The Arcolian Dental Arts Society honored Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., as Arcolian of the Year at its Christmas party on Dec. 13 at Cafe la Cave in Des Plaines. The following profile was provided by the organization. Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., a graduate of Washington University School of Dental Medicine in Saint Louis, Missouri, is a private practice general dentist in Harvard, Illinois.  Dr. Hagenbruch is a former American Dental Association Eighth District Trustee.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Dental Society (I.S.D.S.). He is a former president of the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry (I.A.G.D.) and …

The Cesare Battisti Lodge #27 of the Italian Sons and Daughters in America honored Jon Biancardi as Member of the Year on Dec. 10 at the lodge’s clubhouse, Villa Cesare, in Schererville, Indiana. The grandson and son of lodge members, Biancardi serves on the board of directors and has spearheaded several new initiatives. In 2017, he launched an indoor bocce league that has grown from eight teams on one court to 24 teams on three courts. That same year, he created, marketed and executed the lodge’s first Festa Italiana. The annual three-day celebration of Italian culture and spirit features food …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation celebrated a trio of luminaries at its dinner dance on Nov. 19 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Mariann Gullo was honored as Woman of the Year and Michael Allred as Humanitarian of the Year, with Ron Onesti receiving a special recognition award. The following profiles have been provided by the organization. MARIANN GULLO — WOMAN OF THE YEAR Mariann Gullo is the Chief Operating Officer of Gullo International and a tireless activist on behalf of her Italian heritage. Located in Elk Grove Village, Gullo International Development Corporation has been a leader in real estate …

The Italian American Police Association honored a pair of law enforcement titans at its annual dinner dance on Nov. 5 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Anthony Napolitano, alderman of Chicago’s 41st Ward, received the IAPA’s Man of the Year Award, and Nicholas Roti, a former Chicago Police Department deputy chief and bureau chief who now serves as executive director of the city’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The following profiles were provided by the organization. Ald. Anthony V. Napolitano Anthony V. Napolitano traces his roots to Italy on both sides of his family. …

The Italian Catholic Federation, Branch 392 presented Fr. Joseph A. Mulcrone with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 6. The following profile was provided by the organization. The Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone Over the years, the Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone has demonstrated faith, leadership and dedication in his work. His assistance to the deaf and disabled exemplifies the true spirit and humanity of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini. Like Mother Cabrini, Father Mulcrone (known as “Father Joe” to his friends) has touched hearts in the United States as well as many other countries. He is an individual to be admired for his …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation have donated $6,500 from the proceeds of their 2022 fashion show to Casa Italia. The check was presented to Casa Chairman Ron Onesti by Fashion Show Committee Co-Chair Dr. Michele Monica Daly at the IAET’s July meeting. The event was also co-chaired by Theresa Cascio and Grace Galletta, with Jadon Quaglia as chair. “Casa Italia has been a home away from home for the Chicago-area Italian-American community for more than two decades,” says IAET President Vito D’Ambrosio. “We encourage everyone to open their hearts and wallets on the Casa’s behalf.”

The Mazzini Verdi Club was done up with Las Vegas pizzazz for this year’s Festa Fuori. More than 250 members and guests turned out to enjoy the evening’s festivities. Emcee Paul Ciminello sang the American and Italian national anthems, and Diamanti provided music for dining and dancing. Chef Giorgio Mei’s menu included risotto Bolognese con funghi and beef tenderloin. Ladies Club President Lydia Arnstein thanked the many volunteers who pitched in to artfully decorate the tables and fence in the club’s expansive outdoor seating area.  

Last year, Società Santa Fara di Cinisi successfully lobbied the city of Chicago to name the stretch of road outside of their clubhouse on Addison Street Honorary Via Santa Fara di Cinisi. The society was presented with an extra sign at the time, which it shipped to the mayor of Cinisi, Sicily, to display outside their town hall. The sign was installed in Sicily on July 10 during the Feast of Santa Fara. “This was done to keep the lines of communication open between the town of our birth and the Cinisensi of Chicago,” says society President Carlo Vaniglia. “It …

Riccardo Muti marks his 13th and final season as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director in 2022-23. Once his tenure is complete, he and the orchestra will have performed more than 500 concerts together at Symphony Center, across the U.S. and around the world. Muti will lead nine programs in 2022/23, including Mussorgsky’s “Pictures From an Exhibition” from Oct. 6-8 and Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” from May 25-27, 2023. (cso.org) A live recording of Muti directing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana” will soon be available. To learn more, click here.  

Chicago attorney Antonio Romanucci received the Howard Twiggs Award from the American Association of Justice at the organization’s annual conference in Seattle on July 18. The award is given to an AAJ member whose “passion, civility, cordiality and professionalism reflect the high standards set by Attorney Howard Twiggs; and whose courtroom advocacy and distinguished service to AAJ have brought honor to the trial bar and the legal profession.” A founding partner at Romanucci & Blandin, Romanucci has served in a wide variety of posts at the AAJ over the years.