By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“Blood is thicker than water,’ so the saying goes,” says Josephine “Jo” Arminio.

She founded the Italian-American Club at Seabrook three years ago, just six months after she moved to the Tinton Falls community. She says “location clubs,” like hers and the New York City Club (NYC Club), bring people together who share a common origin.

“Everyone in the group is very close, and we’ve become even closer,” she says.

Sharing camaraderie and culture
Arminio says she started the group because she noticed so many people at Seabrook were of Italian descent. “I thought we could get together and share camaraderie and look into different cultural aspects,” she says. From an initial group of 10 to 15 people, the group has grown to 75 members.

They meet the third Friday of every month in Seabrook’s Atrium, excluding July and August—when Arminio returns to her 400-year-old house in Tuscany.

Members like Joe Buccieri help her serve refreshments and show Italian films. They also invite speakers or performers to present cultural topics. Last year the club featured a musical program, “The Joy of Italian Opera.”

It was such a big hit that Arminio hopes the speaker will return this November.

The Big Apple
Speakers are the premise for the NYC Club. Ed Walley, founder and co-chair, says he saw a chance to gather a captive audience and inform them about important topics. He and co-chair Marge McCrindle invite local politicians, medical professionals, and Seabrook staff members to speak on current events and issues.

Past guests include Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, Senator Ellen Karcher, Seabrook Resident Life Director Gary Engelstad, a local pharmacist, and an area school principal. Topics include property taxes, prescription drugs, and volunteer school programs.