Community

by Joanne Spata Autumn was in the air, mingling with the aromas, sights and sounds of Italy, as Casa Italia celebrated its 5th annual Italian Fall Festival. Nestled on the grounds of Casa Italia, the festive weekend of Oct. 15 and 16 featured continuous musical entertainment, cultural events and Italian delicacies as far as the eye could see. No matter what time you arrived, you were treated to the musical strains of Enzo and Liliana Incandela, Marco Margaritelli, Vince Amore or Johnny Maggio, who filled the Casa Italia grounds with the beautiful sounds of Italian melodies. And, of course, there …

by John Rizzo There is no question that the 2011 Li-Puma-Raimondi Awards event was the best ever. This is due in no small part to the impressive star power involved this time around. There are actually two groups of stars that should be cited. Of course there are the young singers, the scholarship winners, whose brilliant artistry provided the evening’s entertainment. But perhaps the most important stars are the people who funded the awards — those who have stepped up to the plate to champion great Italian culture in a tangible way that must be respected. First we hail the …

by Lisa Perkins On a mild Sunday afternoon at the beginning of December, Casa Italia was home of the first-ever Christmas Village hosted jointly by Casa Italia, Calabresi in America Organization, Societa San Francesco di Paola, Casa Puglia and the Italian American Executives of Transportation. According to Tony Turano, President of the Casa Italia, the idea has been discussed for nearly 10 years and he was happy to be a part of its beginning. The purpose of the day was to bring together as many Italian-American organizations as possible to celebrate the spirit of Christmas as well as to celebrate …

by Darrell Marchioretto The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia was the setting for merrymaking Italian-style during the annual Italian Language Program’s Buon Natale Celebration. Held on December 11, 2011, in the Community Center of Casa Italia, nearly 200 supporters of the ICC’s language program came to share in the festivities. Italian Language Coordinator Nella Incandela kicked off the afternoon by thanking all those in attendance, as well as her many Italian language teachers, who had turned out to share the fruits of their labors with the audience. Mrs. Incandela then introduced Fr. August Feccia, who gave the invocation for …

by Joanne Spata Do you like wine, cheese and music? Who doesn’t? Now imagine enjoying some of your favorite things while surrounded by the aroma of Italian specialty foods, continuous entertainment, children’s games and beautiful museums bursting with artifacts of our rich heritage and culture. This is not a dream; it is Casa Italia’s Sixth Annual Fall Festival! Festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 7 at Casa Italia; which is located two blocks east of Mannheim, south of North Avenue and north of Lake Street in Stone Park. This weekend extravaganza crams into …

On September 29 and 30, Radio Maria is having a rummage sale where you will find a variety of items — from electronics and ceramics, to dresses, books, CD’s, vintage records, etc. — all to be purchased for an unbeatable price. This will be held at the Festival Center of Casa Italia, entrance on 37th Avenue and Soffel Street, Stone Park. The public is invited to support this worthy cause to keep Radio Maria on the air. Radio Maria is a religious program with news, Mass, the Rosary, prayers, and questions and answers strengthening our journey of faith. If you …

by John Rizzo It was a rainy evening, but that did not dampen the spirits of the opera fans who attended the community’s annual showcase of vocal artistry on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, at Casa Italia. The Vocal Scholarship Awards Dinner has evolved dramatically over the past several years. A few decades earlier, the 37-year-old event was a quiet-but-sociable evening of entertainment presented by mostly C-level young singers, and attended by 40 or 50 people that enjoyed their Italian dinners more than the music. Today the event features a parade of brilliant, outstanding vocalists, many of whom are sure to …

by Joanne Spata The sights, sounds and scents of Christmas were in the air as Casa Italia welcomed over 1,200 people to its annual Christmas Village. What better way to celebrate the holiday than through a show of unity, as eight of Chicago land’s most prestigious organizations joined together to sponsor this most joyous of events. The aroma of roasting chestnuts wafted together with the snap, crackle, pop, of fresh dough frying in the unseasonably warm December air. As the strains of jolly Christmas music were heard, they were enlivened by the clippity clop of a dual horse drawn sleigh …

by Joanne Spata The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia is proud to announce its 2013 Man of the Year will be Dominic Stramaglia. “An entrepreneur, community leader and philanthropist, Dominic embodies the true spirit of the Italian Cultural Center,” says event Chairwoman Amy Lemar. “Coming to America as a boy, he brought with him all the best attributes Italy has to offer: his love of family, his keen intellect and his determined spirit.” Dominic Stramaglia was born in Bari, Italy, in 1946. The Stramaglia family traveled across the Atlantic Ocean on the Andrea Doria in 1954, landing at Ellis …

Joanne Spata has been a familiar face in the Italian-American community for the past 30 years, having donated thousands of hours to community service. She has assisted with the planning and execution of dozens of special events benefiting her community. Sharing her insight of the Italian American Community, Joanne wrote a column in the Fra Noi Newspaper for many years, focusing on its highlights and upcoming events. Beginning in April 2013 she will write a monthly on-line column for Fra Noi focusing on Casa Italia. As the first woman elected President of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, after …