Illinois’ largest non-profit provider of emergency and transitional services for survivors of domestic violence recently lauded Dominic DiFrisco as a powerful advocate for the cause. During a fund-raising dinner at the Mid-America Club, WINGS CEO Rebecca Darr announced the Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be bestowed annually on men who follow DiFrisco’s example as crusaders against domestic violence. “Over the past few years, Dominic introduced WINGS to several new donors, such as Art Van Furniture, Smeraldina Artesian Water and Mariano’s,” says Darr. “Art Van graciously donated thousands of dollars of furniture for our new shelter and continues …

State Rep. John D’Amico recently helped pass legislation to strengthen and expand driver application standards for Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing companies. The D’Amico-backed House Bill 4416 measure aims to refine background checks to ensure that prohibited drivers can’t be hired. Ride-sharing companies are not allowed to hire applicants who have had three moving violations in three years or one major violation, such as attempting to evade the police, in the past year. Drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence or for committing fraud and other violent felonies in the past seven years also are disqualified.  

  State Rep. Anthony DeLuca hosted a free veterans’ appreciation picnic at Veterans Memorial Park in Glenwood in June. More than 80 veterans and their family members shared food, conversation and bingo with DeLuca and other elected officials. The Chicago Heights Veterans Center was present to answer questions and assist veterans. “Veterans made sacrifices for our safety and freedom that we must not take for granted,” DeLuca says. “They deserve our thanks every day, not just on special holidays, and this picnic is a sign of our community’s gratitude.”  

  Forza Pizza is a social network where pizza lovers can discover, share and browse pizza from anywhere in the world. The brainchild of Chicago-area native Alberto DeCicco, the website allows visitors to post favorite neighborhood spots, publish homemade creations and recipes, plan pizza vacations, and shop for “pizza swag.” Participants earn pizza points, badges and medals that could land them atop the Forza Pizza Leaderboard! Visit forzapizza.com and follow @forzapizza on Instagram.  

  Diners at the newly opened Alcentro Trattoria in Bloomingdale are in for a rare treat. Included among the restaurant’s hearty, exotic dishes are several that come straight from the hearts of owner Domenico Fronteddu and chef Daniele Sotgiu, both of whom were born and raised in Sardinia. Among the regional specialties are linguine vongole e bottarga (clams, garlic, parsley, white wine, fresh tomatoes and imported fish roe), and macarrones de punzu (semolina dumplings, lamb ragu and pecorino sardo) as well as desserts with eye-catching names like seada and pane carasau. (224-353-6047, www.alcentrotrattoria.com)  

  The North American Pizza & Culinary Academy in Lisle celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11. THE NAPCA offers culinary classes to students of all skill levels, including a five-day program that will allow students to earn the designation of Certified Pizzaiolo. A part of the prestigious Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in Venice, NAPCA is one of two schools in the United States to offer this level of accreditation. Although pizza is the primary focus of the school, a wide variety of other culinary classes are offered, covering everything from basic knife skills and artisanal baking …

The Sicilian American Cultural Association held its annual Medal of Merit dinner on Sept. 16 Cucina Biagio in Harwood Heights. This year’s recipient was attorney Sam F. Cannizzaro. (773-454-4771) Sam F. Cannizzaro Cannizzaro is a Sicilian American who has lived on the Northwest Side of Chicago all his life. He is a family law attorney and partner of the downtown Chicago law firm of Birnbaum, Haddon, Gelfman & Arnoux, LLC. As an attorney, Cannizzaro has served multiple terms on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly as well as a committee chairperson. He has been involved with the Chicago Bar Association, …

The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin honored Vito M. D’Ambrosio as Humanitarian of the Year and Angelo “Skip” Saviano as Columbus Patriot at its 94th annual Columbus Banquet on Oct. 6 at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. (708-403-7822) Vito D’Ambrosio Vito Mario D’Ambrosio was born in Ricigliano, Salerno, Italy, to Antonio and Rocchina D’Ambrosio. Vito was the second child, Onofrio being the first. In a typical Italian immigrant household, it was almost the norm that the father would come to this country, stay with relatives, acquire a job, save some money …

  When Nicki Pecori Fioretti graduated from Loyola University with an MBA in finance in 1996, she never dreamed she’d be returning in triumph two decades later. But return she did, as the director of community affairs for the Illinois Housing Development Authority, to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2018 at Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business. Her commencement address and biography follow: COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Good Morning Loyola University Quinlan School of Business graduates! Doesn’t that sound nice? “Loyola University Quinlan School of Business Graduate”. Let that roll through your mind and savor it for a moment, and …

  Former USA Baseball National Team Coach Peter Caliendo recently travelled to Havana, Cuba. and Lima, Peru, to offer a high-level baseball course for fellow coaches. Caliendo has taught baseball courses in more than 25 countries for more than 30 years. His course focused on the latest technologies, strategies and training methods. He also worked with some of the national team players. “It is an honor to go to other countries to spread the word about baseball so that the game will expand internationally,” Caliendo says. “More than 120 countries are playing the game and it keeps growing.” (www.caliendosportsinternational.com)