ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking North American families who are willing to host girls and boys, ages 15 to 18, from Italy and more than 50 other countries. The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance, and are carefully selected based upon academics and personality, according to ASSE Midwest Regional Director Saphia Lesch. ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to spend a school year, semester or summer with a host family in another country. (800-736-1760)

Political consultant Enza Raineri has joined Mercury Public Affairs, a bipartisan Chicago-based public-strategy firm. Raineri brings more than 40 years of experience to Mercury-Illinois in the arenas of government relations, public relations, crisis communications, community outreach and large-scale operations management. She served the Clerk of the Circuit Court for 30 years in operations, press relations and public policy roles. After retiring from Cook County government in 2019, Raineri started her own consulting practice, where she has worked on a variety of campaigns, including for the Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Appellate Court, mayor of Los Angeles, mayor of Chicago and international …

by Judge Megan Goldish and Michael Cabonargi While so many towns in other European nations were sending their Jewish neighbors to the Nazi death camps, the residents of Pitigliano sheltered all of theirs from harm. Perhaps, as you’ve strolled through the streets of Rome, eating gelato and trying to navigate cobblestones, you may have noticed small, polished brass plaques embedded in the sidewalks in front of doorways. These “stolpersteine,” or “stumbling stones,” contain inscriptions: They are intimate memorials commemorating individual victims of the Holocaust at their last place of residence before they were deported or killed by the Nazis. Each …

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Labriola restaurant at 535 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Its menu features a variety of pasta and pizza, including thin-crust, deep-dish, thin deep-dish and gluten-free. Founder Rich Labriola, a native of Blue Island in south suburban Chicago, first established the Labriola Baking Company in 1993, which he eventually sold. Labriola’s Doughboy Restaurant Group also includes Labriola Ristorante in Oak Brook and LaBarra Ristorante, also in Oak Brook. In addition, Labriola owns and operates 16 Stan’s Donuts & Coffee locations in Chicago. For more, click here.    

In January, Prince Street Pizza opened its first location in the Midwest at 939 W. Randolph St. in Chicago. The eatery serves Sicilian-style, square slices, Neapolitan pizzas and signature sauces. This is the 16th location for Prince Street Pizza, which has locations on the East and West Coasts, and first opened in 2012 in New York City. The Chicago opening was spearheaded by Prince Street Pizza founder and CEO Lawrence Longo, along with restaurateur and chef David Choi, owner of Seoul Taco. “We are thrilled to open Prince Street Pizza in Chicago as it’s one of the greatest food cities …

Chef Joe Flamm’s latest venture, the Roman-inspired restaurant il Carciofo, opened in Chicago in December. The restaurant draws inspiration from the restaurants and markets of Rome, which is one of Flamm’s favorite cities. Its seasonal menu offers “elevated yet familiar Italian fare” with traditional antipasti, Roman-style pizzas, main courses and hand-rolled pastas produced daily in a dedicated pasta lab, according to its website. Located at 1045 W. Fulton St., the restaurant boasts decor featuring dark woods, handmade tiles, natural stones and deep saturated colors, along with an open kitchen with counter seating. The dining room has retractable windows looking onto …

Tony Volpentesta, owner of Tony Cannoli in Mundelein, learned the trade from his Italian grandmother after a trip to Japan inspired him to open a pastry shop. Volpentesta had studied business and was working in the running industry when he found himself in Japan for a marathon in 2012, the Lake County News-Sun reported. “Afterwards, we traveled around to a bunch of different places,” he told the newspaper. “I fell in love with Japanese food, Japanese culture and their culture through their food.” The experience sparked a connection in his mind between Japanese sushi and cannoli. “It’s a three-ingredient dish …

The Italian American Political Coalition presented Judge Lisa Marino with its Public Service Leadership Award, Melrose Park Mayor Ronald Serpico with its William Paca Award and Patrick Santoro with its Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Heritage Celebration on March 6 at The Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. The following bios were provided by the organization. Patrick Santoro Lifetime Achievement Award Patrick L. Santoro is a seasoned public adjuster with an impressive career spanning over four decades. He began his journey in the industry in 1972 and has since become a prominent figure in the field. His dedication and expertise …

More than 300 people gathered in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Oct. 14 to celebrate Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month. A 1 p.m. ceremony at the Columbus statue in the city’s Central Park featured presentations by Mayor Dave Wood and Elkhart County Judge Chris Spataro, as well as representatives of local clubs from St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. Sam Jermano gave a tribute to many of the local Italian Americans who served in the military. Festivities continued with an Italian buffet luncheon at the DeAmicis Club, with food provided by local restaurants. The event was sponsored by the DiLoreto Society, DeAmicis …

On a recent trip to Italy with a group from Esperienza Italia, Chicagoan Tom Bulgrin and his partner, Kerry, traveled a long and winding road to meet Ciuma and Cinzia Del Vecchio for a delightful home-cooked meal in their remote hilltop home. After dinner, Ciuma and his teenage daughter, Adele, performed an intimate concert for the group. The heartfelt musical expression of father and daughter sparked joy, and even a few tears. As a retired band director and professional musician, Tom Bulgrin couldn’t help but notice that the quality of Adele’s violin was no match for her talent. “I was …