Community

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 …

St. Peter’s, the architectural wonder that dominates the skyline of Rome, is more accessible than you think. The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia houses its own capolavoro of the iconic basilica and its adjacent piazza. Just take a short car ride to west suburban Stone Park and an invigorating ascent to the third floor, and there it is in all its glory. The magnificent 1:100 scale replica was conjured out of hand-carved soft wood over a five-year period in the 1940s by the father-and-son team of Attilio and Lucio Savoia. It was donated to the cultural center in the …

Tylor Serpico has been named to the Dean’s List of Loyola University of Chicago’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A freshman with a 4.0 grade point average, Tylor is majoring in history and minoring in Italian. A resident of Elmhurst, he does volunteer work for the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie Conservation Group. Also active in the Italian community, he has lent a hand at the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans’ Columbus Day queen contest as well as the Feast of San Francesco di Paola at Casa Italia. His grandmother, JCCIA Executive Director Jo Ann Serpico, has every reason …

Underscoring the need to help lower taxes for homeowners and keep tax dollars local, state Rep. Anthony DeLuca is leading a legislative effort to increase the amount of money local governments receive from the Local Government Distributive Fund. DeLuca’s House Bill 4169 would increase the state income tax transfer amount into the LGDF. Currently, 6.06 percent of individual income tax revenues and 6.85 percent of corporate income tax revenues are distributed to local governments. DeLuca’s proposal would raise this distribution to 8 percent of individual income taxes and 9.11 percent of corporate income taxes, comparable to state commitments in the …

The Italian American War Veterans and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans did a stellar job of rallying the troops for their commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Braving freezing winds, more than 50 veterans and civic leaders converged on Navy Pier for the Dec. 7 event, which featured an honor guard, taps and a wreath cast upon the surface of Lake Michigan from the east end of the pier. World War II veteran Carl Liture was the guest of honor for the occasion, which was live streamed on WGN-TV. To view the coverage, …

Chicago attorney Frank Sommario received the Justinian Society of Lawyers 2021 Award of Excellence at a Nov. 18 gala at Gibson’s Italia. The award was presented by Justinian President Dion Davi. “I am humbled to be the 2021 Award of Excellence recipient,” Sommario says. “I have been a member since my first year of law school, and being recognized in this way is a great honor.” A senior partner at the law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, Sommario is a past Justinian president and currently serves on the society’s executive committee as its comptroller.  

Do you know someone with a compelling story about achieving the Italian-American dream? The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans has launched an oral history project to preserve these stories for posterity. The project gathers tales of adversity and triumph in the transition from life in Italy to life in America. Interviewees share their own life experiences or anecdotes told to them by their parents and grandparents. The videos meld audio recordings with evocative historical photos. Here are a few of the oral histories that have been archived so far: John Cavallone follows his great-grandparents’ journey from Sassano, Italy, to …

After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, the bocce courts at the Mazzini Verdi Club opened for business last July. The women’s bocce league at the club took full advantage, launching a weekly tournament that lasted through November. Out of a field of 25 players, six finalists competed for top honors. The victors were Roberta Tofanelli, first place; Pina Lepri, second place; and Lilia Leonardi Juarez, third place. The league will embark on its spring season in April.

The Associazione Lucchesi Nel Mondo celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ceremony saluting 12 noteworthy individuals from around the world who trace their lineage back to the province of Lucca. Honorees have distinguished themselves in the areas of business and volunteerism, contributing to the economic and social growth of the nations in which they currently reside. A pair of Chicago-area residents — Steve Menconi and Perry DiGirolamo — were among the recipients of the Medaglie D’Oro. They received their awards on Sept. 13 in the city of Lucca. Born in Chicago, Menconi traces his roots to Massa Macinaia in the province …