Seniors From Verona, Cedar Grove Earn Awards In County Art Contest

VERONA-CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Several artists from Verona and Cedar Grove earned awards in the 2026 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show.

The annual contest was open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older. Awards were given in 10 different categories.

A total of 35 local seniors received awards for 2026, including the following residents:

Cedar Grove

• Richard Hanifan (not pictured above) won first place in the Professional Drawing category for “Still Standing.”
• Marie Matarrazzo won second place in the Non-Professional Pastels category for “Chief and Child.”
• Tracey Alampi won first place in the Professional Photography category for “Waterlilies in the Mirror.”
• Ellen Moretti won first place in the Non-Professional Oil category for “Maria’s Rose.”
• Constance Seugling won second place in the Professional Drawing category for “After the Rain.”

Verona

• Carlos Aguirre won second place in the Non-Professional Photography category for “San Jeronimo Mission, N.M.”
• John Gribbon won first place in the Non-Professional Prints category for “Shibori #6.”
• Karen Collins won second place in the Professional Oil category for “Van Vleck Gardens.”
• Donna Marion won second place in the Non-Professional Watercolor category for “Spring.”

County officials held an award ceremony for the winning artists in Cedar Grove on Sept. 17.

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