Calling All Italian Fest Fans, for a Good Cause
By Pam Johnson
Senior Staff Writer
Aug 13, 2025 8:30 AM
St. George Men’s Group Vice President Jim Turcio is inviting folks from all points to one of the area’s only Italian Festivals, while helping to raise money for a good cause. The St. George Men’s Group Italian Festival 2025 takes place Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 behind St. George Catholic Church in Guilford.
No doubt about it — the all-volunteer St. George Men’s Group has cornered the market on satisfying the shoreline, and beyond, when it comes to putting on a top-notch Italian Festival and raising funds to support good causes.
That’s why St. George Men’s Group Vice President Jim Turcio is inviting folks from all points to come out and enjoy one of the area’s only Italian Festivals, while helping to raise money to support Guilford Meals on Wheels, this year’s event beneficiary. The festival is the St. George Men’s Club’s largest annual fundraiser.
Now in its 11th year, the St. George Men’s Group Italian Festival 2025 will take place on Friday, Aug. 22, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 23, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. behind St. George Catholic Church in Guilford. The fest features the Mangia Mangia food court; family fun both nights with a Kids Zone and bocce for adults; and live music every evening. Entertainer Rich DiPalma sings from 5 to 7 p.m. both nights, followed by live bands Jen & Tonic from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Avenue Groove from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday night also features the festival’s fun Spaghetti Eating Contest (ages 18 and up, $150 Visa gift card prize for the winner). Saturday rolls out the annual Meatball Competition to determine the best meatball in town ($150 Visa gift card for the winner). Both contests require pre-registration to enter by calling 203-410-4682 by Monday, Aug. 18. Saturday also features a fest fan favorite, where intrepid contestants can get their feet wet: the Grape Stomping Competition, with registration on-site. More event information is available at stgeorgemensgroup.org
But for most folks, the festival is all about the food. And that’s where the hard work, dedication, and can-do attitude that embodies each member of the St. George Men’s Group comes into full view. All of the items filling the food court have been made by group members, who gather up to two weeks in advance to begin prepping food together in the St. George Church Hall.
“We’ll probably make about 3,000 meatballs,” says Jim. “We put the call for help out, and we’ll have 15 or 20 guys show up and get it done.”
The group follows Mama Mancini’s meatball recipe, supplied by St. George Men’s Group co-founder Jim Mancini. Multiply those thousands of meatballs they’ll make by many other Italian favorites the members will prepare and sell at the festival. The food court will be filled with a mix of incredible aromas rising from meatball subs, lasagna, eggplant subs, fried dough pizza, pasta and meatballs, meatballs on a stick, pasta fagioli, Philly steak and cheese subs, sausage and peppers, a raw bar, Caeser salad, hot dogs and fries, and hamburgers. During the festival, group members man the service counters and serve up the great food. Wine and beer are also available for the 21-and-over set. For dessert, the group rolls out some more Italian favorites — cannolis and gelato.
With all its food, fun, and entertainment, the festival’s taste of Italian culture is offered with an admission price of just $5 per person (ages 15 and under free). In addition, the St. George Men’s Group sponsors the festival’s cash-prize raffle. Each $5 ticket offers the chance to win five prizes ranging from $1,000 down to $100 (drawing Aug. 23, winner need not be present).
For Jim, a West Haven native, the works of the St. George Men’s Group and the joy of the Italian Festival created an instant connection to his own upbringing and his present-day work. Jim’s father was a member of the men’s group at his church, and Jim grew up supporting the church and the group’s work to assist charitable efforts.
As a licensed social worker, Jim has worked with state programs including the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Children and Family Services. Presently, Jim is in his 20th year as Director of Pupil Services, Special Education for the Region 4 school system of Chester, Deep River, and Essex.
As one who has chosen a profession steeped in empathy, compassion, and caring, Jim readily sees those qualities in his fellow St. George Men’s Group members. The faith-based group, which currently numbers over 60 members, is well known for its resourceful ability to quickly respond to needs by pulling on the talents of its members to help neighbors in need.
“To me, being in this world of service and social work, the piece I enjoy so much about this group — which is what got me involved and into leadership— is that we are able to respond to anything. We’re really there to help. Nobody has an ego. If we have to wash a dish, we wash a dish. We step up and do things. Everybody supports and helps,” says Jim.
When it comes to putting on events that will drive in funds to assist charitable organizations, the group gets informed and decides on the event beneficiary by vote. This year, members of the Guilford Interfaith Volunteers Meals on Wheels program met with the group to discuss its ongoing work, now in its 40th year.
