Community

  Retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Gloria Coco performed the world premiere of her one-woman show, “Finding Uncle Alfio,” in June at the Center at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Garden, New York. Now a writer and actor, Coco began the search for an uncle no one had seen since 1921 in response to her mother’s death-bed plea, “Gloria, find my little brother, Alfio.” The 4-year-old had died on Ellis Island while the family waited for their papers to begin their new lives as Americans, but Coco’s grandmother never knew what happened to her baby. “I knew my mother’s …

The Rev. John Paul Pezzi, MCCJ, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination at the Comboni Mission Center in LaGrange Park. Pezzi has been a missionary in Burundi, a journalist and editor in Italy and South America, the pro-rector of a Catholic University in Ecuador, and a parish priest among the pygmies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Rome, he managed the Comboni Missionaries’ website while working on behalf of the society’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission. He is currently in the United States working for JPIC with VIVAT International, a NGO with special consultative status at the …

  Illinois’ largest non-profit provider of emergency and transitional services for survivors of domestic violence recently lauded Dominic DiFrisco as a powerful advocate for the cause. During a fund-raising dinner at the Mid-America Club, WINGS CEO Rebecca Darr announced the Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be bestowed annually on men who follow DiFrisco’s example as crusaders against domestic violence. “Over the past few years, Dominic introduced WINGS to several new donors, such as Art Van Furniture, Smeraldina Artesian Water and Mariano’s,” says Darr. “Art Van graciously donated thousands of dollars of furniture for our new shelter and continues …

State Rep. John D’Amico recently helped pass legislation to strengthen and expand driver application standards for Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing companies. The D’Amico-backed House Bill 4416 measure aims to refine background checks to ensure that prohibited drivers can’t be hired. Ride-sharing companies are not allowed to hire applicants who have had three moving violations in three years or one major violation, such as attempting to evade the police, in the past year. Drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence or for committing fraud and other violent felonies in the past seven years also are disqualified.  

  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)