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State Rep. John D’Amico passed legislation aimed at helping law enforcement keep better track of plates on the road by creating a universal special license plate. The Universal Special License Plate created by House Bill 1081 will have a space on the plate for each organization’s unique decal. Current specialty plates will remain as long as the number of applicants remains above 2,000. If the number of applicants for the plates falls below 1,000 for two calendar years, the plates will be exchanged for universal plates. All military plates will be exempt from these terms. The bill awaits consideration by …

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca recently passed House Bill 113 prohibiting state officials from making funding announcements immediately before a general election. Under current law, state officials are prohibited during the ‘blackout’ period before an election from using their name, image or voice on any type of correspondence using taxpayer money. This prohibition includes using taxpayer money to distribute promotional materials, including mail to constituents, about new laws or upcoming votes. DeLuca’s legislation would extend this ‘blackout’ to include publically announcing grants and contracts awarded as well. The bill passed the house unanimously and has been sent to the Senate for …

  Aubry Bozzano and Sofia Console were crowned Miss Illinois United States and Little Miss Illinois United States respectively at a March pageant at the Copernicus Center in Chicago. The daughter of Anthony and Sherry Bozzano, 28-year-old Aubry lives in Chicago and manages integrated marketing campaigns for clients at a downtown ad agency. “I felt so honored among all of the other delegates to be chosen as the representative,” she says. “It was all a blur when it happen, but it shows hard work and determination pay off. I couldn’t be more excited to represent my state.” Aubry attended Mother …

  Close your eyes. Now imagine your child dressed in the most beautiful fairy costume, dancing and twirling among the flowers, nestled in a life sized bird’s nest, playing in the turret of a stone castle or peaking out from behind a magical tree. Now imagine having that moment gracing the pages of a beautiful calendar. Do not miss this once-of-a-kind opportunity to have your child photographed as a fairy. The portrait sessions for the Beautiful Things with WINGS 2016 calendar will take place June 15-19 and July 14-17. The portraits will be created in various gardens throughout the Northwest …

THE FEAST OF BEATO GIOVANNI LICCIO at Casa Italia in Stone Park is sponsored by Società Beato Giovanni Liccio di Caccamo. Festivities culminate on July 26 with a noon Mass followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago and a family festival featuring food, live entertainment and activities for children. A coroncina and Mass will be celebrated at Cappella Beato Giovanni in Chicago from July 19 to 24. (Tony Sapienza, 630-935-6998)  

  Casa Italia’s Person of the Year Gala brought together hundreds of well-wishers from the legal, labor and Italian-American communities to raise crucial funds for the Casa and pay tribute to attorney Louis C. Cairo. Casa Chairman Dan Corrado, Dinner Dance Chairman Giuseppe Zerillo and longtime friend Mario Manfredini set the stage for Cairo, who spoke glowingly of his firm, his family, his heritage and the Casa. A cash raffle and a rousing live auction called by Steve Corbo brought in additional funds.   http://casaitaliachicago.net                          

  The Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization one-upped itself at this year’s Honor & Hope Gala, bestowing 20 scholarships at $2,500 each, plus an additional $35,000 in grants to two military veterans and three families with medical hardships, for a grand total of $85,000. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who was made an honorary CIACO member at the event, introduced Dominic Saverino Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient Joe Calafiore. Bridget Fretz received a CIACO grant to assist with the care of her son, Austin, a veteran who was critically injured in a car accident after completion of his …

  State Rep. John D’Amico joined his constituents in support of childhood epilepsy research at a “Toast to Danny” fundraiser for the Danny Did Foundation at the Gale Street Inn. The Danny Did Foundation was founded by Mike and Mariann Stanton after the unexpected death of their 4-year-old child, Danny. The foundation raises awareness about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy and raises funds to help families with children suffering from epilepsy. “I’m privileged to have been a part of this event, and I commend Danny Did for their efforts in going above and beyond to help children with epilepsy,” D’Amico …

  To help area women learn how to better protect themselves, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, hosted a women’s self-defense seminar in late March. Attendees were taught basic self-defense techniques by martial arts instructor Master Daniel Kocsis. “Knowing what to do in an emergency is important,” DeLuca said. “Having the ability to practice self-defense techniques provides women with peace of mind that they know what to do if the situation arises. I look forward to continuing these workshops and being able to go more in-depth with this training.”  

The Kalo Foundation/Iannelli Studios Heritage Center of Park Ridge welcomed the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in March to view the studio’s 11-foot statue of the Madonna. The visit was facilitated by alumnae of Chicago’s former Immaculata High School, which the statue once graced. The Madonna was designed in 1922 by sculptor Alphonso Iannelli and commissioned by architect Barry Byrne, who was hired by the BVM nuns to design Immaculata. After the sisters closed the school and sold the building in 1981, the sculpture was removed by the purchasers and donated to the Smart Museum at the …