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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Nick Vesighi (L) and Leonard Scaturro head
up the UNICO Alcoholic Department of
Weights and Measures.
The UNICO kitchen crew [L-R] Karl Taugfner, Steve Rumberg and Frank LaLusa spent days
getting ready for the feast.
going to be the first President and he
pointed to me and said Joe you’re going
to be the first Vice President.” Other
founding members included Frank
Ricciardone, Joe Pezavento Sr., Bruno
Ronkese, Paul Giorgini, Doctor Biengardi,
Joe Noto and Charley Giametta.
Pezavento said his father was a
butcher in town and around the feast day
of St. Joseph local women would come to
his shop and give him a sweet cake or a
desert, which in turn sparked the idea for
the annual Italian dinner.
“It’s all about getting family together
[and] it’s a lot about food, that’s our
culture,” he said.
Frank Ricciardone also remembers
receiving a call from Carmine.
“We came over because Carmine said
Go forth and serve.
come over to the store. We had no idea
what he was talking about,” Ricciardone
said.
Ricciardone said the dinner is sold out
every year and the money stays within
the communities of Marlboro, Milton and
Middle Hope. He smiled, saying the motto
for the dinner is, “Have a good time and
eat hardy.”
UNICO member, and cook, Dave
Zambito said they started preparing the
food on Thursday for the Saturday dinner.
He stressed that all of the money they
raise goes to local charities, such as the
food bank, local churches and anonymous
food gift certificates at Christmas.
“Whatever we make in profit goes
directly to charitable causes,” he said.
Anthony Porpiglia, a member of
UNICO since 1991, said he is an electrician
and cousin of another Anthony who is a
local fruit farmer.
“Its a great group of guys who are
looking to help and give back to the
community. They are hard working,
dedicated guys. Our kids have all grown
up together and some of them have joined
UNICO,” he said.
Willy Biggin, an 11-year member, said
UNICO also contributes to the Secret
Santa and the toy drive with the Police
Department.
“Thats the cool part about this; the
money we make and the time we do goes
right back into the community,” he said.
Frank LaLusa thanked all of the
members for their hard work and Adams
Fairacre Farm for supplying the food at a
very reasonable price.
“Without them we are nothing; its a
community thing,” he said.
County
weighs in
on Lloyd
projects
By MARK REYNOLDS
[email protected]
Local development projects are often
referred to the Ulster County Planning
Board [UCPB] for review and comments as
is required under the county charter and
by General Municipal Law. Broadly, the
UCPB looks at Municipal Comprehensive
Plans, Zoning Code or Map Enactment
or Amendments, Site Plan Reviews,
Subdivisions, Special Permits and Area
and Use Variances. Projects that do not
have a county impact are exempt from
their review.
The mission of the UCPB, as stated on
the Ulster County website, is “to promote,
encourage and support solutions
among levels of government, agencies
and other stakeholders in matters
affecting conservation, preservation, and
development. In pursuing this mission, it
is of critical importance that the Planning
Board and its staff be widely accessible
to the public, comprised of technically
and professionally experienced members,
broadly represented geographically, and
independent from political influence. The
very nature of the Board’s duties and the
responsibilities of its staff require a non-
partisan approach in order to work for the
benefit and welfare of Ulster County.”
Lloyd Planning Board member Peter
Brooks is their liaison to the county
board. He recently summarized several
Required Modifications that the UCPB
sent to the Town of Lloyd concerning a
few projects.
Developer Alan Barone is proposing
to transform the long shuttered Babe’s
gas station on the corner of New Paltz
Rd. and Philips Ave., into a two story
building, with two offices on the ground
floor and two apartments on the upper
floor.
The UCPB recommended that the
Lloyd Planning Board work with the
town’s Highway Department to mitigate
parking issues along Phillips Ave. The
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