Ronald Serpico has served as mayor of Melrose Park since 1997. A lifelong resident of Melrose Park, he runs a successful law practice in the city. During his tenure as mayor, Serpico has instituted programs that have decreased crime, increased property values and improved the schools as well as the overall economy. He was responsible for the Melrose Park Water Project, a new $40 million water transmission system involving local, state and federal agencies as well as private industry. He and Bellwood Mayor Frank Pasquale were instrumental in the creation of the 25th Avenue Railroad Relocation and Development Authority, which …

Larry Suffredin has served as a Cook County Board commissioner since 2002. He is chairman of the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and Rules Committee, and a member of the Finance Committee, the Human Relations Committee, and the Botanic Garden Committee of the Forest Preserve District. Suffredin has extensive state and federal trial experience thanks to a legal career that has spanned over three decades; he has argued cases before the United States and Illinois Supreme Courts, as well as circuits of the United States Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate Court. He is a board member of the …

Joseph Tamburino has served as mayor of Hillside since 1981. During his tenure, he has launched countless initiatives on behalf of Hillside residents, including the Taxi Cab Program for Seniors, Youth Athletic Parade, spring clean-up program, summer concert series, and the annual Memorial Day Service and Veterans Day Parade. One of the founders of the Hillside Chamber of Commerce, Tamburino was instrumental in the development of the 32-acre shopping development known as the Hillside Town Center. A lifelong resident of the Hillside/Berkeley area, he previously served as village trustee and chairman of the Finance Committee and Community Affairs Committee.

John Valle has served as York Township supervisor since 2005. While in office, he has improved and stabilized township finances and established a fiscally responsible cash reserve. A resident of York Township for 35 years, he has served as a township trustee, Oakbrook Terrace alderman, president of the Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District, president of the Oakbrook Terrace Lions Club, chairman of the DuPage County Crimestoppers and board member of the Illinois State Crime Commission. He is a member of the Elmhurst Masonic Lodge #941 and a Medinah Shriner.

Richard Veenstra has served as mayor of Addison since 2013, having served as deputy mayor since 1992. A village resident for 40 years, he is chairman of the Addison Town Center Planning Committee; past chairman of the Building, Zoning and Development Committee, Public Health, Safety and Judicial Committee, and Substance Responsibility Commission; and president of the St. Philip the Apostle Parish Council. A licensed pharmacist, Veenstra is general manager of Specialty Pharmacy for CVS/Caremark, a past board member of the Illinois Pharmacists Association and a past president of the DuPage Pharmacists Association. A member of the Americans of Italian Descent, …

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia is proud to honor local legal titan Louis C. Cairo as Man of the Year at its 45th annual dinner dance. The event will take place on April 11 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Louis is a senior partner at the GWC Law Firm: Chicago’s largest personal injury and workers’ compensation firm. Growing up as the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a union construction company in Northern Illinois, Louis acquired considerable experience with and respect for the men and women working in the construction industry. His close family upbringing has …

The Italian American Veterans Museum took a quantum leap forward on Sept. 28, celebrating its grand reopening with the dedication of a new exhibit celebrating Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients. State Senator Don Harmon and Stone Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla were among the dignitaries who took part in the noon dedication ceremony, which was attended by nearly 200 well-wishers, including more than four dozen veterans. The United States Navy Band from the Great Lakes Naval Station and the Marine Color Guard from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment from Foster Avenue in Chicago graced the event with their presence. Joe and …

The Flowers of Italy Club will honor a longstanding pillar of the community as their 2015 Man of the Year. Sonny Nicotera will take center stage when the venerable Melrose Park-based organization celebrates its 54th annual dinner dance on March 28 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. Born in Cicero, Nicotera moved with his family to Melrose Park as a teen to the house that he still calls home. He was a manager of the Dining Car Services for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad until his retirement 12 years ago. A longtime member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel …

High school Italian language instructors across the Chicago area are encouraging their students to sign up, study for and take the AP Italian exam. Students can register until mid-March either with their school testing coordinator or by visiting apcentral.collegeboard.com. A fee of $89 is payable by credit card. Seniors in Italian 4 are eligible. “Students who pass the exam can earn college credit,” AATI Midwest co-President Lyn Scolaro points out. “AP and Italian 4 students are enrolled in rigorous courses that require exemplary achievement that can benefit them as they continue their education.” (lyn.scolaro@d214.org)

I Ciceroni rang in the New Year at Porretta’s Banquets with plenty of food, music and conversation with a strong Italian flavor. Founded by language instructor Maria DiMarco to honor, maintain, practice and improve the Italian language skills of its members, the club meets the first Wednesday of every month at Nonna Graziella’s at Casa Italia in Stone Park. Speaking primarily in Italian, members enjoy dinner as DiMarco infuses vocabulary, grammar and culture lessons into the conversation. DiMarco also sends out a monthly communication filled with proverbs, poetry, lessons and news. (708-562-7915)