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The American Association of Teachers of Italian-Midwest hosted a symposium based on the current “Made in Italy” trend sweeping World Languages. With enrollments diminishing, programs closing, and the lack of teachers to replace retiring teachers and long-term leaves, we need to come together! It is important to begin to look towards the future and to move our classes into a more hands on, career pathway type of methodology, or at least a unit lesson to expose our students to the reality of “life in Italian beyond high school and not just for credit”. That isn’t enough anymore. In this way, …

Jazz singer Paul Marinaro collapsed at Winter’s Jazz Club in December 2017 with a case of diverticulitis so severe it burst his intestines and brought him to the brink of death. Lacking health insurance, Marinaro would have been buried in medical bills were it not for the Chicago jazz community, which rallied support through a GoFundMe campaign and benefits at local clubs. Fellow performers have launched individual campaigns and cared for the singer at his Evanston apartment. Marinaro is on the mend, but requires an additional surgery. To lend a hand, click here for the gofundme page.

Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana is aiming to cap off its 45th anniversary year with new uniform hats for its musicians. One of the few authentic Italian festival bands left in America, the ensemble was launched by Raffaele Strocchia in 1926, and is now run by Strocchia’s cousin Marty Caliendo. “All of the years playing outdoors in virtually every type of weather has taken a toll on the hats,” Caliendo notes. “Many are worn out so badly they are barely holding together and some musicians simply don’t have one.” To lend a hand, click here to visit their gofundme page.

“Unforgettable”, “exciting”, “informative” and “fun” are several adjectives Maine East Italian 1-4 students used to describe their field trip to Barilla (the number one pasta company in America) at their North American Headquarters in Northbrook. As an Italian teacher, I wanted to provide students with an opportunity that would highlight how knowing and using Italian can help them in the professional world. So, I contacted Mrs. Wilkens, one of our Career Pathways coordinators, to help me plan this trip and she helped establish the relationship and organize the field trip with our class goals in mind. Immediately upon arriving on …

Legislation spearheaded by State Rep. Anthony DeLuca will hold state agencies and their finances more accountable. The law went into effect on Jan. 1. DeLuca’s Debt Transparency Act requires state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding monthly so that taxpayers will know the true extent of the state’s debt, as well as an estimate of the penalties paid on late bills. “Since 2014, the backlog of unpaid bills has increased to over $15 billion,” DeLuca notes. “When agencies fail to report their past due bills, it results in unnecessary late fees and penalties that hard-working families are responsible …

William Blair financial advisor John Salvino was named to the 2018 Top 40 Advisors Under 40 list by On Wall Street magazine. This is the second time Salvino made the list. Salvino, a partner with the firm, joined William Blair in 2002. He serves as chairman of the University of Chicago Booth Alumni Finance Roundtable and is a member of the Salvino Wealth Management Team. John along with his brother, Tom, and father, Al, manage customized investment portfolios for individuals, families, trusts, and foundations. The team has been recognized by Barron’s, Research Magazine, Registered Rep and Institutional Investor.

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society recently made a pair of donations to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. Arcolians Dr. Frank Maggio and Dr. Stephen Esposito (pictured, left and right) presented Dean Clark Stanford with a check for $1,000 to support the college’s scholarship funds. The donation was requested by Dr. Maggio, a clinical associate professor at the college and the 2017 Arcolian of the Year. The society also presented a $2,000 scholarship to third-year dental student Andrew Bertagna.

The Italian American Executives of Transportation held their 2017 Dinner Dance at Alta Villa Banquets on Nov. 19. More than 600 were in attendance, making it one of the largest dinner dances of the year. Dominic Romanazzi was honored as Man of the Year, and Wayne Bubak was honored as Humanitarian. Past IAET honoree Lou Cairo did a tremendous job as master of ceremonies. As president of Teamsters 330, Dominic represents more than 2,000 members working in virtually every industry including public employee, construction, ready warehouse, beverage, school bus and waste removal. He handles administration and all major negotiations for …

Four decades after realizing his dream of starting a hall of fame to honor sports heroes, George Randazzo, President and Founder of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, celebrated the organization’s 40th Annual Induction & Awards Gala along with Board Chairman Tony Ferraro, NIASHF directors and loyal supporters this past November in Chicago. Vincent Viola was named 2017 Sportsman of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the world of sports. He is owner of the Florida Panthers hockey team and co-owner of Always Dreaming, winner of the 2017 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s prestigious …

For centuries, towns and villages across Italy have marked Good Friday with masses and processions that rival any other on the Catholic calendar. On March 30, this ancient rite will be re-enacted at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish & Shrine in Melrose Park. That evening, 20 patron saint societies bearing statues and banners will fill the Shrine to capacity. A 7 p.m. Mass in Italian will be followed by a dramatic candlelight procession, accompanied by the Sicilian Band of Chicago. (708-344-4140)