Community

Joanne Bratta’s work defines “calling” in a way that’s both inspirational and admirable. As the executive director of St. Mary’s Services in Arlington Heights, Bratta helps women deal with one of life’s most daunting challenges: unplanned pregnancies. “We do option counseling to help them make a choice on what they want to do,” says Bratta, who started officially with St. Mary’s in 2012, but has a professional relationship with the adoption agency stretching back more than two decades. “Option counseling focuses on what the woman wants, not what we want. We educate them about adoption and explain that it’s relationship …

Patience, determination and heart are all qualities that one must possess while pursuing a career in musical theater. Nick Cosgrove — a Park Ridge native and current star of the “Jersey Boys” national tour — has all those qualities and countless more. “I do theater because it inspires people!” he enthuses. Cosgrove’s love of singing began while he was learning to walk. “I was an introverted toddler so music opened me up,” he confesses. His mother bought him Disney sing-a-long tapes, which got the ball rolling. The next step was singing lessons, and from the third grade on, he was …

The Our Lady of Angels fire in 1958 had a devastating impact on the community in which it took place. When Mike was a young boy, he watched his school go up in flames, and afterward, his parents told him never to think about it again. And he never did, that is, until he was training to be firefighter, after four years of volunteering. He was in a drill at the academy that focused on the proper use of ladders. The slides displayed during the demonstration were photos of the ladders used in the Our Lady of Angels fire. It …

by Joanne Spata I can’t believe that this is only my second month as chairperson of Casa Italia. Having been a part of the Italian Cultural Center for more than 30 years, as well as being involved with Casa Italia since its inception, it seems like I have been a fixture here at the Casa forever. Together, these experiences have made my first two months as chairperson feel like a blending of old home week and an exciting new adventure, all at the same time. I am deeply humbled by the fact that I am following in the footsteps of …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society will honor Dr. Salvatore Storniolo as Arcolian of the Year at their annual Christmas party at the Park Ridge Country Club on Dec. 11. For details, call Dr. Benjamin LoGiudice at 847-945-6700. Dr. Storniolo grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago, and has been practicing dentistry in Norridge since 1991. He currently lives in Arlington Heights with his wife, Angie, and their three boys. A dedicated community activist, Dr. Storniolo is a past recipient of Cub Master of the Year from the Arlington Heights Cub Scout Pack 129, a contractual staff dentist at DuPage …

It’s hard to believe the Bel Canto Foundation has been promoting Italian operatic repertoire while serving as a springboard for future stars for four glorious decades. On March 7, 1974, the Monastero family, owners of Monastero’s Ristorante in Chicago, sponsored a contest evening for voice students from Northwestern University. The singers were required to learn Italian operatic arias and romantic songs, and the contest, which followed a gourmet Italian dinner, featured a prize of $1,000 furnished by the Monastero family. Ardis Krainik, the late director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, was the judge. That first evening was a great …

On June 15, 2013, 300 members and guests of the Amaseno Lodge No. 3 of Chicago Heights gathered to celebrate 100 years. To commemorate this historic event, the club hosted a dinner dance, complete with authentic fare from the region of Lazio, at the Idlewild Country Club in Flossmoor. Included in the celebratory program was a proclamation presented by the club’s vice president, Luciano Panici Jr., on behalf David D. Gonzalez, mayor of the city of Chicago Heights, naming June 15, 2013, as a day set aside to honor the 100th anniversary of the club’s founding in Chicago Heights. The …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society will honor Dr. Salvatore Storniolo as Arcolian of the Year at their annual Christmas party at the Park Ridge Country Club on Dec. 11. For details, call Dr. Benjamin LoGiudice at 847-945-6700. Dr. Storniolo grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago, and has been practicing dentistry in Norridge since 1991. He currently lives in Arlington Heights with his wife, Angie, and their three boys. A dedicated community activist, Dr. Storniolo is a past recipient of Cub Master of the Year from the Arlington Heights Cub Scout Pack 129, a contractual staff dentist at DuPage …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society celebrated their installation of new officers at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on April 24. It was a wonderful evening that included tours the extraordinary facility on Taylor Street in Chicago’s Little Italy. Representatives from New Radiance and GlaxoSmithKlein co-sponsored the meeting and spoke about their products. Dinner was catered by Biagio’s Ristorante. Dr. Lou Imburgia graciously installed the new officers. The 2012-2013 Arcolian Dental Arts Society officers are: Dr. Benjamin LoGiudice, President Dr. Russ Pollina, President Elect Dr. Joseph Favia, Vice-President Dr. Frank Maggio, Treasurer Dr. Russ Spinazze, Secretary

On December 13, 2011, the Arcolian Dental Arts Society celebrated their 80th anniversary during their Annual Christmas Dinner at the Park Ridge Country Club. Honored as the Arcolian of the Year was Italian-American scholar, author and historian Dr. Dominic Candeloro. The curator of the Roselli Library at the Italian Cultural Center, Dr. Candeloro has authored and edited several books, his latest effort being “Reconstructing Italians in Chicago.” In addition to the award presented to Dr. Candeloro, two Arcolian Dental Arts Society Scholarships in the amount $1000 were given to fourth-year dental students Anthony LaPorte of the University of Illinois at …