2 Bloomfield Writers Earn Nods In Senior Citizen Writing Contest

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A pair of Bloomfield residents with a flair for the written word earned honorable mentions in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest.

Bloomfield residents Alfred Sonny Piccoli and Paula R. Zaccone were spotlighted in a county news release about this year's contest.

According to Essex County officials:

"Bloomfield resident Alfred Sonny Piccoli wrote 'Remembering Downtown Newark in the 1960s,' which received an honorable mention award. Mr. Piccoli shares his memories of growing up and spending time in Downtown Newark. He writes about visiting Bamberger’s and discovering their giant toy department, even though he could not afford to buy any toys. There were other department stores, Military Park, arcades with pinball machines, the Army & Navy Store, movie theaters, Woolworth’s, the Newark Public Library and the historical Newark Fire Museum. While writing about the Seated Lincoln Statue in front of the Historic Essex County Courthouse, he writes, 'While I sat in contemplation next to Lincoln, I felt I belonged and was a part of this diverse, great city. This strengthened by faith in humanity, leading to my better understanding and acceptance of others.'”

Essex County officials also offered a statement about Zaccone.

Officials said:

"Bloomfield resident Paula R. Zaccone wrote 'What Grandma Didn’t Tell Us,' which received an honorable mention award. After her grandmother immigrated to America from Italy around 1900, little information about their lives in their home country was shared with the family. In fact, when Ms. Zaccone and her husband were planning a trip to Europe, her mother said there probably were no living relatives from Cassano. Ms. Zaccone still visited the town and, to her surprise, stumbled upon distant relatives and cousins, who welcomed her into their homes and celebrated the discovery of long, lost family members. 'My Italian discoveries have linked multiple generations of family in two countries' and their bonds continue today, she writes."

This year's winners included South Orange resident Lorraine Kerry Barnett who wrote “The Fatality of Dreams,” Montclair resident Rikke Beal who wrote “Kikke Kissing Louis Armstrong,” Caldwell resident Eva M. Ogens who wrote “Love in a Jar” and South Orange resident Janyce Wolf who wrote “The Day the World Changes.”

Normally announced in May during Older Americans Month, the awards were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Listening to our senior citizens read their stories during the awards ceremony is one of my most favorite events,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “The writers’ vivid recollections stir up great memories and share lessons they have learned during their lifetime.”

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