After six whirlwind months of construction, the first floor of the Community Center at Casa Italia has been transformed as part of an ongoing rinascimento at the venerable institution. The Community Center has always been a great venue for special events, with a modern lobby and restrooms, the Chandelier Room accommodating up to 140 guests, and the building’s former gymnasium being available for larger crowds. But the gymnasium was only accessible via flights of stairs, and food had to be prepared off-site and brought in, preventing the facility from reaching its full potential. All that has changed, thanks to a …
Read More »JCCIA rewrites Queen Pageant script
The Chandelier Room at Casa Italia was transformed into a Milan runway for this year’s Columbus Day Queen Pageant, and event organizers couldn’t be more pleased. “It was like a Versace fashion show!” enthuses Jo Ann Serpico, executive director of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. “We had 22 contestants, the room looked absolutely beautiful and the event went off without a hitch!” Serpico is equally proud of the fact that no admission was charged, paving the way for a capacity crowd of nearly 200 family members and friends. Elizabeth Cavalieri Konopacki walked away with the crown, and …
Read More »Stone Park Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla
Beniamino Mazzulla has served as mayor of Stone Park since 2001. He was born in Calabria and came to America with his parents in 1976, settling in Stone Park. Since assuming office, Mazzulla has instituted a bilingual village newsletter and has established programs for seniors, homeowners and children. Family-oriented activities have resulted from a resident-member special events committee. He also has spruced up the town and improved landscaping throughout the village. Mazzulla was first introduced to public service in 1995 when he spent two years as a police officer for the Memorial Park District.
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Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian