GNH Italian American Heritage Festival Honorees Recognized

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured, from left): Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee Treasurer Sal Decola, committee member Mike Luzzi, Mayor Dorinda Borer, and newly sashed honorees Celia Pinzi and Mark Consorte are all smiles at the committee’s Kickoff Dinner at Cielo Banquet Hall on Wednesday.

The fundraising dinner recognized Consorte, a longtime social studies teacher and department head at West Haven High School, as the grand marshal of the 2024 Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival and Pinzi, the owner of West Haven Funeral Home, as the recipient of the committee’s Laura Luzzi Award for outstanding public service.

West Haven is the host community for the festival, which is scheduled from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 12 on the West Haven Green.

The cultural event will include live music and family-friendly activities to celebrate the region’s deep-rooted Italian heritage.

In addition to West Haven, the host community rotates annually among New Haven, North Haven, Branford, East Haven and Hamden, the host of last year’s festival.