Mark Consorte was feted as West Haven’s Italian American of the Year at the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival on the city’s historic Green on Saturday, Oct. 12. Consorte, a longtime social studies teacher and department head at West Haven High School, served double duty as the festival’s grand marshal and the city’s top Italian. 

West Haven served as this year’s host community of the festival, which celebrated the region’s deep-rooted Italian heritage with food trucks, live music, children’s activities and craft vendors. The four-hour cultural event was presented by the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee.