Community News

The Sons and Daughters of Italy in America will turn out in force at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg on July 21 when the Schaumburg Boomers take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles of Quebec. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for members and $24 for non-members, with the cost covering seating along the first base line on the home side of the field and a hot dog, chips and beverage. Activities for the kids before and during the game and fireworks are included in the festivities. (president.sadia@gmail.com)  

Marissa De Paoli and Michael Carioscia are engaged to be married, after Mike proposed during a walk after dinner on the first night of a trip to Vail, Colorado. “The scenery was beautiful, and it felt like the perfect moment,” Mike says. “The first thing we did was call our family to let them know the news.” The couple met at Hardcore Italians, a producer and marketer of Italian pride products that Mike co-founded with his father in 2011. “Marissa started as a brand ambassador and would take photos wearing the merchandise to help us with promotions. Since I did …

Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti has taken the organization’s battle on behalf of Christopher Columbus to a whole new level in recent months. In late March, Onesti spearheaded a JCCIA-hosted Tour of Italy at the Wyndham Springfield that attracted more than 250 state representatives and senators as well as lobbyists from all ethnic groups. Bedecked in red, white and green, the hotel’s penthouse was brimming with delicious Italian food and enlivened by classic Italian tunes during an “event like Springfield has never seen,” according to State Rep. Anthony DeLuca. “We wanted to let the state government …

The Calabresi in America Organization is no stranger to high-profile, large-scale events, co-hosting a massive summer festival with Società San Francesco di Paola in August, a wildly popular trip to Calabria in September and a well-attended dinner dance in October. Smaller in scope, their St. Joseph Table still packs some fundraising wallop. More than 200 members and guests took part in this year’s event, which generated $5,000 in donations to Casa Italia. The check was presented by CIAO President Chris DeSanto (on the right in the photo) to Casa Chairman Ron Onesti at the Casa’s April board meeting.  

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 21st annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 16 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in CEF grants at the event to the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Direct Effect Charities and St. Anthony Hospital. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community, and we thank all members who have contributed,” Marasso said. “Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, …

The San Rocco di Potenza Society hosted its annual pasta dinner and St Joseph Sweet Table at St. William Church on March 4. The event was attended by 250 guests and featured a lavish spread of zeppoli, cannoli, cookies, fruit and other treats. Society President Vince Cataldo, event chairmen Vito Rago and Phil Parker, and Women’s Auxiliary President Josephine Bax presented donations to St. William’s Pastor Fr. Richard Gro in support of the parish, its school and St. Vincent DePaul Society. “Society members came together as always to benefit our host parish and our feast tradition,” Cataldo says. “We’re truly …

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii is inviting current and former parishioners to purchase a paver for placement in the Shrine’s Garden of Remembrance. “If you’ve ever had a special moment in this sacred place, if you’d like to honor a loved one or commemorate a special date, please consider being a part of our Garden of Remembrance,” Shrine Rector the Rev. Richard Fragomeni says. The garden is located south of the Holy Family statue, and 100 bricks are already installed. With every 100 bricks sold, another installation will take place. A 4-by-8-inch brick costs $250 and is customizable …

Each year, more than two-dozen Italian patron saint celebrations grace the Chicago area. Kept alive by paesani from villages and cities across Italy, these events preserve some of the most cherished of our traditions. Festivities range from simple religious services to solemn masses and processions to family festivals that last several days. But they all have one thing in common: devotion to the spiritual protectors of la bell’Italia. At press time, information was available on the following events. JUNE 4 THE FEAST OF SAN PIO at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago is sponsored by the Italian Catholic Federation Branch …

Casa Italia Library curator Dominic Candeloro, Maria SS. Lauretana Society President Joe Camarda and Italian Radio Theater founder Gino Nuccio had the chance to catch up recently. With nearly two centuries of combined service to the community, they had a lot to talk about. Their spirited discussion took place at the Lauretana lodge after a screening of Michael Cavalieri’s film “La porta dell’inferno,” about sulfur miners in Sicily. The filmmaker’s appearance at the screening was made possible by Professor Carla Simonini, director of the Rubino Italian American Program at Loyola University.  

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park unveiled a restored and enhanced Italians in Chicago exhibit at an open house from 6-9 p.m. on May 12. Archivists Terry Quilico and Barbara Stasell began work on the project two years ago under the direction of the exhibit’s creator, ICC Library Curator Dominic Candeloro. “The exhibit was renovated in the 1990s, but due to the deterioration of some of the displays, we decided that further renovations were needed,” Candeloro says. “As work progressed, we realized that there were significant aspects of the history of Italians in Chicago that were …