by Sheldon Shacket “What ever happened to that Siding-1 building on the corner of Oakley and Clybourn?” Ask its founder, Bill Conforti, and his response will go well beyond the matter-of-fact. As he stands across the street from the demolished 3066 N. Clybourn Ave. construction site, Bill becomes more than a little emotional when reminiscing about the 28 years he spent developing his Siding-1, Windows-1 Exterior business and constructing the company’s headquarters on that site. As a supplement to the higher volume siding and windows business, Conforti had also opened Cobblestone Development in the building next door. “I actually formed …

A new law sponsored by state Rep. John C. D’Amico, D-Chicago, will help long-term Illinois residents with clean driving records in the state avoid an onerous process of getting an Illinois drivers’ license after their driving privileges have been suspended in another state. “Illinois drivers whose licenses have been revoked in another state are facing weeks and even months going between another state and Illinois before they can legally drive to work or pick up their children,” D’Amico said. “Allowing drivers who have clean driving histories and a long-term residency to reinstate their driver’s license in Illinois is simply relieving …

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia will once again offer a wide range of Italian classes for both children and adults at sites across the Chicago area. Parents can choose from exploratory classes for 5- to 7-year-olds and beginning, intermediate and advanced classes for children ages 8 to 13. Adult classes range from beginning and intermediate to advanced and advanced conversational. Private lessons for children and adults also are available. (708-345-5933) http://casaitaliachicago.net

Western Springs attorney Umberto Davi has been installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Davi was elected to the ISBA Board of Governors in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2011. He has served on the ISBA’s 201-member assembly and has been active on numerous committees. A past president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and founder of the Sicilian American Cultural Association, Davi is a member of the board of trustees of The John Marshall Law School. A Willowbrook village trustee, he has served as president of the Willowbrook Police Pension Board for more than 10 …

The Giants Awards dinner sponsored annually by the Ed Kelly Sports Program could have doubled as a special meeting of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. Dr. Samuel J. Cascio was presented with the Marshall H. Smulson Humanitarian Award, and a host of Italian-American dentists turned out in force. On hand were (from left) Drs. Anthony Spina, Michael Biasello, Samuel Cascio, Paul Smulson, Joseph Discipio, Lou Imburgia, and Michael Cascio, son of Dr. Sam and a fellow DDS.

Corporate leader Lisa Emerson and Loyola administrator Rev. Michael J. Garanzini shared the spotlight when the Justinian Society of Lawyers hosted its annual installation and awards dinner on Sept. 16 at the Palmer House Hilton. (708-338-0760) The following officers were formally installed at the event: Jessica DePinto (president), Frank A. Sommario (first vice president), Michael Bonamarte (second vice president), Vincent Vidmer (third vice president), Natalie M. Petric (treasurer) and Judge Regina A. Scannicchio (secretary). Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. Award of Excellence The Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., was the 23rd President of Loyola University Chicago from June 2001 until June …

The Sicilian American Cultural Association will present Gloria Coco with its Medal of merit on Sept. 27 at Monastero’s Banquets in Chicago. Tickets for the event are $40 for adults (cash bar) and $18 for children 2 to 12 years of age. Entertainment will be provided by past winners of the Bel Canto Foundation Opera Contest. (773-588–2515) The Sicilian American Cultural Association is proud to present jurist and thespian Gloria G. Coco with its coveted Medal of Merit. A retired Supervising Judge of the Domestic Violence Section of the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge …

The Friends of Radio Maria and the Poor will raise funds for both causes at their third annual Family Night on Sept. 25 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. A Catholic radio program broadcast around the world in several different languages, Radio Maria is spearheaded locally in Italian by the Rev. August Feccia. Fr. Feccia recently expanded his efforts to include raising funds to assist the impoverished local ethnic communities. Friends of Radio Maria and the Poor sponsors a raffle and a pilgrimage annually in addition to the banquet. The Sept. 25 event will feature a live auction and entertainment by Loris …

Fifteen worthy Italian American’s were honored with a da Vinci Award of Excellence at the 14th Annual Gala on May 3 at BeauJolie by Victoria in Schiller Park. The event is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin, Order Sons of Italy in America. Chairman and Master of Ceremony Richard R. Della Croce welcomed the honorees and guests and introduced Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli. Beautiful renditions of the American and Italian national anthems was sung by Della Croce. In the spirit of da Vinci, the order recognized the outstanding accomplishments of honorees in their various paths …

A group from the Our Lady Mother of the Church Branch of the Italian Catholic Federation went on a pilgrimage to Europe that took in the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and the Lourdes Shrine in France. In attendance were Anna Tamburello, Nancy Anello, Yolanda Treni, Luisa Bertagna, Josephine Bax, Sylvia Lacorte, Sarah Gullo, Dina Santucci, Maria Giannini, Florina Dilollo, Maria Carmella Giannini, Yolanda Izzi, Silvia Izzi-Neri, Gerarda Rio, Vittoria Spada, Pasqua and Sebastiano Bellisario, Vito Marinelli, Margherita Negron, and Vito and Petronilla Ranieri.