Joe Marcantonio didn’t want to be any library’s director — he wanted to be the director at the Winfield Public Library. That’s because he was raised in Winfield, and started working at the library as a shelver at age 16. Coming full circle feels surreal, says Marcantonio, who started as director there in June. “I love this community and the people in it,” he says. “I’ve already had my first patron call me Joey — which I haven’t been called in 35 years — because she remembers me from when her husband was my little league coach.” During his first …

Recently tapped to chair the National Italian American Foundation, John Calvelli is fueled by a dedication to Italian culture that dates to his early childhood. If there is someone who embodies wholehearted devotion to the cause of preserving and promoting Italian heritage, it’s John F. Calvelli. Calvelli was elected chairman of the National Italian American Foundation in April after serving for more than 25 years on its board of directors, most recently as executive vice chairman. He also was a founder in 1984 and first president of FIERI, a national organization of students and young professionals dedicated to promoting Italian …

The former CEO of America’s largest bookseller found himself championing an obscure Italian novel in his retirement. Stephen Riggio believes it was his destiny to translate Luigi Natoli’s epic Sicilian novel, “I Beati Paoli,” into English. The former CEO of Barnes & Noble spent three years immersed in the project, whose roots trace back to the passing of his daughter Melissa. “From that tragic event, I returned to the study of the (Italian) language, visited Sicily four times, traced my family’s roots back 400 years, discovered distant relatives, translated a classic work of literature and published it the day before …

Ross Martucci fell in love with special effects makeup as a child, when he saw the gruesome Freddy Krueger of the movie “Nightmare on Elm Street” on the cover of a horror magazine. “I couldn’t believe how it was possible to make somebody look like they were burnt from head to toe and it not be real. It was almost like magic to me,” the Chicago-based artist recalls. “I said to myself, ‘This has to be one of the coolest jobs to do.’” More than 20 years later, Martucci got to assist on the “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake, which …

The COVID-19 pandemic is over, but a Facebook group co-created by Theresa “Terri” Sarro during that difficult time continues to thrive as a resource for residents of North Riverside. Sarro, who serves as trustee in the suburban Chicago municipality, started the group North Riverside Neighbors Helping Neighbors with her good friend and fellow resident Kathy Ranieri. The two had a long history of working together for the good of the community. Nine years ago, they started “Christmas for a Cause” to raise funds for families in need and have held additional fundraisers to assist people in need during difficult times. …

Never taking a day for granted, two-time cancer survivor Dylan Provenzano, 20, has been giving back to the community that helped him through a fundraising drive for pediatric cancer patients. “I always try to remember what my life was like seven, eight years ago, and how ‘little me’ would be wishing to be in the spot I am right now,” says Provenzano, a Dean’s List baseball player at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. “That always helps me to keep going and keep getting stronger in any category of my life. Whether it be baseball, school or with people, I’ll always …

A native of Italy, Italian language teacher Cristina Tinnirello believes in providing students with a full immersion experience in the Italian language and culture, with the ultimate goal of helping them become better global citizens. Having learned five languages throughout her education, she understands the challenges and rewards of language learning, which inspires her to help others on their journey, she says. Tinnirello teaches Italian to students in kindergarten through 8th grade at Union Ridge School District 86 in Harwood Heights, just outside of Chicago, where she’s been since 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a 5th grade …

Italian-born Marta Castella recently signed on as Italian programs outreach director at Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi in Chicago, a job she describes as “equal parts cultural bridge and growth architect.” Founded in 2016, Scuola Fermi is the only full-time Italian immersion school in the Chicago area, offering bilingual education from preschool through K-1. The school integrates the best elements of both Italian and American education, giving students a rigorous, inquiry-based and multilingual learning experience, Castella explains. “Our innovative Dual Track System allows us to seamlessly integrate students from English-monolingual environments alongside native Italian speakers, ensuring that all children progress confidently …

Over the last two decades, Thomas P. Valenti has put his arbitration and mediation skills to use across the globe, traveling to places like Greece and India, and now helping young people in Afghanistan via online mentoring. Valenti is a Chicago-based dispute resolution specialist who has held a law license since 1977. He first worked as a trial attorney, primarily in Cook County, then over the last two decades shifted his focus to mediation and arbitration in civil, commercial, interpersonal and workplace matters. Valenti’s resume is extensive. Among other positions, he has served as a neutral arbitrator for the American …

“I always say I was born here, but my heart was truly born in Italy.” Those are the words of Anna Izzo, who studied in Italy, traveled the country extensively, and now teaches Italian at Elk Grove High School in suburban Chicago. Izzo, who calls herself “a student at heart,” holds several degrees. She has undergraduate degrees in Italian, Spanish and secondary education from the University of Iowa. She also has three master’s degrees: one in curriculum and instruction with an English Language Learning concentration from National Louis University; one in health and wellness from the American College of Education; …