Casa Italia honored tireless community leader Jo Ann Serpico as Woman of the Year at its Golden Anniversary Gala on Feb. 8 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. “Jo Ann has been a pillar of the community for decades,” says Casa Chairman Peter Volpe. “We’re so lucky to have her as a board member, and we’re so honored that she has agreed to be our Woman of the Year.” Jo Ann has been immersed in the activities of the community since birth, thanks to the unwavering involvement of her father, Joseph R. Salerno. “My father was a member of …

The following was provided by the sponsoring organization. The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin, celebrated its 95th Annual Columbus Banquet on Oct. 12. Anna DeLuca, Columbus Banquet Chair, welcomed the guests and introduced the Master of Ceremony for the evening, the Hon. Anthony Caldarone. The MC introduced the Grand Lodge officers, our honored award recipients, the Consul General of Italy, and the Columbus Day Queen as they entered the hall. The MC introduced Paul R. Loparco, Grand Lodge of IL/WI president, who greeted the guests and stressed the importance of celebrating and recognizing …

Domenica Insieme has gone international! Listeners from no fewer than 35 countries now tune into the local bilingual radio program hosted by Pat Capriati and John Conenna. The top five countries are the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom. After that comes Belgium, Jordan, Greece, Chile, Russia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Venezuela, India, Macedonia, France, Israel, Luxembourg, Spain, Ukraine, South Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, Poland, Ireland, Finland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Azerbaijan, El Salvador, Japan, Sweden and Argentina. The show airs from 9 to 10 a.m. each Sunday on WSBC 1240 AM, and streams live from …

Colonel Renato Bacci, U.S. Army (Retired), was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in a ceremony at the Pentagon Office Complex in Washington D.C. on Nov. 15. He was recognized for his service as state chair of the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve from October 2013 to September 2019. The award was presented by ESGR Chairman Ronald E. Bogle (on left in photo). The award citation states that his exceptional leadership, dedication and commitment to the mission of the Illinois Committee significantly enhanced and sustained employer support for …

Mario Salerno has been elected president of the Calabresi in America Organization. A member for eight years, Salerno served as an advisor for two years and worked his way up through the vice presidential ranks before being elected president. “Being involved has given me the opportunity to share my Calabrese background with others and celebrate it as well,” he explains. “I like being able to provide outreach not only to other Calabrese but to members of other Italian-American organizations.” Being elected president is both on honor and an opportunity for Salerno, who follows in the footsteps of his father, Frank, …

Stan Kuczynski has been elected president of the Chicago West Suburban Chapter of UNICO National. Kuczynski was inducted into the organization in 2014, and served as recording secretary and chairman of the Scholarship, Fundraising and Bylaws committees before ascending to the presidency. “To be president of this 61-year-old organization comes with a lot of history and responsibility,” he says. “I only hope I can live up to the expectations of the generations that came before me.” Kuczynski says that he joined the chapter because he wanted to be a part of an organization that not only did charitable and patriotic …

Paul Loparco has been elected president of the Illinois-Wisconsin Grand Lodge, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. A member of OSDIA since 1999, Loparco served as trustee, vice president and president of Leone D’Oro Lodge #2700 before ascending to the state presidency. “It’s a big step for me and I still have a lot to learn, but I’m certain I can handle it,” he says. “My goals are to increase membership, continue the OSDIA mission, and inform people about all of our wonderful charitable activities.” Loparco joined the local lodge at the invitation of a friend, and he …

Mina Amendola has vivid memories of travelling as a child with her family to their charming ancestral hometown of Altomonte, Cosenza in Calabria. In those early journeys, the die was cast. “I always felt connected to Italy, and I knew that I wanted to spend my career helping others make those same connections,” the Midwest Director of Sales and Marketing for Perillo Tours explains. As the public face of the Italian Government Travel Office for more than two decades, she dedicated herself to building bridges between the USA and the land of her ancestors. Through her work, she had plenty …

Quando eravamo in Italiano 3, non vedevamo l’ora di continuare nella classe di AP l’anno dopo. Specialmente sapendo che nella classe di AP avremmo studiato molto della cultura Italiana. Veniamo offerti molte cose autentiche durante la nostra lezione. Rimaniamo interessati alla lezione. È motivo d’orgoglio sapere che ci stiamo preparando per l’esame di AP in primavera. Siamo fortunati ad avere l’opportunità di studiare l’Italiano a livello liceale. Non ci sono tante scuole che lo offrono, e quando altri studenti sentono che Maine South ha questi corsi rimangono sorpresi. Tutti noi in questa classe siamo diventati piccoli adulti e ringraziamo la …

Quest’anno Lisa M. Turano, JD, MBA VP Legale di Turano, e Melissa Medina, Comunicazioni, Coordinatore Assunzioni, sono venuti a visitare gli studenti a Indian Trail Junior High School a Addison. Sono venuti a visitare gli studenti in 8° grado nella classe d’Italiano. Questo è il secondo anno la famiglia Turano è venuta a parlare della loro conoscenza e l’amore per il pane. Loro hanno approfondito con gli studenti quali sono i valori dell’attività commerciale. Hanno anche condiviso le molte carriere che Turano ha avuto. Gli studenti hanno posto domande e sono stati in grado di comprendere meglio la cultura Italiana …