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Paisan Con — “New Jersey’s first Italian pop culture convention” — is coming to Fairfield, NJ, next month.

The two-day extravaganza — featuring the likes of “Sopranos” star Lorraine Bracco; Giants quarterback Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito, legendary Mets reliever John Franco, and “Godfather” actor Gianni Russo — will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton on April 13 and 14.

“I think it’s about time we had an event that features Italians and all we have contributed to world culture, art, food, fashion, music and on and on,” said Russo, who played the wife-beating mobster Carlo Rizzi in the iconic 1972 film.

“Paisan Con is an offer you can’t refuse. Be there!”

Also on the menu: Kathrine Narducci, who starred in “The Sopranos,” “A Bronx Tale” and “The Irishman;” Federico “Furio” Castelluccio, who had eyes for Carmela Soprano and lived to tell about it; former WWE wrestling champ Enzo Amore; and soccer star Giuseppe Rossi, a Teaneck, NJ native who played most of his career in Europe for Villarreal and Fiorentina.

Why Fairfield? It’s the most Italian place in the US, according to the census, with more than half its 7,475 residents claiming Italian ancestry.

The convention — which features meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, pasta eating, meatball and “sauce versus gravy” contests — is the brainchild of Billy Pompeo and Nick Petito, a 29-year-old actor-comedian from Belleville, NJ, who does a mean Tony Soprano impersonation.

“I’ve been heavily influenced by my Italian-American culture,” noted Petito, whose mother and grandmother introduced him to the music of Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Roselli and counts the late Danny Aiello and Al Pacino among his favorite performers.

“We want to get the Italian-American community working together and we want to give everybody more opportunities by networking at our event,” Petito said.

Paisan Con gets its name from “paesano,” Italian for countryman or friend.

“We all grew up watching [the mobster films], but unfortunately there haven’t been enough Italian-American films that are not about the mob — like ’29th Street’ and ‘Moonstruck,'” Petito noted. “But now we have [movies like] ‘Cabrini,'” he added, a reference to this year’s film that depicts the life of Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini. Castelluccio plays a senator in the movie, a “360 on the character he played on ‘The Sopranos.'”

As for the sauce vs. gravy contest?

There’s no beef, Petito assured. But since area Italians refer to their toppings both ways, the winner of a taste test judging will get to put their stamp on which term they call it.

Tickets are on sale now.

Children are $20 for one day, $30 for the weekend.

Adults are $30 for the day, $45 for the weekend.

VIP tickets, as well as admission for the pasta eating entry or the meatball judging contest are also on sale.

If you go, make sure to say gravy and not sauce.

Paisan Con, billed as New Jersey's first Italian pop culture convention, is coming to Fairfield next month.

The festival is slated to run at the DoubleTree by Hilton on April 13 and 14, and the lineup is a who's who of Italian American life.

"Paisan Con is a celebration that aims to encapsulate the richness of Italian culture across a weekend filled with diverse experience," the website reads. "From autograph sessions to exclusive meet and greets, our events promise an immersive fusion of Italian-American luminaries spanning the realms of entertainment, sports, art and culinary art. Attendees can anticipate a weekend brimming with live performances, delectable cuisine, thrilling competitions, captivating art galleries, unique vendors, touching tributes and many more."

Featured guests include Tommy DeVito, the quarterback for the New York Giants; Kathrine Narducci, who starred in "The Sopranos," "A Bronx Tale" and "The Irishman," and soccer star Giuseppe Rossi, a Teaneck native who played most of his career in Europe. He's no relation to Janice, who lives in 2R.

Other stars set to appear are Gianni Russo, who was Carlo Rizzi in "The Godfather," former New York Met pitcher John Franco and Federico Castelluccio, who played Furio Giunta on "The Sopranos."

The weekend will include a film festival, panel discussion and will end with an award show featuring headlining musicals and comedy performance, celebrity appearances, and of course the red carpet experience.

