Community News

When Azzurri fans heard that the Bartucci family was hosting a screening of the Eurocup final at Piazza Italia, they turned out in droves. The parking lot was awash with green, white and red as audience members gritted their way through a tense match between Italy and England. When the Azzurri emerged victorious, the crowd erupted into a celebration that poured out onto Harlem Avenue. “It was a proud day for the community and for our Little Italy,” said Harlem Avenue Little Italy Business Association President Gino Bartucci.  

The Northern Illinois University College of Law celebrated both the classes of 2020 and 2021 on May 31 in separate ceremonies at the NIU Convocation Center. Alumnus Robert Fioretti (’78) served as the commencement speaker for both ceremonies. “We are at a moment in time that is calling all of us to make a difference,” said Fioretti during his commencement address. He charged the graduates to use their talents to make a positive difference in our world. He also encouraged them to be open-minded, act as change agents, dedicate themselves to issues they are passionate about and stay true to …

Samuel J. Tinaglia Jr. recently rappelled 30 stories down the side of the Hyatt Hotel on the Chicago River during the Make-a-Wish Foundation Over the Edge fundraising event. Tinaglia and fellow rapellers raised $300,000 toward the granting of wishes for children with critical illnesses. A five-time cancer survivor and Make-a-Wish grant recipient, Tinaglia graduated with highest honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor of science in recreation, sport and tourism. He is the son of Fra Noi correspondent Samuel J. Tinaglia Sr.  

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored Jennifer Lyons and Antonio M. Romanucci at this year’s Dante Awards luncheon. The organization provided these profiles. JENNIFER LYONS Jennifer Lyons received the Dante Award. She is a celebrated television news executive with more than 30 years of experience, most of it in Chicago, the third largest television market in the United States. The former vice president of news for WGN America, Lyons oversaw the design and buildout of a 24-hour newsroom and studio and the creation and launch of a new national cable news outlet. She worked in a variety of …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans has filed a complaint in the Chancery Court of Cook County against the Chicago Park District in an effort to return the Columbus statue to its original location in Arrigo Park. “On July 24, 2020, it is believed that Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the removal of the city’s three Columbus statues, claiming it as a safety measure during protests and civil unrest,” the JCCIA noted in a press release. “It was to be ‘temporary,’ and the JCCIA’s position is that a year is long enough.” “We have reached out to the park district …

Attorney John J. Lag was enjoying the atmosphere at the Festa Pasta Vino at 24th & Oakley when he saw something that stopped him in his tracks. “It was a remarkably beautiful stained-glass window with vibrant colors that caught my eye. It was an image of Bishop John Scalabrini and I just had to buy it,” Lag says. “It was being sold without provenance, without any information as to its origin or the artisan who created it, but I couldn’t pass it up. “Clearly, I couldn’t keep it at the family home and then it dawned on me. This magnificent …

Società Santa Fara di Cinisi has been a beacon of italianità at Addison Street and Oleander Avenue in Chicago since the organization opened the doors to its social hall and chapel on the northeast corner of the intersection in 1985. The society’s light shines a little brighter now that the city has named Oleander from Addison to Waveland Avenue Honorary Via Santa Fara di Cinisi. “We approached [36th Ward] Alderman [Nicholas] Sposato with the idea, and he was more than happy to help,” says society President Carlo Vaniglia. “We need to be proud of our heritage and show that pride …

With state restrictions finally lifted, Casa Italia is back in full swing. The Casa got the ball rolling in June with the revival of its bocce league. The 10-week tourney pits 16 teams of four against each other in a pitched battle for coveted trophies plus bragging rights until next year’s competition. Having gathered via Zoom last year, I-A Literati convened its annual celebration of Italian-American authors in person at the Cultural Center in July. Terry Quilico’s play “Seatonville” premiered afterward in the Community Center. Società Beato Giovanni Liccio di Caccamo hosted its annual festa at the end of July …

In June 2020, as attacks on Columbus statues across the country heated up, a group of Italian Americans led by Carlo Vaniglia started meeting at Arrigo Park in Little Italy every Sunday morning. Originally dubbed “Coffee with Columbus,” the gatherings were meant as a peaceful show of support for their heritage. When the city of Chicago decided to remove the Columbus statues in the middle of the night, the get-togethers morphed into a protest against the move. In the months that followed, others joined in and the Chicago Italian-American Patriots group was born. The Patriots organized a 2020 Columbus Day …

In lieu of their annual Memorial Day remembrance, which was canceled due to COVID-19, the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club made a donation to the Fisher House at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. Hines Fisher House provides a home away from home for the family members, caregivers and loved ones of patients receiving medical care at Hines. “We’re proud to be honoring our veterans with this contribution for such a worthy cause,” says ONIAC member Pete Scalise, who presented Fisher House Manager Holly Wright with the donation.