Community News

  State Rep. Anthony DeLuca hosted a free veterans’ appreciation picnic at Veterans Memorial Park in Glenwood in June. More than 80 veterans and their family members shared food, conversation and bingo with DeLuca and other elected officials. The Chicago Heights Veterans Center was present to answer questions and assist veterans. “Veterans made sacrifices for our safety and freedom that we must not take for granted,” DeLuca says. “They deserve our thanks every day, not just on special holidays, and this picnic is a sign of our community’s gratitude.”  

  Approximately 350 members, honorees and guests gathered on April 28 at Medinah Shriners in Addison for CIACO’s 2018 Honor and Hope Gala. This year’s gala honored Humanitarian of the Year Remo Turano. In addition, 21 scholarships were awarded to college-bound students who qualified based on financial need and academic achievement. The event also featured the granting of financial awards to three area residents dealing with various disabilities — the family of Raymond Hildreth and veterans Jeff Sikes and Blaine Robinson. This year’s scholars were Isabella Amato, Olivia Ciolino, Annabella Console, Alexxa DeCarlo, William Ferraris, Daniel Frusolone, Griffin Homes, John …

  Former USA Baseball National Team Coach Peter Caliendo recently travelled to Havana, Cuba. and Lima, Peru, to offer a high-level baseball course for fellow coaches. Caliendo has taught baseball courses in more than 25 countries for more than 30 years. His course focused on the latest technologies, strategies and training methods. He also worked with some of the national team players. “It is an honor to go to other countries to spread the word about baseball so that the game will expand internationally,” Caliendo says. “More than 120 countries are playing the game and it keeps growing.” (www.caliendosportsinternational.com)  

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca is working with local officials to reduce the number of accidents and injuries that occur at the railroad crossing on 17th Street between Halsted Street and East End Avenue. “A public safety issue like this is a priority issue for me,” DeLuca said. “From 2012-16 this one location has had over 30 accidents with six injuries.” DeLuca has requested $250,000 in emergency funding from Illinois Transportation Secretary Randall Blackthorn to immediately institute safety improvements at and around the crossing. The construction project is projected to cost $600,000, the remainder of which the City of Chicago Heights …

  State Rep. John D’Amico helped welcome members of the Loyola University basketball team to Springfield. Leading the delegation from Loyola were Coach Porter Moser and Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt, the 98-year-old team chaplain. “Countless negative stories come from the sports world,” said D’Amico. “I am so proud that a Chicago basketball team could captivate the country through great sportsmanship and teamwork.” After only three winning seasons over the past 30 years, Moser led Loyola to 32 wins, a Missouri Valley Conference title, Loyola’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 1985, and a Final Four finish.  

  The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish & Shrine of in Melrose Park will host a weekend of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the church. Festivities begin with an outdoor concert at 7:30 p.m. on June 8, followed by an ice cream social hosted by the parish Scout troop after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on June 9, and a Jubilee Mass at 1:30 p.m. on June 10 celebrated by Bishop John R. Manz. The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will celebrate its 125th anniversary on July 15. (708-344-4140, www.olmcparish.org)

Jazz singer Paul Marinaro collapsed at Winter’s Jazz Club in December 2017 with a case of diverticulitis so severe it burst his intestines and brought him to the brink of death. Lacking health insurance, Marinaro would have been buried in medical bills were it not for the Chicago jazz community, which rallied support through a GoFundMe campaign and benefits at local clubs. Fellow performers have launched individual campaigns and cared for the singer at his Evanston apartment. Marinaro is on the mend, but requires an additional surgery. To lend a hand, click here for the gofundme page.

Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana is aiming to cap off its 45th anniversary year with new uniform hats for its musicians. One of the few authentic Italian festival bands left in America, the ensemble was launched by Raffaele Strocchia in 1926, and is now run by Strocchia’s cousin Marty Caliendo. “All of the years playing outdoors in virtually every type of weather has taken a toll on the hats,” Caliendo notes. “Many are worn out so badly they are barely holding together and some musicians simply don’t have one.” To lend a hand, click here to visit their gofundme page.

Legislation spearheaded by State Rep. Anthony DeLuca will hold state agencies and their finances more accountable. The law went into effect on Jan. 1. DeLuca’s Debt Transparency Act requires state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding monthly so that taxpayers will know the true extent of the state’s debt, as well as an estimate of the penalties paid on late bills. “Since 2014, the backlog of unpaid bills has increased to over $15 billion,” DeLuca notes. “When agencies fail to report their past due bills, it results in unnecessary late fees and penalties that hard-working families are responsible …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation held their 2017 Dinner Dance at Alta Villa Banquets on Nov. 19. More than 600 were in attendance, making it one of the largest dinner dances of the year. Dominic Romanazzi was honored as Man of the Year, and Wayne Bubak was honored as Humanitarian. Past IAET honoree Lou Cairo did a tremendous job as master of ceremonies. As president of Teamsters 330, Dominic represents more than 2,000 members working in virtually every industry including public employee, construction, ready warehouse, beverage, school bus and waste removal. He handles administration and all major negotiations for …