Norwich ― The memory of Jason Vincent was strong Tuesday night as the Ron Aliano Service Awards banquet returned after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

The Ron Aliano award is given by the Aliano family in memory of the deceased former Norwich businessman and community activist to an individual recipient and a business. The banquet Tuesday at Epicure Brewing on Franklin Street was a fundraiser for the annual July 4 fireworks festival.

Vincent, the former Norwich Community Development Corp. president and strong advocate for Norwich, who died in December 2020, received the individual award with his family accepting the honor on his behalf. U.S. Foods received the business award.

The Norwich Events Organization, which sponsors the annual fireworks festival, created a new Jason Vincent Memorial Award to be given to an individual who lives or works in Norwich and is committed to the community through volunteerism. The award was presented to Danielle Dubro.

Dubro, a special education teacher at Norwich Free Academy, served as Rose Arts Festival Committee co-director and organizes fundraisers for Norwich Public Schools.

U.S. Foods partnered with the city and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce to create a restaurant Passport to Norwich and donated $10,000 in prize money for contest winners. The company also loaned a refrigerator truck to Norwich Human Services and the St. Vincent de Paul Place soup kitchen for a farm food distribution.