“Every year, as part of our planning for the Italian Festival, we bring the beneficiary in to talk to the Men’s Group to share their vision and what they’re doing. It’s always somebody that helps a need,” says Jim. “We always try and find a worthy cause that can use a little bit of extra help with our support.”
Jim joined the St. George Men’s Group shortly after he and his wife, Terry, moved to Guilford and joined St. George Catholic Church about nine years ago. The couple’s two daughters, Olivia, now in college, and Grace, who’s in high school, have also grown up helping in the community with their family.
Jim notes that even though St. George Men’s Group is a men’s group, “…we all bring our extended families into a lot of things we do, whether it’s collecting clothes for the holidays, delivering meals to Columbus House, or helping out Youth Continuum in New Haven, or collecting backpacks.”
He’s happy to help spread the word about the Italian Festival and the St. George Men’s Group as it continues to carry out its mission of answering the call for social justice through good works. To date, the group has raised and given back $436,630 to support causes and needs.
“It’s the idea of social justice and giving back to the community, and it’s also about fellowship. Where else do you have 60 or 65 guys who look forward to getting together to do things to help the community?” says Jim. “And it’s also kind of why I got involved in social work many decades ago. It’s really trying to figure out how to help people who are less fortunate and in need in whatever way; whether it’s an elderly person needing their yard raked or raising tens of thousands of dollars for a local organization that’s helping people in need in the community.”
The St. George Men’s Group 2025 Italian Festival takes place Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 behind St. George Catholic Church, 33 Whitfield Street in Guilford. For more information, visit stgeorgemensgroup.org
GIV Guilford Interfaith Volunteers Letter of Thanks to Supporters
January 29,2025
To Our Wonderful Supporters,
As we begin the new year, we want to pause and express our gratitude. This year
marks a significant milestone for Guilford Interfaith Volunteers (GIV), as 2025
represents the 40th anniversary of Meals on Wheels in Guilford.
Click to Read More
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Criscuolo Invites all to SGMG 10th Annual Italian Festival
SGMG Italian Fest 2024 with Proceeds Benefiting Sound Life Connections of Guilford
Jim Plunkett: Pitching In to Help SGMG 2023 Italian Festival
BY PAM JOHNSON • 08/18/2023 06:43 AM EST • 08/18/2023 06:43 AM EST
Read more……
https://www.zip06.com/person-of-the-week/20230815/jim-plunkett-pitching-in-to-help-sgmg-2023-italian-festival/
Amazing Support
BY CHRISTI BURTON • 06/21/2023 ZIP06 Guilford Courier
Meals on Wheels would like to thank The Market Place at Guilford Food Center for choosing our organization to be the beneficiary of the “Round Up” program in July. Every month they choose a very worthwhile local cause or organization to support, and we truly appreciate being part of this program. We also appreciate the customers who choose to round up for us.
Secondly, we would like to thank the St. George Mens Group. All year long, they do wonderful things in our community. In May, they held a fun, unique event called the Murder Mystery at St. George Church, of which Meals on Wheels was the chosen beneficiary.
We are truly blessed to have such amazing support from our community.
Christi Burton
SGMG Murder Mystery Dinner
Whodunit?
05/10/2023 07:27 AM EST • 05/10/2023 07:27 AM EST
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Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier
The Saint George Men’s Group held a Murder Mystery Dinner on May 6, at St. George Hall, with proceeds benefiting the Guilford Meals on Wheels program. The evening drew 85 diners, each given an interrogation sheet to roam the room asking questions to solve the crime. Here, Church Operations Manager Francine Wainer plays the part of the victim.
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St. George Men’s Group’s Italian Festival 2022 Set For Aug. 26, 27 2022
Proceeds go to APK Charities
Read more from SGMG President Adrian Kavanagh
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Last Years Italian Festival Proceeds went to the Community Dining Room
It gives us great pleasure to present this year’s Italian Festival recipient – The Community Dining Room – @CommunityDiningRoom06405 accepting the check is CDR Director, Judy Barron, and Tony Pinto, Co-Chair, Board of Directors from James Mancini Chairman of the Italian Festival
Congratulations to Naples Restaurant & Pizza, Guilford Owner John Mazzarella and his team of Meatball artist! John is presented with the 2021 Italian Festival Meatball Contest winner’s plaque by SGMG member Jim Mancini. John received the award on Friday October 8th. Thank you Naples Pizza and staff you helped make our 2021 Italian a great success. We are looking forward to seeing you all next year. If you haven’t had Naples meatballs visit them soon and try them for yourself. #meatballs #SGMG #2021italianfestival #guilfordct
DePalma Helps St. George Men’s Group Cook Up CDR Support, Italian Style
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Italian Festival 2021: WTNH CTSTYLE Video
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — It’s fair season in Connecticut, best time of the year and coming up in Guilford is the Italian Festival sponsored by the St. George’s Men’s Group.
