The Avanti Group has stepped up to the plate, taking charge of the Columbus Day Queen Contest after a year hiatus for the venerable event. Sponsored for decades by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, the pageant was put on hold last year due to the pandemic.

“We thought it was important to keep the tradition going, and the JCCIA was grateful for the assist,” says Pasquale Gianni, president of the recently formed young professionals branch of the JCCIA.