Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana, will host its annual Festa Italiana from July 17-19. The event features food and beverages for sale, live entertainment, a beer and wine garden, contests and classes for adults, activities for kids, and bocce. Admission is free. A bocce tournament, and spaghetti-eating and grape-stomping contests, will take place on July 18. Registration for all three events is required. Entertainers includes Vince Amore, Frankie Seta, the Tradizione Vivente Italian dance troupe, Carmelo Zaccone, and the Tommy Panici Quartet. For more, click here.

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society has renamed its annual golf outing in honor of one of its most iconic members. The Sam Cascio Golf Classic will take place on July 17 at the Bartlett Hills Golf Club in Bartlett, Illinois. “Dr. Sam was an avid golfer and always enjoyed attending the event. He was 100 years old when he played it for the last time!” says event chairman Dr. Joe Favia. “He was the longest-tenured and most accomplished member in Arcolian history, so it’s only fitting that this event be named after him. We know he will be looking down …

Michael Bertucci ascended to the presidency of the Justinian Society of Lawyers at the society’s installation and awards dinner on May 14 at RPM Events Chicago. Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II was presented with the society’s Award of Excellence at the event. Joining Bertucci as officers are First Vice President Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie, Second Vice President Michael R. Grieco, Third Vice President Sarah M. LeRose, Treasurer Dominic C. LoVerde and Secretary William J. Davy Jr. The following profiles were provided by the organization. 2026 Award of Excellence Hon. Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II Charles S. Beach II serves …

On April 18, Casa Italia in Stone Park celebrated the life and legacy of Fr. August Feccia, CS, the founding member of the Italian Cultural Center. According to Dominic Candeloro, when Fr. Feccia arrived on the property in 1970, the ICC didn’t exist. The Scalabrini seminary that was founded in 1935 had closed, leaving an empty shell. Casa events coordinator Nancy Cometa spoke about her friend and mentor: “Fr. Feccia was ordained in1962 and he celebrated his first Mass in Italy for prison inmates. With this first act he demonstrated his lifelong care for the abandoned and marginalized. “Arriving in …

  Sommario with past Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association President Chicago attorney Frank A. Sommario has been inducted as a fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. Sommario is a senior partner at the Chicago-based personal injury law firm of Romanucci & Blandin. The induction ceremony for the college’s class of 2026 was held on April 18 in Tucson, Arizona. With the current installation, the college is represented by more than 500 members, including workers’ compensation plaintiff and defense attorneys, professors, and judges nationwide in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The …

Liz Lombardo Stark has been appointed chairwoman of the board of the Illinois Restaurant Association. Lombardo Stark is the director of marketing and public relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group, as well as a member of the family that owns and operates the group. GRG includes Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, and Gibsons Italia. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Lombardo Stark was immersed in the hospitality industry at an early age. She has many fond memories from within the walls of her family-owned establishments, Gibsons and its predecessor, …

Chicago’s Milly’s Pizza in the Pan was one of only two U.S. pizzerias that made the cut for the 18 best pizzas globally, according to Time Out. Milly’s landed at No. 12 on Time Out’s list — a slight drop from its No. 11 spot in 2025. The eatery “is known for pan-style pies with crispy edges and thick, airy crusts. … Editors singled out Milly’s thick-crust Untitled #1 as a standout example of Chicago’s signature pizza style, saying it represents the pinnacle of the city’s most iconic dish, topped with cheese, tomato sauce, pepperoni and jalapeños,” Time Out reported. …

Volare Ristorante Italiano at 201 E. Grand Ave. in Chicago was the top Illinois destination on a list of the most authentic Italian restaurants based on Tripadvisor reviews, according to a study conducted by Accademia Italiana Chef. Food Industry News reported that the study examined thousands of Tripadvisor reviews of Italian restaurants in all U.S. cities with more than 250,000 residents, looking for keywords such as “authentic,” “traditional” and “genuine.” Naples 15 restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, and Parma Cucina Italiana in San Diego tied as the highest-rated authentic restaurants. For more, click here.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and Roselle Sister Cities Italian Committee will host the Italian American Liberty Gala on June 5 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. The event will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Festa della Repubblica and the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. The signing of a Sister City relationship between Mola di Bari, Puglia, and Roselle, Illinois, will be a highlight of the event, which will spotlight Pugliese cuisine and culture. Belvedere Banquets will be adorned with the traditional Pugliese illuminations known as luminarie. On the menu …

Local home renovation titan Bill Conforti has never been one to rest on his laurels. He took his first major leap into the industry in 1988 with the launch of Siding 1, following up five years later with Windows 1. In 1995, he rallied his extensive network of architects and contractors to create new homes via Cobblestone Development. And in 2009, he began offering interior and exterior remodeling services via Cobblestone Remodeling. As his offerings grew, so did positive word-of-mouth, with 60 percent of his new projects coming from referrals from satisfied customers. Known in the industry for his skills …