Page 34 - North Haven Magazine Issue 31 Holiday 2023

Nick Casella receiving 2023 Knights
of Honor award from
Notre Dame High School

Robert Curis, President and Nick Casella
In the eighth grade at Fair Haven Middle School, Nick heard
about Notre Dame. "I decided to apply, but I didn't tell my
mother. She found out at an awards assembly when I won the
Gold Medal in the oratorical contest, and Mayor Bart Guida
RUNNER-UP Michael Mele asked where the winners were going for high school. The thrill
RUNNER-UP
of winning and telling my mother about Notre Dame was only
surpassed by our becoming naturalized American Citizens on
that same day."
Casella continued his education at the University of Bridgeport
and Southern Connecticut State University. Starting in the
insurance industry as a claims adjustor and sales representative,
he launched his own enterprise in 1998. His North Haven firm
specializes in Medicare Insurance products and services.

Small Town Talk Here are the bits and pieces I

hear or see around our town.
by Jill DeChello

Happy 91st Birthday to NHEF Trivia Night
DOMINIC SCARSNO

Over 120 people put their phones away for a few hours and put their trivia
knowledge to the test at the North Haven Education Foundation‘s (NHEF)
Trivia Night fundraiser on Friday, November 3, 2023. One of the liveli-
est rounds was “Name that Tune” which was officiated by Russell Dallai,
Principal of North Haven High School. As a few seconds of a particular
A special Happy 91st Birthday to song was played, participants had to name the artist who sang the cover
as well as the original song. Bernard Pellegrino, Chair of the NHEF was
North Havener Dominic Scarsno (in the other Master of Ceremonies. Donations are still coming in, but NHEF
estimates that Trivia Night raised about $4,000 in donations for the North
plaid) with his buddies at their weekly Haven Education Foundation. The trivia rounds were very competitive
breakfast at Athena Diner. with multiple teams vying for the top spot but at the end of the night, the
NHHS Class of 1978 team won.

34 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2023