Community

There is strength in numbers, the adage goes, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Casa Italia in Stone Park, where numerous organizations will join forces to stage the Casa’s annual Christmas Village. The complimentary open house is slated for Dec. 1, 2024. The following organizations have signed on to participate at the time of publication: the Associazione Regionale Siciliana in America, Calabresi in America Organization, Associazione Regionale Pugliesi in America/San Nicola, Chicago West Suburban UNICO, Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization, Columbian Club of Chicago, Italian American Executives of Transportation, Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, Società San Francesco …

For the second year running, the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii will stage its Mary and Christmas concert on Dec. 7 in the McLaughlin Theater at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago while renovation progresses as part of Pompeii’s “Shining Brightly” campaign. Maestra Carling FitzSimmons will lead the shrine chorale and orchestra in a program of familiar Yuletide favorites and classics. Music will range from Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” to Mack Wilberg’s majestic arrangement of “O Holy Night,” as well as a host of timeless melodies of the season. The concert will feature performances by baritone Anthony Rago; …

  The Chicago Office of the Italian Trade Agency, the government agency entrusted with fostering international business growth of Italian companies and products in the United States, organized a U.S. trade delegation to the region of Puglia in October. The 11-member delegation included buyers from major U.S. supermarket chains with total combined annual sales of $21 billion. The group was led by Pat Capriati, a marketing promotion senior manager for ITA. Capriati collaborated with Unioncamere Puglia to coordinate more than 200 business-to-business meetings with leading local manufacturers of food and wines. Capriati focuses his marketing efforts on establishing collaborative agreements …

The “Italians in Chicago” traveling exhibit may be appearing at a public library near you in the not-too-distant future, thanks to the efforts of the volunteers at the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia. The idea for an exhibit documenting the Italian-American immigrant experience in Chicago was hatched in 1978 by Dominic Candeloro, who taught Italian-American studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago campus at the time. The display moved from concept to reality when a grant to create the exhibit was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The permanent exhibit was first displayed at the Chicago …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society will honor Dr. Joseph A. Favia as Arcolian of the Year at its Christmas party on Dec. 10 at The Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. Favia has been a member of the Arcolians since 1993, serving as the society’s president in 2014 and as its golf outing chairman for the past eight years. ArA graduate of the Loyola University School of Dentistry in 1993, he owns and operates Favia Family Dental in Arlington Heights, where he lives with his wife and three children. As the president of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce in 2010, …

Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto joined local and state officials in August to welcome Orlandino Greco, mayor of Castrolibero, Calabria, to Casa Italia in Stone Park. The get-together was organized by Tony Turano and the Calabresi in America Organization. Blue Island is sister cities with Castrolibero as well as Ripacandida, Basilicata, and Estancia de Animas, Mexico. “Earlier this year, my family and I had the honor of meeting Mayor Greco and his family during our trip through Italy, and it was a pleasure to return the favor and welcome his family to our community,” says Bilotto, who also visited Ripacandida …

Like so many other Chicago-area Italian Americans, Ron Onesti traces his stateside roots to the legendary Taylor Street Little Italy on the city’s Near West Side. His father’s parents settled there when they arrived from Italy, his father grew up and made lasting memories there, and Onesti was born in the neighborhood and went to school at St. Callistus until the third grade. As a result, Onesti has long harbored a dream to create a museum celebrating the countless Italian immigrants who risked so much to start a new life in America, and to locate that museum within the epicenter …

The Des Plaines Theatre was once again transformed into fashion week in New York for the Columbus Day Queen Contest, hosted on July 21 by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. Stadium-style seats were replaced with an expansive stage and runway flanked by chairs filled with audience members. Among 15 worthy contenders, Ava Selvaggi was named 2024 Columbus Day Queen. A recent graduate of Miami University, Selvaggi earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design with a minor in marketing, and is currently working for Digitas ad agency as an associate art director. Selvaggi is from a large extended family …

The American Delegation of Savoy Orders introduced a select group of guests to the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy on June 13 at The Chicago Club. Attendees enjoyed wine from the Piedmont region of Italy with ties to the former Italian royal family, who encouraged Nebbiolo production in the early 19th century. Hence, Barolo is the “Wine of Kings and King of Wines.” King Carlo Alberto and Risorgimento leader Camillo Benso, Conte di Cavour, were among the pioneers in the production of a high-quality dry red wine. Chicago author Don Fiore gave a brief introduction to his …

West suburban businessman Jack Ross was awarded a Congressional Commendation by U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez on July 9 for his heroic service during the Vietnam War. The owner of Manor Press in River Grove, he was wounded in action while serving as the squad’s point man, receiving two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and an Air Medal for his service. He has emerged as a leader in his community, serving as president of the River Grove Lions Club and a board member for Oak-Leyden Developmental Services and his alma mater, Guerin Prep High School. To view the video, click here. …