We’re talking cannoli’s, sausage, and peppers, and more.
Here to tell us more about it is James Mancini, Chairman of the St. George’s Men’s Group Italian Festival.
St George Men’s Group Helps the young organizers of grassroots Guilford Racial Equality Project (GREP) in the group’s first awareness-raising event in town, Drive-In for Justice. On Monday, Aug. 10, a drive-in movie screen was set up behind St. George’s Catholic Church for a free viewing of the award-winning 2019 film Just Mercy, based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson.
The Men’s group helped park cars and direct traffic to sell out crowd of over 90 cars!.
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Mangia! It’s the St. George Italian Fest
August 23 and 24, 2019
GUILFORD COURIER (8/14/2019):
Food, music, and a weekend of games and fellowship are returning to Guilford this month, in the form of St. George’s Church annual Italian Festival. Organized by the St. George’s Men’s Group, the event has grown over the past six years into a two-day extravaganza featuring live music, lawn games, cooking competitions, and of course, as much delicious home-made Italian food as you can eat.
Grape Stomping Contest
CONTINUE READING
Rat Pack Dinner Dance
GUILFORD COURIER (10/10/2018):
The St. George Men’s Group hosted a Rat Pack-themed dinner dance that included a raffle, 1960s Las Vegas-era dinner, cocktail hour, music, and comedy on Oct. 6. Funds raised benefited APK Charities in memory of Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel, Special Forces. The charities raise awareness and support for military families and personnel.
View PHOTO SLIDESHOW
Peter Perkins
Italian Festival
August 24 and 25, 2018
GUILFORD COURIER (8/15/2018):
Whether he’s stirring up sauce, manning a smoker, swinging a hammer, or supporting local farming, Peter Perkins is one of those guys who, as he says, is “willing to sweat for somebody else.” As a member of the St. George Men’s Group (SGMG), Peter will soon be at the heart of the group’s popular Italian Festival—just look for the guy cooking up sausage and peppers or Philly steak and cheese subs, and you’ll find him.
CONTINUE READING
Randy McCartney
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance
March 17, 2018
GUILFORD COURIER (3/12/2018):
With a last name that evokes a son of Ireland, it may come as no surprise that Randy McCartney is happy to help promote the St. George Men’s Group St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance, coming this Saturday, March 17 to St. George Church Hall, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford. Event proceeds will benefit the Connecticut Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America.
CONTINUE READING
Italian Festival
GUILFORD COURIER (3/1/2018):
The St. George’s Men’s Group chose the Women & Family Life Center as the sole beneficiary of its fourth annual Italian Festival. In this photo, Jeff Trombetta, Ray Guimont, Jim Mancini, Tony Sicignano, and Larry DeFrancesco of the St. George’s Men’s Group are presenting Women & Family Life Center Board member Barbara Dudley and Executive Director Peggy Britt with a check for $17,000.
Tony Sicignano
“World’s Fare” Buffet Dinner
February 11, 2017
GUILFORD COURIER (2/1/2017):
The World’s Fare Buffet is set for Saturday, Feb. 11 (snow date, Feb. 12) from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the St. George Church Hall, 33 Whitfield Street. Cuisine from points around the world—including Poland, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, America, Ireland, Italy, and India—will be served up, buffet-style, for ticket holders to enjoy. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to a fund that helps St. George Men’s Group respond to charitable needs and foster future fundraising events for charitable causes.
CONTINUE READING
Chef Jeff Trombetta
Kentucky Derby Dinner Dance
May 7, 2016
All funds raised will benefit Guilford Foundation
GUILFORD COURIER (4/27/2016):
When the St. George Men’s Group Kentucky Derby fundraiser breaks from the starting gate on Saturday, May 7, the night’s delicious, Derby-themed fare will arrive with posttime perfection thanks to chef de cuisine and virtuoso volunteer Jeff Trombetta.
CONTINUE READING
Bill White
Italian Festival
August 28 and 29, 2015
All funds raised will benefit Local Fuel Assistance programs
GUILFORD COURIER (8/26/2015):
Even though last year’s Italian Festival included a soggy Saturday night, St. George Men’s Group proved they can draw a crowd and raise money for a great cause, rain or shine. But as group treasurer, Bill White is hoping for two great days of fest weather this year.
