The Lyric Opera will offer eight performances of Gioachino Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” between Sept. 28 and Oct. 27. Featuring an overture made famous by the Bugs Bunny-Elmer Fudd caper cartoon “The Rabbit of Seville,” Rossini’s comic masterpiece recounts the efforts of the resourceful rascal Figaro to release the irrepressible Rosina from the clutches of her pompous old guardian, Dr. Bartolo, and into the arms of her sweetheart, the bold young count Almaviva. The part of Dr. Bartolo will be performed by renowned Italian buffo bass-baritone Alessandro Corbelli.  For details, click here.

The Chicago Blackhawks will celebrate Italian Heritage Month with a special ticket offer for the Oct. 27 game against the Los Angeles Kings. Fans who purchase tickets through www.chicagoblackhawks.com/italianheritage will receive an Italian-themed Blackhawks winter hat. VIP ticket packages are also available, and include an exclusive pregame reception in the Concert Club with food and beverage provided. Groups of 10 or more will receive savings off single-game pricing. To book a group, contact Kathleen Massolio at 312-455-7020 or

The Addison Sister Cities Italy Exchange will host a benefit concert on Oct. 18 at Addison Trail High School, 213 N. Lombard Road. The concert will feature The Four C Notes, Chicago’s only tribute group dedicated to creating the iconic sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The quartet will put on a show featuring hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Workin’ My Way Back to You” and “Oh, What A Night.” Tickets are $30 plus processing fee, and can be purchased at fourcnotesdupagehsd88.eventbrite.com.

Fresh off a two-year-plus run on his Stay Hungry Tour, Billboard’s inaugural Comedian of the Year Sebastian Maniscalco is back with the You Bother Me tour, which will visit 12 cities in the U.S. and Canada throughout its fall run. Touted as “the comedian’s comedian” by People Magazine, Maniscalco finds himself “at the vanguard of a live comedy revolution,” according to Pollstar. And the man “NBC Nightly News” called “comedy’s new superstar” is showing no signs of stopping. A native of the Chicago area, Maniscalco will of course make a stop in Chicago, performing at the United Center on Nov. …

The Italian American Police Association will honor a foursome of stalwart souls at an Oct. 26 dinner dance at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. (312-415-1202) The following profiles were provided by the organization: Alderman Nick Sposato • Man of the Year Award 38th Ward Ald. Nicholas (Nick) Sposato grew up around Belmont and Harlem avenues and is a lifelong resident of Chicago’s Northwest Side. Ald. Sposato is currently serving his third term. He was the first firefighter elected to the City Council and the first elected in two different wards. In 2011, he beat the machine in a runoff to …

The Italian American Labor Council honored Michael Somone as Man of the Year at an Oct. 9 dinner-dance at the Local 150 Banquet Hall in Countryside. (312-339-1437) The following profile was provided by the organization: “Michael has a family history in labor that dates back three generations, and he proudly upholds that legacy every day,” says IALC President Anthony Guida. “We’re honored to present him with this year’s Man of the Year Award.” Michael’s grandfather, an officer and International Vice President of HERE, first introduced him to organized labor. Michael’s union membership expands over 35 years. In 1983, Michael became …

Cherilyn G. Murer received the Top Women in Healthcare Legacy Award from PR News at an awards luncheon at The Yale Club in New York City in July 2019. The president and CEO of CGM Advisory Group, Murer is an internationally recognized advocate for the advancement of quality, cost-effective health care. As founder and president of Murer Consultants for 35 years, she advised multi-hospital health care systems, academic medical centers and large physician group practices on matters including complex regulatory, strategic and financial issues. When she sold the firm in 2017, Murer Consultants had more than 500 clients in 42 …

The Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Chicago City Council introduced ordinances to authorize a property tax abatement for the surviving spouses of Cook County’s fallen heroes. The program would aid the spouses of a fallen police officer, soldier or rescue worker. “The financial impact of the loss of these families’ loved ones does not go away when the TV cameras shut off,” says Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi, who brought the initiative to the County Board’s attention. “This program will recognize and honor the ongoing impact of this sacrifice on these families.”

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans has announced that the annual Italian Heritage Month Courthouse Tour of the Richard J. Daley Center will take place on Oct. 9. The tour is co-sponsored by the JCCIA and the Justinian Society of Lawyers. Offering the public a sense of the day-to-day operations in one of the nation’s largest unified court systems, the tour will include a visit to a courtroom to observe a trial in progress, an informal presentation by a circuit court judge and a meeting with bar association representatives. Reservations are required by Oct. 4 with …

A reform sponsored by state Rep. John D’Amico that aims to close the wage gap by prohibiting employers from using unfair practices to force women and people of color into a lifetime of lower pay was recently signed into law. D’Amico sponsored and helped pass House Bill 834, which updates the Equal Pay Act by prohibiting employers from requiring job candidates to submit their current wage or salary history. Given historic wage discrimination based on gender and race, banning this unfair practice aims to prevent a history of unfair pay from following women and minorities from job to job.