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The Mazzini-Verdi Club started December off with a bang, honoring Steve Menconi and Catherine Di Venere Ciminello as Man and Woman of the Year at its Dec. 3 President’s Ball. On the menu were an outstanding dinner and dancing that went well into the evening. Then came the Ladies Club’s Dec. 17 Christmas party, featuring a decorated tree and other traditional décor, carols in English and Italian, delicious home-baked treats and elegant baskets created by members to be raffled off. Two weeks later, more than 160 revelers partied until well after midnight at the club’s New Year’s Eve bash. (847-671-0055) …

The Lucchesi nel Mondo of Chicago celebrated a time-honored Italian tradition at a family-friendly gathering on Jan. 8 at the Mazzini Verdi Club in Franklin Park. Nearly 40 children and more than 60 adults were treated to a delicious lunch followed by a meet and greet with La Befana, who handed out gifts to every child 12 years of age and under. In Italian folklore, La Befana travels throughout the world on the Feast of the Epiphany distributing presents to all of the good girls and boys.

Società Santa Fara di Cinisi attracted more than 300 guests to its annual dinner dance on Dec. 3 at Allegra Banquets in Schiller Park. The theme of the event was “Building Bridges to Cinisi,” the town in Sicily to which many of the members trace their roots. The gathering was attended by Cinisi Vice Mayor Aldo Ruffino; town Assessor Marina Maltese; and Padre Antonio Ortoleva, pastor of Santa Fara Church in Cinisi. Vice Consul General Marina Balestra also attended, presenting the society with a congratulatory letter. “Since there are very few Italian immigrants nowadays, it’s important that the younger generation …

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame will hosted its 44th annual gala and induction ceremony on Feb. 17 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. This year’s inductees were LPGA champion Missie Bereotti, Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Faneca, Henry Repeating Arms Founder and CEO Anthony Imperato, White Sox legend Paul Konerko and Washington Nationals President Mike Rizzo. Patrick A. Salvi was honored as Sportsman of the Year at the event. An attorney and founder of SSP Trial Lawyers, Salvi also founded Salvi Sports Enterprise. A consulting firm that provides strategic planning for minor league sports teams, …

The Justinian Society of Lawyers bestowed 21 scholarships totaling $54,000 at their 2022 installation and awards gala. That total doesn’t include matching grants from law schools. The recipients were Isabella Mazzanti, Nicole Alfano, Kimberly Bernhard, Adriana Bosco, Evan Deichstetter, Frank DiLeo, Marla Fontana, Carol Frugoli, Giana Galle, Arabella Gigliotti, Brandon Grant, Dorthea Keys Kohon, Monika Nasiadka, Olivia Raimondi, Joseph Ranieri, Sabrina Scardamaglia, Marissa Scavelli, Krista Solano, Kaitlin Stanfield, Christina Valentini and Nicholas Zito.    

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca is spearheading a measure that would help municipalities receive funds that are currently being unfairly withheld by utility companies. DeLuca’s Senate Bill 1794 addresses the concerns of municipalities that are owed thousands or even millions by utility companies due to errors in tax remittance. Under current practices, when a municipality levies a local tax on utilities, the companies collect the tax via a consumer’s monthly bill and then distribute the money to applicable municipalities. In recent years, records discrepancies between utilities and municipalities have prevented substantial tax dollars from reaching the appropriate government body.  

National Italian American Foundation President and Fra Noi contributor Robert Allegrini was accorded an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 8. During the encounter, Allegrini conveyed to the Holy Father the best wishes of the Italian-American community for a happy Columbus Day. He also spoke to Pope Francis of their common Piemontese origins and the strength of the global Piemontese diaspora. The papal audience was arranged by the Vatican pediatric hospital Bambino Gesù. Allegrini serves as a member of the hospital’s U.S. foundation board.  

The Avanti Group held its fall Aperitivo Night on Sept. 16. More than 150 young professional Italian Americans from across the Chicago area converged on Gold Coast hotspot Blum Restaurant and Bar to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and dance to the music of DJ Lorenzo. Club President Pasquale Gianni remarked on the importance of celebrating our heritage and preserving Columbus Day, as well as what it means to be Italian. Sponsors included Martini & Rossi and Patrick BMW. You can follow the Avanti Group on Instagram at avanti_club_chicago.  

Associazione Regionale Campania di Chicago was well represented at this year’s Festa Campani nel Mondo. Organized by the Campania Federation of New York, the event was held on Oct. 2 at Villa Barone Manor Banquets in the Bronx, New York. Fabrizio Di Michele, Italy’s consul general in New York, was in attendance, along with the officers and members of several Campani associations from across the country. Representing Chicago were (pictured, from left) ARC President Filippo Aliperta and his wife, Angela; Vice President Ida Atteo; and Secretary Ippolita Bifero.  

More than 300 people gathered in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Oct. 9 to celebrate Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month. A 1 p.m. ceremony at the Columbus statue in the city’s Central Park featured presentations by Mayor Dave Wood and St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman as well as by representatives of clubs from St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. The crowd applauded Wood’s announcement that the statue would remain as long as he is mayor. The celebration marked the 30th anniversary of the statue being erected in the park. The sculptor, David Layman, talked briefly about the statue’s history. Festivities continued …