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Tickets are on sale. Children are $20 for one day, $30 for the weekend. Adults are $30 for the day, $45 for the weekend. VIP tickets, as well as admission for the pasta eating entry or the meatball judging contest are also on sale.

And not Italian? No problem! The convention's slogan is “You don’t have to be Italian to be a Paisan.”

Andrea Bellise-JandoliPhoto Credit: Gail Bottone

By Gail Bottone

FAIRFIELD, NJ -- Parents and teachers had many questions to ask the Fairfield Board of Education (BOE) at Thursday night’s meeting.

The Fairfield community passed two of the three proposals in the November election that gave the district the money they needed to reduce class sizes, reinstate the media program, continue instrumental band and orchestra programs, employ two part-time nurses, employ a full time technology/network administrator, reinstate school clubs, expand security, add a full-time custodian, add a full-time speech teacher and purchase school supplies, computers and more.

Parents and teachers said that this is only the beginning, and they want to know what is next.

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Jennifer Valenti and Vanessa Mayer, union co-presidents of the Fairfield Education Association, addressed the BOE, stating one of the issues to be faced is “teacher retention.”

They continued to say, “While it is true that many districts are experiencing difficulty attracting and retaining staff, the current climate in our buildings is driving staff out of our district at alarming numbers. These are teachers with 10,15, 20+ years invested in this district.”

To this point, the BOE accepted the resignation of two teachers at the meeting. Valenti and Mayer said that six teachers have resigned since the beginning of the school year, 12 teachers resigned since 2021, and 20 teachers and paraprofessionals left the district in that same time frame.

Board member Anthony DePascale stated that the BOE has no say in personnel. It is an administration issue. He said, “We are just as concerned.”

Frank LaMorte, member of the Community Outreach Committee, spoke saying that he hopes with a change in administration things can start to be fixed. (Superintendent Dr. Susan Ciccotelli will be resigning after this school year.) He suggested the board be more diligent in holding the administration accountable for making sure jobs are posted on as many sites as possible and that all college fairs are attended.

DePascale announced that the board office will be moved back to Stevenson School. He said this will free up money for better use.

Presently, the board is renting space in Hollywood Park at 277 Hollywood Avenue. Sources say they believe the cost is about $5,000 per month, so moving the board office back to Stevenson School will save money.

LaMorte asked if the board office could be moved to the trailers now being used by third grade students at Churchill School, and the third-graders could go back to classrooms in Stevenson School. (The third grade was moved up to Churchill from Stevenson this school year for lack of room at Stevenson. DePascale said the board looked into this, but there isn’t enough room in the trailers.

The board said that in 2024, there will be a social media site developed that will be used to pass on school information, such as HSA happenings. It will be a direct line between the BOE and the general public.

A search committee will be developed to help in the process of hiring a new superintendent. It will consist of two parents from Stevenson School, two parents from Churchill School and two community members, who do not have children in the school system. They will be looking for someone with leadership qualities, decision-making ability and communication skills, just to name a few qualifications.

Parent Allison Measso complimented the school system for the education they are providing for Fairfield students.

Board Member Brian Egan was given a plaque for his sixteen years of service. He did not run for re-election this fall. Melinda Street will be taking his place on the board in January.

FAIRFIELD, NJ -- Fairfield voters in November’s election will vote on three spending proposals that could reinstate programs and staff that were cut in September due to lack of funds in the 2023-24 school budget.

If all three proposals are passed, the average homeowner will pay an additional $43.39 a month in taxes.

“If these proposals are not voted in by Fairfield voters, the education of Fairfield children will suffer,” said Frank LaMorte, a concerned parent.

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Tyler Masterson, another concerned parent, told TAPinto West Essex, “I dropped off my ballot today and left with knots in my stomach, in fear that members of this community do not understand and recognize the dire need the school district is in, and how crucial it is for our residents to pass the three budget proposals on the ballot. The school district is at a tipping point.”

