The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored Vito Gargano at their general meeting on June 27. Gargano, 95, is the former president of the Italian American Federal Club, an organization comprising hundreds of federal employees of the United States Postal Service. Gargano’s career spans more than 40 years in the USPS. He started as a clerk/level 5 and rose to the highest level in the postal system, level 27, as district director of mail processing for Illinois. Along the way, he served as postmaster for Des Plaines, Illinois, and Racine, Wisconsin, as well as officer-in-charge at the post office …

Friends and family of Tito Renghini are asking the community to consider donating bone marrow to help him in his battle to overcome Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a form of cancer that attacks immature blood cells. The son of Italian immigrants, Tito is married and has three children. “My faith keeps me strong and guides me,” he says as he awaits word of a perfect match. Potential donors should be of Italian descent, between the ages of 18 and 55, and in general good health. Compatibility is determined by sending a cheek swab to a national registry.  For details, click here.

At a recent meeting with the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca reiterated his push to include greater funding for the Local Government Distributive Fund in this year’s budget. The LGDF is a designated portion of state income tax revenues that cities and counties receive from the state in lieu of local taxes. The percentage of the state tax has been steadily reduced over the last decade. DeLuca underscored the fact that an increase in LGDF funding would reduce the burden on local taxes and fees.  

The Sons and Daughters of Italy in America will turn out in force at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg on July 21 when the Schaumburg Boomers take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles of Quebec. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for members and $24 for non-members, with the cost covering seating along the first base line on the home side of the field and a hot dog, chips and beverage. Activities for the kids before and during the game and fireworks are included in the festivities. (president.sadia@gmail.com)  

Marissa De Paoli and Michael Carioscia are engaged to be married, after Mike proposed during a walk after dinner on the first night of a trip to Vail, Colorado. “The scenery was beautiful, and it felt like the perfect moment,” Mike says. “The first thing we did was call our family to let them know the news.” The couple met at Hardcore Italians, a producer and marketer of Italian pride products that Mike co-founded with his father in 2011. “Marissa started as a brand ambassador and would take photos wearing the merchandise to help us with promotions. Since I did …

The Chicago Food Stop celebrated National Italian Beef Day on May 26.  Operating out of a kiosk at 875 N. Michigan Ave., the pop-up promotes Chicago food producers, showcasing a new company each day and hosting special events. As National Italian Beef Day dawned, a line spread across Hancock Plaza and onto Michigan Avenue as staff from the Food Stop and Tri-Star Vending geared up to dish out hundreds of sandwiches made to order with options such as hot and mild peppers, giardiniera, and dipped or dry. Participants who bought products from the Food Stop were treated to a free …

Back in 1889, the automobile had barely been invented, and the airplane was still a gleam in the Wright brothers’ eyes. Yet, Italian immigrant Vincent Formusa had the foresight to found a company to meet his paesani’s growing demand for food products from their homeland. And so, V. Formusa Co. was launched at 710 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago. A century and a quarter later, the company turns out a wide array of Italian specialty food products at their modern plant at 2150 Oxford Road in Des Plaines, packaging them in distinctive red and yellow Marconi Foods bottles and shipping …

Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti has taken the organization’s battle on behalf of Christopher Columbus to a whole new level in recent months. In late March, Onesti spearheaded a JCCIA-hosted Tour of Italy at the Wyndham Springfield that attracted more than 250 state representatives and senators as well as lobbyists from all ethnic groups. Bedecked in red, white and green, the hotel’s penthouse was brimming with delicious Italian food and enlivened by classic Italian tunes during an “event like Springfield has never seen,” according to State Rep. Anthony DeLuca. “We wanted to let the state government …

The Calabresi in America Organization is no stranger to high-profile, large-scale events, co-hosting a massive summer festival with Società San Francesco di Paola in August, a wildly popular trip to Calabria in September and a well-attended dinner dance in October. Smaller in scope, their St. Joseph Table still packs some fundraising wallop. More than 200 members and guests took part in this year’s event, which generated $5,000 in donations to Casa Italia. The check was presented by CIAO President Chris DeSanto (on the right in the photo) to Casa Chairman Ron Onesti at the Casa’s April board meeting.  

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 21st annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 16 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in CEF grants at the event to the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Direct Effect Charities and St. Anthony Hospital. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community, and we thank all members who have contributed,” Marasso said. “Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, …