in government and the private sector, Claire has worked closely with community leaders, legislators and law enforcement officials and has earned their respect and trust. I have full confidence that Claire’s experience and leadership qualities will serve our state well at the Department
of Correction. I look forward to the Senate
Claire DeMatteis