Community

Each year, more than three-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. ATTENZIONE! — All events are subject to cancellation, postponement, modification or restrictions based on current pandemic guidelines. Please call first to check …

As part of an ongoing effort to “save our stories,” Italian Cultural Center librarian Dominic Candeloro convened a roundtable discussion about a possible second volume of “Italian Women in Chicago: Madonna mia! QUI debbo vivere?” Published 10 years ago and spearheaded by Candeloro, the book features 40 accounts by scholars, journalists, freelance writers, researchers and first-person narrators, all of whom shed light on the history and experiences of Italian-American women in the Chicago area. Participants in the March 26 discussion included the editors and some of the writers of the first book. They discussed future essay subjects and possible contributors. …

Local Italian-American organizations are being urged to provide the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park with photos, documents, newspaper clippings, banners and other memorabilia for archiving purposes. “These societies are treasured institutions in our community. They embody a tradition of family and culture that has endured down the years and is woven into the fabric of our lives,” says Dominic Candeloro, director of the Cultural Center Library. “Their legacy must not be lost to current and future generations, but action must be taken now to avoid that tragedy.” (candeloro@casaitaliachicago.org, 847-951-9109)  

Comitato per gli italiani all’estero took part in a pair of vigils for Diego Damis, an Italian citizen who was murdered while walking home from his job at the Cove Lounge in Hyde Park on Feb. 25. Friends and co-workers of Damis held a candlelight vigil on March 4 at the site of the attack, and Com.It.Es hosted a vigil of its own on March 6 at Piazza Italia on Taylor Street. “Diego’s family flew in from Italy for the events. They thanked us for honoring their son and were very moved that our community remembered him,” says Com.It.Es President …

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 20th annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 17 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian First Vice President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented $10,000 CEF grants to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and to CASA Kane County at the event. On hand to accept the donations were Anthonia Warren of Lurie and Gloria Kelley and Amy Deaschler of CASA. Additional donations were made to both causes by Justinians and by guests who attended the event. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to …

State Rep. Bob Rita brought together state and local leaders on the frontlines of the fight against violent crime to explore solutions to the problems his constituents are facing. In late March, Rita hosted a “Combating Crime” roundtable discussion at Calumet Township Community Center in Calumet Park. On hand were mayors and police chiefs from the communities in Rita’s 28th House District, which covers south suburban Calumet Park, Blue Island, Riverdale, Oak Forest, Midlothian, Robbins, Posen and Crestwood. The discussion was led by top officials at the Illinois State Police, including ISP Director Brendan Kelly, Major Matt Gainer of the …

Dr. Paul E. DiFranco has risen through the ranks to the presidency of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. Joining him as officers are President-elect Dr. Mary Teresa Lima, Vice President Dr. Jessica Mattern, Treasurer Dr. Lauren Allegretti and Secretary Dr. Charles Martello. A member for eight years, DiFranco joined the Arcolians because he saw how much the organization meant to his father, the late Dr. Charles F. DiFranco, a past president and recipient of the Arcolian of the Year Award. “After I started to attend the meetings regularly, I could see why he loved it so much,” DiFranco says. “It’s …

Longtime community activist Carlo Vaniglia has been elected president of Comitato per gli Italiani all’Estero (The Committee for Italians Living Abroad). Joining Vaniglia on Com.It.Es are Vice President Pietro Lorenzini; Secretary Cristina Gorizio; Treasurer Ivana Di Piero; executives Michelangelo Gianpaoli and Francesco DiMaggio; and members Stefano Butera, Giovanni Geusa, Roberto Vinci, Carol D’Anca, Franco Franchi and Lucio Bosco. The above were elected by Italian citizens living in the jurisdiction of Italy’s Chicago consulate, which encompasses 11 states. The committee is responsible for communicating the needs of its constituents to the Italian consulate and for promoting Italian language, culture and history …

The Italian American Political Coalition honored a pair of local dynamos at its annual Heritage Celebration. Leyden Township Assessor Al Biancalana received the coalition’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, and DuPage County board member Sam Tornatore received the group’s William Paca Award. The following profiles were provided by the sponsoring organization: Al Biancalana Albert J. Biancalana Jr. is a native of west suburban Elmwood Park and has dedicated his life to the betterment of his community. He is the eldest son of Albert and Helen Biancalana and has two brothers, Jim (Judy) and the late Bob (Rose). He and …

They say it takes a whole village to raise a child. In the case of Casa Italia, Italian Americans across the metropolitan area recently rallied around the beloved institution. The Casa was hit particularly hard by the pandemic last year, canceling its spring gala and losing a quarter of its operating revenue in one fell swoop. But when the going got tough, the community kicked into a higher gear. Major donations flowed in from the Arcolian Dental Society, the Columbian Club, the Frank and Dolores Corbett Charitable Fund, the Italian American Veterans Museum, Italidea-Midwest, John Lagattuta, Dr. Paul and Ann …