Local News

The Sicilian American Cultural Association will host a presentation by Prof. Gaetano Cipolla on Oct. 25 at Monastero’s Banquets in Chicago. (773-588–2515) America’s foremost authority on Sicilian language and culture, Cipolla will present his 2015 book “The Poetry of Giovanni Meli,” celebrating the 200th anniversary of the death of Sicily’s greatest poet. He will speak about Meli’s life and recite his greatest poems in both English and Sicilian. Dr. Cipolla is Professor Emeritus of Italian at St. John’s University where he taught for 31 years. He held the position of Chairman of the Department for six years. He taught courses …

The Cegliesi Italo-American Association presented Dr. Luciana Burdi with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual feast in honor of Maria SS di Buterrito. The event took place at Alta Villa Banquets on Oct. 18. Dr. Burdi is the deputy director of Massport’s capital program and environmental affairs department. Massport serves as the Port Authority for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It owns and operates three airports — Boston Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport — and public terminals in the Port of Boston. As deputy director, she oversees 84 professional staff members and is responsible for the …

  Applications are being sought for the Fulbright Fondazione Falcone-NIAF Scholarship in Criminology. Sponsored by Fondazione Giovanni e Francesca Falcone and the Fulbright Program in Italy in cooperation with the National Italian American Foundation, the scholarship will be awarded to a U.S. graduate student to study and conduct research in criminology and the rule of law at the Fondazione in Palermo, Italy. Students at the Bachelors, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Juris Doctor levels, with special interest in criminology and related disciplines, including economics, sociology, education and anthropology, are invited to submit applications. Preference will be given to …

  The Order Sons of Italy in America Lodge 2700 presented its 2015 Joseph Caldarone Memorial Scholarship to (from left) Marissa Politano of Tinley Park, who plans to major in medical lab science with a minor in music at Illinois State University; Victoria Schwieger of Chicago, who plans to major in engineering at Purdue University; Skylar Blasz of Chicago, who plans to major in special education at Illinois State University; and Gabriella Adamo of Frankfort, who plans to major in physical therapy at Purdue University.  

A new law introduced by state Rep. , D-Chicago, will expand the use of alcohol-detecting ignition locks ensuring that repeat DUI offenders cannot get behind the wheel intoxicated again. “When reckless drivers make the selfish decision to drive intoxicated and endanger lives on the road, we need to make sure the appropriate measures are in place to prevent driving drunk again,” D’Amico said. “By monitoring the alcohol intake of offenders trying to drive, we can help keep our roads safe.” In 2013, 32 percent of Illinois’ total crash fatalities were alcohol-related crashes. In response to this alarming figure, D’Amico partnered …

  The Italian American community, in partnership with Loyola University Chicago and Casa Italia, has raised $500,000 for a planned Italian American Studies program at Loyola. The centerpiece will be the hiring of an endowed professor within Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences to research, preserve and promote the Italian American experience, history and culture. “The Italian American Studies program will educate students about fundamental cultural differences. They will gain an appreciation for the ways Italian Americans have enriched life in this great country,” according to Dr. Arthur Lurigio, senior associate dean for faculty in the College of Arts and …

by Sheldon Shacket “What ever happened to that Siding-1 building on the corner of Oakley and Clybourn?” Ask its founder, Bill Conforti, and his response will go well beyond the matter-of-fact. As he stands across the street from the demolished 3066 N. Clybourn Ave. construction site, Bill becomes more than a little emotional when reminiscing about the 28 years he spent developing his Siding-1, Windows-1 Exterior business and constructing the company’s headquarters on that site. As a supplement to the higher volume siding and windows business, Conforti had also opened Cobblestone Development in the building next door. “I actually formed …

A new law sponsored by state Rep. John C. D’Amico, D-Chicago, will help long-term Illinois residents with clean driving records in the state avoid an onerous process of getting an Illinois drivers’ license after their driving privileges have been suspended in another state. “Illinois drivers whose licenses have been revoked in another state are facing weeks and even months going between another state and Illinois before they can legally drive to work or pick up their children,” D’Amico said. “Allowing drivers who have clean driving histories and a long-term residency to reinstate their driver’s license in Illinois is simply relieving …

Western Springs attorney Umberto Davi has been installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Davi was elected to the ISBA Board of Governors in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2011. He has served on the ISBA’s 201-member assembly and has been active on numerous committees. A past president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and founder of the Sicilian American Cultural Association, Davi is a member of the board of trustees of The John Marshall Law School. A Willowbrook village trustee, he has served as president of the Willowbrook Police Pension Board for more than 10 …

The Giants Awards dinner sponsored annually by the Ed Kelly Sports Program could have doubled as a special meeting of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. Dr. Samuel J. Cascio was presented with the Marshall H. Smulson Humanitarian Award, and a host of Italian-American dentists turned out in force. On hand were (from left) Drs. Anthony Spina, Michael Biasello, Samuel Cascio, Paul Smulson, Joseph Discipio, Lou Imburgia, and Michael Cascio, son of Dr. Sam and a fellow DDS.