North Haven Rotary Club Celebrates 70th Anniversary

A former president of the North Haven Rotary Club, Nicola Casella, chaired the recent celebration of the club’s 70th anniversary which featured a well attended dinner/dance at Anthony’s Ocean View Restaurant in New Haven. The club’s party organizers, who also noted that Rotary International had celebrated nearly 110 years of service that same week, had selected a 70’s disco theme orchestrated by Rotarian Program Co-Chairs, Mary and Mark Minotti. The event hosted nearly 225 party goers who enjoyed food, refreshments, and dancing until midnight.

Heaping praise on the restaurant’s owner, Anna Delmonico, for helping to make the evening a major success with everything from gorgeous decorations to sumptuous food, Casella announced that the unofficial profits earned for charity were about $3,500.

Enthusiastic applause followed musical performance impersonations of Sonny & Cher (M. & M. Minotti), Gene Simmons (Nick Casella), Barry White (Guy Casella), and Stevie Wonder (Mark Miotti); as well as a Dating Game guest appearance from Hugh Hefner (Mike Hallahan). A large group of vibrant young women from Wendy’s School of Dance had the audience on its feet cheering their outstanding numbers, and even a small troop of ladies connected with Rotary who performed the popular “YMCA” from the Village People received their share of kudos. Without question, a great time was had by all.