UNICO honors Verrazzano in Rehoboth
Members of one of the nation's largest Italian-American service groups came to say buongiorno to the man who forms the link between Italy and the Nation's Summer Capital.
Local and national UNICO members laid a wreath at the Giovanni da Verrazzano monument in Rehoboth in honor of April 17, Verrazzano Day in Rehoboth's sister city, Greve in Chianti, Italy. Verrazzano mapped the Cape Henlopen area during his 1524 North American voyage.
The organization grants scholarships, provides aid to underprivileged and handicapped children and supports Italian studies.
With the group in Delaware for a regional UNICO conference, District Gov. Mary Theresa Morrison, a Rehoboth resident, brought the national delegation to town to see the monument, which was erected in 2008.
Participating in the wreath laying were (l-r) Delaware chapter President David Jones, Morrison, Rehoboth Beach chapter President Rose Marie Patin, Delaware chapter member Virginia Lazzati, national office manager Pat Pelonero, former National Executive Administrator Sal Benvenuti, Second National Vice President Dr. Ann Walko and Debbie Benvenuti.
UNICO, which stands for Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity, has both local and national chapters. Locally, there are a Delmarva chapter and a Rehoboth chapter, while the national organization is based in Fairfield, N.J.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
