Norwich Mayor Joe Maiurano and director Dick Gillespie welcomed 21 contestants from across the state Thursday night to Gillespie Pageants’ Miss New York Teen-Ager Pageant at Howard Johnson’s. Hopeful young girls will compete in several events throughout the weekend, with a winner crowned at Saturday’s finale at 1 p.m. at the Council of the Arts, 27 W. Main St. The event is in its 35th year.