Judge Diann K. Marsalek will serve as acting presiding judge of the Traffic Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was appointed to the position by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. The supervising judge of the First Municipal Traffic Court since 2014, Marsalek was appoint to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2011 and elected in 2012. Her previous assignments include the Traffic, Evictions Post Judgment and Torts/Contract Claims courts. As an attorney, she served as a legal adviser to the Illinois Secretary of State, an Assistant Attorney General in the Policy and General Law Divisions …

The Chicagoland Italian American Professionals will start the new year by launching a new monthly that they’re dubbing “Wine Down Wednesday.” Slated for 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, the Zoom gathering will allow members and non-members alike to wind down while discussing different types of Italian wines. For details, contact President Salvatore Sciacca at salvatore@chicagolanditalians.com.

Last year, 14-year-old Lorenzo Liberti discovered a passion for honoring and helping veterans in need in his community. Using his artistic talents, he carved beautiful, 3-foot-wide American flags by hand to benefit a local charity. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, he realized his flags could help honor and support frontline health care workers across the United States. Today, his flags hang in more than a dozen hospitals around the country as emblems of hope and gratitude. His goal is to raise $50,000 to create and ship flags to hospitals in every state. (gofundme.com/c/heroes/lorenzo-liberti) For details, click here.  

The Lyric Opera of Chicago will showcase lesser-known gems by beloved Italian composers in a virtual concert curated and hosted by Lyric’s Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola and presented by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. With Maestro Mazzola at the piano, members of the Ryan Opera Center 2020-21 ensemble will perform songs by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni, all lovingly selected by Mazzola. The ensemble includes sopranos Maria Novella Malfatti and Denis Vélez; mezzo-sopranos Katherine Beck, Katherine DeYoung and Kathleen Felty; tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam; baritones Leroy Davis and Ricardo …

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii’s annual Mary & Christmas concert was streamed live this year. The event featured performances by John Vincent, Josie Falbo, Anthony Rago and the Rev. Richard Fragomeni, accompanied by a chamber orchestra and the William Ferris Chorale, all under the direction of Maestro Paul French. The musical scores of Italian film composer Ennio Morricone were celebrated and plenty of timeless Christmas songs were featured. Those who missed the live event can view it online through Jan. 6. For tickets, click here.          

Mortgage industry executive Michael D. Russotto will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black-tie-optional installation dinner on March 20 at the Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles. For reservations, call John Curry at 847-890-8717. Russotto has been a member since 2014. “This club is made up of members with big hearts and extreme generosity. We promote Italian heritage and help those in need, and the scholarships we provide are second to none,” he explains. “I also enjoy the camaraderie that we have among members. We’re a tight-knit group united by common goals.” Russotto, …

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations has unanimously elected Basil Russo to serve as the organization’s new president. Representing 50 of the largest Italian-American groups in the country, the CPMIAO is headquartered in New York City and advocates for the 17 million Americans of Italian descent. Russo currently serves as national president of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, one of the largest Italian-American fraternal associations in the country. A native of Cleveland, he acts as chairman of the city’s Columbus Day Parade. He is a founding and managing partner of the law firm Russo, Rosalina …

The Associazione Regionale Campania di Chicago celebrated its 30th anniversary on Oct. 18. Founded to promote the culture and customs of Naples and the Campania region, the ARC has a long list of accomplishments. The group has hosted the first North American conference of Neapolitan associations, crowned the first Miss Campania a Chicago, promoted student exchanges, and bestowed many scholarships and donations over the years. The ARC’s Battenti Madonna del Arco presents the palms at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church each Palm Sunday. (847-401-5769)

The usual lunch and espresso breaks enjoyed by the director and volunteers at the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia were lively affairs. Discussions ran the gamut from current affairs and Dante, to library acquisitions and projects, to social and home life. During the pandemic, these discussions are continuing via Zoom at 2:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Espresso Break guests have included Ron Onesti, Renato Turano, Tom Dreesen and countless others, with all conversations archived for viewing on the cultural center website. To receive e-blasts announcing future guests, contact Dominic Candeloro at dominic.candeloro@gmail.com. To view past sessions, click here.

Anyone who has attended a presentation by Lyric Opera Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola knows what a dynamic speaker he is. Now the whole world can bask in his unique presence via an original and engaging web series dubbed “Breaking Down the Score: Attila.” Each of the 12 episodes in this series features a personal interpretation and reading by Maestro Mazzola of a musical number from Verdi’s early opera “Attila.” Launched in October and running through mid-December, the entire series can be viewed by subscribing to the Lyric’s YouTube channel. To view current and previous episodes, click here.