The Italian American Executives of Transportation held its 47th annual dinner dance on Nov. 17 at Alta Villa Banquets. With almost 500 in attendance, the event continues to deliver quality, enjoyment and many surprises. Mario Giuseppe Weber was honored as Man of the Year. Mario is general manager for Midway Dodge, vice president of American Finance, and senior portfolio manager for JB Real Estate Management. He proposed to Hana Koussa from the podium, making the evening truly magical. The pressure was on, but she said yes! Dr. Samuel Cascio and Dr. Joseph Discipio, two legends in the dental industry, were …

Sergio Giangrande was installed as president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans at the organization’s annual Christmas party on Dec. 13. He steps up to the presidency after a banner year as chairman of the 2017 Columbus Day Parade. Joining Giangrande as 2019-2020 officers are First Vice President Lisa Ryan, Second Vice President Ron Onesti, Third Vice President John Galluzzi, Secretary Joseph Rago, Treasurer Christine Caliendo-Cerami and Sergeant-at-Arms Pasquale Gianni. The following profiles were provided by the organization. PRESIDENT The son of Vito and Rosalia (Zummo) Giangrande, Sergio Giangrande was born in Chicago but moved with his parents …

Three Midwestern luminaries were knighted by Italian Consul General Giuseppe Finocchiaro at a special ceremony on Dec. 12. Chicago-area activist Lissa Druss and Milwaukee stalwart Pietro Tarantino earned the rank of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia and longtime Loyola University language instructor Anna Clara Ionta ascended to the higher rank of Ufficiale dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia. Lissa Druss Lissa Druss is founder and CEO of Strategia Consulting, a government relations, U.S. and international business relations, and crisis communication firm based in Chicago, DuPage County and Washington, D.C. Strategia relationships are spread throughout the U.S. and Europe. Lissa spent 21 years …

The Flowers of Italy Club honored Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero at its annual dinner dance on March 30 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. (630-688-3153) The following profile was provided by the organization. Having resided in Berwyn for fifty-eight years, Robert J. (Bob) Lovero has made public service an integral part of his life. Throughout this time he has had the support of his family, including father Thomas (deceased), mother Alba, brother Scott, sister-in-law Lisa, wife Gail, son Thomas, daughter-in-law Ashley, daughters Danielle and Gabrielle, and grandsons Robert and Matthew. Bob began graduated from St. Mary of Celle Grammar School, …

Mina Amendola Chillemi recently joined Perillo Tours after 21 years with the Italian Government Tourist Board in Chicago. With the Tourist Board, she brought the glories and charm of Italy to the Midwest tourism market. Although the Italian Tourist Board has closed operations in Chicago, Mina is continuing to promote Italy and travel in the Chicago area. As the director of sales and marketing for Perillo Tours, her strong belief in the value of the Midwest market and her love and passion for Italy are the next frontier for Perillo Tours. She has extensive knowledge of the tourism market in …

More than 80 people gathered for the first annual Festa della Sopressata competition at the North American Pizza & Culinary Academy in Lisle. Hosted by NAPCA founder and master instructor Leo Spizzirri and his partner, founder and chef instructor Anthony Iannone, the four-hour event was as much of a party for friends and family of the 19 competitors as it was a serious tournament for the best homemade sopressata. Judges included Frank DeCicco of the Calabresi In America Organization. “I was honored to be selected and humbled by the passion every contestant showed for maintaining this great Calabrese tradition,” DeCicco …

Street food has been a staple of cuisines around the world for generations, and the trend has finally reached American shores. Leading the charge on behalf of the street food of Sicily is Elio Bartolotta of Elio Pizza on Fire and Elio Café. “Sicilian street food represents our tradition, our roots, our soul,” Bartolotta says. “We want to share that soul with America.” On the street side of Bartolotta’s menu are pane e panelle, a sandwich stuffed with fried herbed chickpea meal; caponata siciliana, an antipasto featuring eggplant, capers and olives in a sweet-and-sour red sauce; and pani câ meusa, …

Buona Beef recently opened for business at 804 W. Washington Blvd., bringing the family-run fast-food chain’s total locations to 24. “We’re thrilled to be a part of the vibrant West Loop community,” says second-generation owner Joe Buonavolanto Jr. “Our new location is steeped in Chicago tradition: a fitting way to continue the city’s great Italian beef tradition.” Founder Joe Buonavolanto Sr. took out a second mortgage on his home to open the family’s first restaurant in Berwyn in 1981. Today, Buona is the official Italian beef of the Chicago Cubs and White Sox and is served at Cubs, Sox and …

Chicago-area native Robert Pieranunzi will dance his way into the Nederlander Theatre as Frankie Coffeecake in the first Broadway national tour of the musical version of “A Bronx Tale.” After leaving the biz for nearly 10 years to build a corporate career, Pieranunzi was whisked back to his passion when he was cast as Busby Berkeley in a world premiere musical titled “I Only Have Eyes” for You in Hollywood, California. After that, he played two roles originated by one of his idols, Dick Van Dyke: Albert Peterson in “Bye, Bye Birdie” and Bert in “Mary Poppins.” And then luck …

A Ridgewood impariamo che fare l’italiano significa non solo studiare una lingua, ma anche seguire un percorso storico e culturale. Questo si dimostra al nostro evento annuale, la Festa Italiana. Questa serata, studenti e la comunità si riuniscono a festeggiare la bellezza dell’italiano. Mettiamo in mostra i nostri progetti. Gli studenti di Italiano I scrivono saggi su famosi Italiani dalla scienza allo sport. Italiano 2 mostra progetti sulle città italiane. Gli studenti di Italiano 3 mostrano saggi sui monumenti e ne costruiscono modelli. Dopo aver studiato il marchio Made In Italy, gli studenti di Italiano 4 mostrano pubblicità italiane che …