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Date: 4/20/2022
LONGMEADOW – For the 20th year, a traditional night of food, drink and entertainment returns to the area to raise money for college-bound Italian American students.
The Longmeadow branch of UNICO, an Italian American service organization, has a decades-long tradition of awarding scholarships to high school students from Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hampden and Wilbraham. “If they’re a good candidate, we’ll look at outside applications, because they’re kids. We don’t want to deny them,” said Longmeadow UNICO President Dennis Scibelli.
Longmeadow UNICO Board member Jim Maiolo said the organization awards four to five $1,000 scholarships each year. To fund those scholarships, Longmeadow UNICO hosts its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Food, Wine and Beer Tasting at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The tasting usually takes place every October, but because the event was postponed in 2020 and 2021, it was moved to spring this year. Maiolo said the event usually draws about 300 people.
“We’re very excited as a chapter and the people who buy the tickets are excited. It’s a lot of fun and it’s for scholarships,” Scibelli said.
Since its inception, the Hall of Fame has been the venue for the Food and Wine Tasting and Longmeadow UNICO has consistently partnered with M.S. Walker Distributors to provide dozens of wines. Local beer from Berkshire Brewing Company, Iron Duke Brewing, Mayflower Brewing Company and Scantic River Brewery will be served along with Litchfield Distillery gin and vodka, rum and bourbon from Mad River Distillery and tastings from Downeast Cider.
Scibelli said many of the 20 participating local restaurants have been with the tasting for more than a decade, but new this year are 3 Guys at The Grille at Wilbraham Country Club, Armata’s Market and Catering, Christopher’s Tavern, Jackalope Restaurant and Hot Oven Cookies.
Music will be provided by 1220 Trio and there will be a silent raffle, which will include golf outings and other prizes.
This year’s tasting is dedicated to longtime UNICO member and benefactor Frank Langone, who died in 2021. “Frank is very deserving of special recognition – he made our wine tasting special over the years with generous donations of centerpieces from his flower shop,” Scibelli said.
While Scibelli said, “Most of the money we raise is for scholarships,” Longmeadow UNICO is also heavily involved with mental health organizations such as Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Associates of Springfield. He said those were the two most important focuses for the local chapter.
Tickets are $40 and include parking and admission to the remodeled Basketball Hall of Fame’s exhibits.Tickets are sold at the door, or in advance by contacting Maiolo at 374-1548.
For more information about the Longmeadow UNICO scholarships, visit https://longmeadowunico.org or https://www.facebook.com/LongmeadowUNICO413.