The school board said that these proposals must pass for the betterment of the students. At a previous Fairfield Board of Education (FBOE) meeting, board member Anthony DePascale said an outreach committee was formed to push the message. The FBOE is not legally allowed to do this. They are relying on the outreach committee, Fairfield Education Foundation, and the Fairfield Home and School Association.

LaMorte is on this outreach committee. He explained the board selected a few parents and HSA members to get the word out to the community about the FBOE and what is going on with the schools and Board.

The FBOE adopted its 2023-2024 budget, but in order to maintain the state mandated 2 percent cap, the new budget includes a reduction in staff and program cuts.

Some of the cuts being made include the termination of two general education teachers, one special education teacher and one library media specialist position. As of now, the budget does not include continuing the instrumental band and orchestra programs for grades 4-6 or before and after school clubs in both schools. Field trips for grades K-6 are not in the budget, and some lunch aide positions have not been restored, along with an occupational therapist assistant position.

The first proposal would raise an additional $930,008 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively to reduce general education class size in grades K through 6; reduce special education class size; reinstate the media program for grades K through 6; continue the instrumental band and orchestra program for grade 4 through 6; employ two part-time district registered nurses; employ a full-time technology/network administrator; reinstate before/after school clubs in Adlai E. Stevenson School and Winston S. Churchill School; expand district-wide security; add a full-time custodian; add a full-time speech teacher. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. If passed, this proposal will cost the average homeowner $19.44 a month.

The second proposal for additional funds would raise an additional $235,916 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively to increase classroom supplies; purchase new computers and technology at Winston S. Churchill School; purchase of digital software; restore field trips for grades K through 6; restore seven lunch aide positions; restore the occupational therapist assistant. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards, and if passed, this second proposal will cost the average homeowner $9.88 a month.

The third proposal would raise an additional $540,000 for general funds in the 2023-2024 school year. These taxes will be used exclusively for employment and/or contracting of bus aides. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. This third proposal will cost the average homeowner $14.07 a month.

Masterson described the situation saying that over the last several years conditions have changed. The fifth-graders were moved out of the school building and into trailers, and the district cut courtesy busing. She said, “These were changes we could see. There have been many more detrimental changes over the last year that aren’t so obvious, but they are starting to compound, and it’s adding up. Our amazing teachers and staff have done all they can to make do, but many lessons and students are starting to fall through the cracks. How can we turn it around and start to improve?” The answer is first by voting on the ballot questions. This will restore the positions and programs we had in place last year, but more importantly, it will prevent further devastating cuts, which are inevitable if the budget doesn’t pass.”

LaMorte stated, “The teachers and administrators in Fairfield have voiced many concerns about the loss of funding for various programs and challenges with reductions in staff. Without the passing of at least ballot questions 1 and 2, I feel this will negatively impact students’ overall educational experience and achievement levels. This can be a red flag for parents researching schools in our area and a direct impact on our property values.”

Realtor Janice Corsilli said, “One of the reasons our family moved to Fairfield was because of its excellent school system. If the school system continues to eliminate programs and teachers, it could affect the value of the town and the real estate values.”

Masterson stated, “The school district is the cornerstone of our community and plays a pivotal role in shaping the future prosperity of our town. The decisions we make today will not only shape the school, but also the town for years to come. The teachers and staff cannot put any more band-aids over obvious gaps. Please do not let complacency lead us down a path where we look back five years from now, when the picture is even more grim, still asking, 'How did we get here?'"

Parents have asked residents to take the time to watch the video titled Stevenson’s Coffee with the principal. In the video, several teachers share the negative impacts the students are facing today as a result of the budget cuts. It can be found on Dr. Trabucco’s website. Trabucco is the principal of Adlai Stevenson School.

Parents are asking, if anyone has parents or family members who live in town, retired/senior neighbors or young parents with pre-school children, to share this information with them and start the conversation.

There are other residents in town who are rejecting these proposals because they feel they are being penalized because of decisions made by the superintendent and FBOE