Patronato Acli, an agency that provides a variety of services to Italian citizens, has made the leap from the Office Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park to the Italian Cultural Center. The move took place at the beginning of the year, when the Office Center was shuttered after the property was acquired by the village of Stone Park. The office handles pension claims; provides consular, immigration and notary services; offers citizenship consulting; and does translations, apostilles and transcriptions of change-of-status documents like birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates. To make an appointment, call 708-345-0522.  

This year, Anichini Brothers celebrates 100 years of their family-operated business. The company has grown from a small grocery store with prime cuts of meat and high-quality sausages to a wholesale food-distribution company based at 545 N. Wells St. in Chicago. Silvio Anichini started the business with his brothers after emigrating from Lucca, in Tuscany. Anichini’s son-in-law, Salvatore Gaddini, recognized the importance of the pizza market and expanded the business to include sausage made in-house. The company offers six types of Italian sausage: Premium Italian Rope Sausage with Fennel; Premium Italian Rope Sausage with Garlic; Premium “Spicy” Italian Rope Sausage; …

A couple who had their first date at Italian mainstay Club Lucky in Chicago about 20 years ago once again left a massive tip the Friday before Valentine’s Day. The generous tippers wish to remain anonymous, executive general manager Thomas Kleiner told Block Club Chicago. In 2021, 2022 and 2024, the couple left $2,000 tips. This year, the couple tipped $3,000 on a $120.38 check. At the couple’s request, the tip was split among the staff that night, some of whom have worked at the restaurant for decades. For more, click here.

Boasting a family-friendly and garden-inspired atmosphere, Giardino Trattoria & Pizzeria opened late last year at 12 N. River St. in the historic Hobbs Building in Aurora, the Daily Herald reported. The menu features wood-fired pizza and a wide range of Italian dishes, including handmade pasta. Chef Ruben de la Cruz previously worked at Hugo’s Frog Bar and specializes in seafood and Italian cooking. Chef Martin Balderas focuses on innovative Italian dishes with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. For more, click here.

The Italian American Executives of Transportation held its second annual Augustus Caesar Awards on Feb. 1 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. This year’s event honored nine young professionals who are excelling in their fields and exhibit potential for future success. The honorees were Nicky Amore (financial planning), Alex Corbo (law enforcement), Stephanie Corona (educational services), Rachel Matug (special education), Gianni Morrone (restaurant services), Anthony Palladino (medical marketing), Philip J. Sasso (audiovisual technology/entertainment), Nicole Sisco (food and beverage, planning/aviation) and Valerie Timpone (government services/judicial system). “These awards showcase young talent in our community who have made a significant impact in their …

Super Lawyers magazine has named 11 attorneys at Chicago-based Romanucci & Blandin to its 2025 Top 100 Super Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Rising Stars. Founding partner Antonio Romanucci ranked No. 3 on the Illinois list and senior partner Frank Sommario was among the Top 100 Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers relies on peer selection and review, third-party research and professional achievement to curate its lists. Candidates are eligible as Rising Stars if they are 40 or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less. Only 5% of attorneys in Illinois earned the Super Lawyer title and …

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking North American families who are willing to host girls and boys, ages 15 to 18, from Italy and more than 50 other countries. The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance, and are carefully selected based upon academics and personality, according to ASSE Midwest Regional Director Saphia Lesch. ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to spend a school year, semester or summer with a host family in another country. (800-736-1760)

Political consultant Enza Raineri has joined Mercury Public Affairs, a bipartisan Chicago-based public-strategy firm. Raineri brings more than 40 years of experience to Mercury-Illinois in the arenas of government relations, public relations, crisis communications, community outreach and large-scale operations management. She served the Clerk of the Circuit Court for 30 years in operations, press relations and public policy roles. After retiring from Cook County government in 2019, Raineri started her own consulting practice, where she has worked on a variety of campaigns, including for the Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Appellate Court, mayor of Los Angeles, mayor of Chicago and international …

by Judge Megan Goldish and Michael Cabonargi While so many towns in other European nations were sending their Jewish neighbors to the Nazi death camps, the residents of Pitigliano sheltered all of theirs from harm. Perhaps, as you’ve strolled through the streets of Rome, eating gelato and trying to navigate cobblestones, you may have noticed small, polished brass plaques embedded in the sidewalks in front of doorways. These “stolpersteine,” or “stumbling stones,” contain inscriptions: They are intimate memorials commemorating individual victims of the Holocaust at their last place of residence before they were deported or killed by the Nazis. Each …

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Labriola restaurant at 535 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Its menu features a variety of pasta and pizza, including thin-crust, deep-dish, thin deep-dish and gluten-free. Founder Rich Labriola, a native of Blue Island in south suburban Chicago, first established the Labriola Baking Company in 1993, which he eventually sold. Labriola’s Doughboy Restaurant Group also includes Labriola Ristorante in Oak Brook and LaBarra Ristorante, also in Oak Brook. In addition, Labriola owns and operates 16 Stan’s Donuts & Coffee locations in Chicago. For more, click here.