Lisa Turano and her parents, Patricia and Renato, will figure prominently in Nazareth Academy’s 125th anniversary celebration June 6-7.  Lisa will receive one of this year’s Four Pillar awards, and all three will be acknowledged among the “125 Faces of Nazareth” in celebration of the La Grange Park high school 125th anniversary. The Four Pillars event will be celebrated on June 7 with a 4 p.m. followed by a reception from 5- 7 p.m. at the high school To make reservations, call Colleen Cook at 708-387-8506. “There is simply no missing the ‘Naz Spirit’ that Lisa Turano embodies,” promotional material …

The statue of Christopher Columbus that for decades graced Arrigo Park is heading back to the neighborhood it once called home after spending nearly five years in storage. After a protracted legal battle, the Chicago Park District has finally released the statue into the care of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. The cherished icon will be installed as the centerpiece of a new museum on Taylor Street dedicated to the Italian immigrants of Chicago. “This resolution is a huge victory for our community, and to all those who believe in free speech and artistic expression,” JCCIA President Ron …

If you’re just now finding out about the agreement to bring the Christopher Columbus statue back to the Near West Side, you might be disappointed to learn that it’s headed for a museum on Taylor Street rather than its pedestal in Arrigo Park. (For more, click here.) But those of us who watched the process unfold at the monthly meetings of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans can tell you just how triumphant the final accord truly is. As many of you know, the JCCIA is a congress of 50-plus local organizations tasked with acting on behalf of the …

State Rep. Bob Rita was named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Township Officials of Illinois in recognition of his commitment to township government and community service. Rita, who also serves as Calumet Township supervisor, was honored for his leadership in delivering essential services and advocating for policies that strengthen local government and improve residents’ lives. His township initiatives include a variety of programs for older adults, including a seniors-only DMV outpost, a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository that provides free produce twice a month, affordable lunch programs and exercise classes, and free rides for seniors …

Never underestimate the power of one person to make a difference, especially if that person has the vision, drive and reach of Pat Capriati. In a matter of months, Capriati was able to conjure an American-Italian Sister Cities relationship out of thin air, bringing together good people on both sides of the Atlantic who otherwise never would have met. It all started while Capriati was browsing through his Facebook feed. “A post by the Roselle Sister Cities Association Italian Committee caught my eye,” he explains. “I was aware of the committee but I didn’t know their counterpart in Italy so …

“Many hands make light work,” the Old Testament tells us, and that time-honored proverb is as true today as it was when the Jewish people rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls 2,500 years ago. For proof of that, you need look no further than Casa Italia during the holiday season. As many of you know, the village of Stone Park bought the property on which the Casa stands from the Missionaries of St. Charles in the waning months of 2024. Opinions may differ, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s a win-win-win situation. The Scalabrinians have been well compensated and the village has …

Now representing Italy on his sixth of seven continents, Chicago’s new consul general has been a part of several initiatives that have significantly impacted his country’s relationship with the rest of the world. Most of us have been in the proverbial right place at the right time at least once in our lives. Mario Bartoli, Italy’s new consul general in Chicago, has made a career of it. During nearly a quarter-century in the Italian diplomatic corps, Bartoli has played a role in easing tensions between North and South Korea, worked with local authorities to secure the release of two hostages …

Pompei Restaurant, a mainstay on Chicago’s Taylor Street, now offers its very own Italian-style Pilsner beer: the Pompei Pizza Pilsner. The restaurant collaborated with Marz Community Brewing Co. in Chicago to come up with the beer, available on draft and in cans, including four-packs. “This dry-hopped Italian Pilsner is balanced in its subtle complexity, crisp and delicious,” the restaurant posted on its Facebook page. “This Pils will pair well with more than just pizza! Our goal was to create a beer that complements our entire menu.” Pompei was established in 1909 by Luigi Davino, who gave the restaurant its name …

A trio of influential Italian pizza critics ranked Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe in Chicago as one of the top 10 places for a slice in the nation, Block Club Chicago reported. Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere compile the prestigious “50 Top Pizza Slices in the USA” rankings, and also put out a yearly list of the best pizzerias in Italy and other countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The restaurant at 2434 W. Montrose Ave. in Chicago, known for its New York-style pizza, ranked at No. 9. “It was a huge honor. The awards ceremony was all the …

Best known for his sculptural sprites in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Midway Gardens project, Alfonso Iannelli was instrumental in bringing about the modernist design movement in Chicago. One of the masterpieces that emerged from his Park Ridge studio was a plaster bust of Abraham Lincoln that has charted a curious course in recent decades. After Iannelli’s death in 1965, the Kelmscott Gallery in Chicago acquired much of his estate. The bust then made its way from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago and back to Iannelli’s studio, which was bought and transformed into the Iannelli Studios Heritage Center by the …