Community News

The Illinois/Wisconsin Grand Lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America welcomed a new lodge to the family. Lodge Amicizia #2999 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was chartered on Nov. 2 at Casa Capri in Kenosha. On hand for the ceremony were Lodge President Joseph Cardinali, National 4th Vice President Richard R. Della Croce, Grand Lodge President Paul R. Loparco and Immediate Past Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli. The lodge has 32 charter members.

The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art reopened to the public in November at 1220 Kensington Road in Oak Brook. The new facility includes improved exhibits and more space for educational programs, private rentals and a dedicated research library. All galleries are housed on the first floor and include multi-media installations. Opened in Elmhurst in 1962, the Lizzadro Museum houses one of the largest collections of hand-carved stone, minerals and gemstones in the world, thanks to the diligence of its founder, Joseph Lizzadro. For details, click here.

The In Her Shoes Foundation presented public health nutritionist Carl Amendola D’Anca with its 2019 Women Who Change the World Leadership Award. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Chicago Medical School, D’Anca has dedicated herself to “raising awareness, inspiring change and improving the health of the nation” in response to the growing problem of dietary illness in America. The author of two books about “real food,” she runs a nutrition education group that meets monthly, speaks at public venues and physician conferences, and hosts cooking class aimed at learning how to prepare healthful foods on a budget. …

During previous winters, you could either strain your back clearing away snow with a traditional shovel or spend several hundred dollars on a snow blower, but now there’s third option. Invented by community leader Frank Faraci; his father, Joe; and his friend Pete Masi, the Snow Viper lightens the load with a pair of wheels and streamlines the process with a pair of adjustable blades that shunt the snow to either side. It weighs only 12 pounds and folds to store flush against a wall. Made by hand and personally delivered locally, the Snow Viper sells for $149. Faraci is …

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations brought its message of unity to Chicago recently. Conference Chair Dr. Aileen Sirey, and Vice Chair Basil Russo met with representatives of 20 member organizations of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. The meeting was hosted by JCCIA President Sergio Giangrande. The meeting was part of a larger effort on the part of the conference to rally Italian-American organizations across the country. Russo talked about the importance of Italian-American organizations coordinating their efforts and speaking with a unified voice on important issues that impact our community, citing Christopher Columbus as …

The tradition began two centuries ago, when a mid-December procession bearing the Madonna del Triunfu from Palermo to Ciminna arrived later than expected. “They were supposed to arrive at 6 p.m., but they didn’t make it into town until 1 a.m.,” explains Tony Napoli. “They had been eating and drinking along the way, so they were happy and dancing.” That same festive spirit will reign on the evening of Dec. 14, when Società SS. Crocifisso & San Giovanni Bosco di Ciminna hosts its annual Triunfu celebration with a Mass, procession and dinner at Casa Italia. (Frank Faraci, 847-909-5805)

Frank Perrecone and Frank Fiorello were honored at the Greater Rockford Italian American Association’s annual Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Awards Banquet. A principal at the law firm of Ferolie and Perrecone, Hall of Fame inductee Perrecone is a former chairperson of GRIAA and a long-time volunteer at its events, including Festa Italiana. Special Recognition Award recipient Fiorello of Las Vegas established the Pumpkin Path in Caledonia, the main setting for the 10 children’s books he has written and illustrated. He also is the former newsroom artist and illustrator at the Rockford Register Star.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has commissioned Jo Ann Serpico as an Honorary Cook County Deputy Treasurer in recognition of her longtime activism in the Italian community. “Without Jo Ann’s contributions over many years, the Italian community would not be as vibrant as it is today,” Pappas said when presenting Serpico with her commission at a ceremony attended by about 20 community leaders. As an honorary deputy treasurer, Serpico will act as Pappas’ representative in the community. In part, she will encourage homeowners to use www.cookcountytreasurer.com to apply for available refunds and missing property tax exemptions. There is $79 million …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans has launched a pair of scholarship programs that takes academic financial aid up a notch. A $5,000 Frank J. Vigilante Scholarship will be presented to students of Italian extraction who demonstrate financial need and high academic achievement. In addition, a $6,500 Nick and Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to college students of Italian heritage, with preference given to music or education majors who are orphans or who were raised in foster homes. The scholarship may also be awarded for other fields of study “Due to the rising costs of a college …

Lovers of Italian language and culture are invited to join a lively group of Dante enthusiasts for an ongoing discussion of “La divina commedia” every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park. At each session, moderator Vincenzo DeVito introduces a canto with a short summary after which participants take turns reading from Dante’s “Purgatorio.” Readings are followed by a group discussion in Italian about the passage’s meaning, etymology, history and related critical commentary. Admission is free, and the text is available for $20. To join, contact group organizer Leo Colsant at colsant@sbcglobal.net.