Martedì 16 ottobre, 2018, venti fortunati studenti dell’Eighth grade dell’Indian Trail Junior High a Addison, Ill., hanno partecipato a una gita di una volta nella vita a Eataly a Chicago. All’arrivo a Eataly, gli studenti hanno potuto ammirare gli alti soffitti a volta e le merci italiane importate. Il viaggio consisteva in una lezione di pizza con un pizziaolo. Per terminare il viaggio, gli studenti hanno fatto un tour guidato dell’area del Marketplace di Eataly. Molti studenti hanno acquistato il gelato alla Gelateria. “Mi è piaciuto mangiare la pizza perché potevi assaggiare la tua creazione. Camminare in giro ti fa …

Il corso d’italiano a Fenwick è divertente per studenti di ogni cultura. Gli studenti si iscrivono alla lingua per molte ragioni. Per esempio, Ava è al cento per cento italiana, mentre Kelsey non è affatto italiana. I nonni di Ava vengono dall’Italia; uno è di Bari, e tre sono di diverse città siciliane. È cresciuta ascoltando l’italiano nella sua famiglia. Anche se Kelsey e molti studenti non sono italiani, il corso ha aperto molte opportunità per tutti. Una di queste è la nostra Tavola di San Giuseppe. Ogni marzo possiamo aiutare la comunità e mangiare i cibi italiani. Gli studenti …

Ho studiato italiano per sei anni e per questo tempo mi sento che imparare l’italiano era una cosa importante perché già parlo due lingue e volevo impararne di più. Per me la classe d’italiano mi dà l’opportunità di imparare un’altra cultura; la classe di italiano crea anche un ambiente familiare che non si sente in una classe come matematica. Questo ha cambiato il modo in cui penso alla lingua, cultura, gastronomia, ecc. Mi piace anche che parliamo delle cose che sono importanti per la nostra società. È una classe che non è normale, è una classe che cambia la vita …

A major piece of local military history is now on display at the Italian American Veterans Museum in Stone Park thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Far South Side Italian-American community. A massive bronze plaque honoring scores of World War II veterans was donated to the museum at a ceremony in late October at Carlo Lorenzetti’s in Chicago hosted by the Spaghetti-Os. There to accept the donation were IAVM board members Paul Basile, Steve Corbo and Mark DiSanto. The plaque was commissioned by Società Filarmonica Bella Italia and contains the names of 125 mostly Italian-American veterans. It had …

Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Fiorentino was named Police Magazine Hero of the Month for October 2018. A 21-year veteran of law enforcement, Fiorentino is a martial arts expert who promotes health and education in the community, volunteering to help fellow law enforcement officers, children, adults and seniors learn to defend themselves. Teaching that self-defense is not just about punching and kicking, Fiorentino stresses verbal skills, confidence and self-awareness in his classes. A champion grappler, he was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2009. He has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the …

Roselle contractor Stuart Caravello will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black-tie optional installation dinner on Jan. 19 at the Medinah Country Club. For reservations, call Mark Corrado at 847-337-6864. Caravello became a member of the Columbian Club in 2009. Since then he has chaired the trap shoot, co-chaired the Christmas party and St. Valentine’s Day dinner and served as a director, in addition to ascending through the ranks of the officers on his way to the presidency. “I joined the Columbian Club to be a part of an organization that honors and recognizes …

The National Academy of Construction has elected Satch Pecori as a member of its class of 2018. Established in 1999, the NAC inducts leaders from a variety of backgrounds who have made outstanding, life-long contributions to the design, construction and engineering industries. The president and CEO of Springfield, Illinois-based Hanson Professional Services Inc., Pecori was formally inducted on Oct. 11 during the NAC annual meeting. The 2018 class includes 37 new inductees. More than 300 leaders were considered during the election process. During the induction, the NAC cited Pecori as a recognized global leader for his work in designing and …

German Bautista is a recent 2018 graduate of Wheeling High School. During his years at Wheeling High, German completed all levels (1-AP) of the Italian program. I was one of German’s teachers, along with Angela Hawkins and Cody Mueller. German, who participated in the AATI Italian National Contest Exam every year, was awarded a national placement annually from among the countless awards he received from placing in this contest. By far the best and most rewarding was a free two-week stay in Italy. German chose to stay in sunny Sorrento, a city not far from Naples. In Sorrento, German enjoyed …

When you’re as passionate about Italy as Spacca Napoli owner Jonathan Goldsmith, frequent visits to the motherland are as gratifying as they are inevitable. “I go to conduct research or attend events with colleagues,” Goldsmith says, “and always to reconnect with people I care about and who have become family.” In October, he spent two weeks at the agriturismo Le Campestre outside of Naples, helping the Lombardi family pick olives and make wine. “I first met them in 2004,” he explains. “They are the producers of conciato romano, a pecorino that dates back 2,000 years.” As an executive producer of …

Chicago native Gianna Farago Tetrick recently was inducted into the Maggiano’s Hall of Fame for her philanthropic work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses celebrated its 15th year partnering with the restaurant for the Eat-A-Dish campaign. Spearheaded by Farago Tetrick during her time as marketing director and carried on by the Maggiano staff since her departure, the program has raised more than $8 million dollars to date, granting more than 1,100 wishes to children receiving treatment throughout the nation. Farago Tetrick, who says her desire to give back is driven by …