Italian Heritage shared at Rockford Public Library meeting
A Rockford man shares the history of Italian immigrants that settled into Rockford and their impacted in the area. On Saturday, members of the community gathered to look at the history of Italian immigrants in Rockford at the Rockford Public Library, 6685 E State Street. “Today were addressing the town Americans that settled into Rockford, Illinois...
Chicago’s Other Little Italy: Northwest Side Italian Hub Could Finally Get Official Recognition
Gino Bartucci Sr. has been trying to create a Little Italy on the Northwest Side for over four decades. With support from the city and the recent revitalization of a local business association, his dream might now be within reach. Over the past year, the city’s Department of Planning and Development has worked with local business owners, residents...
Rockford (IL) Mayor McNamara visits ‘Sister City’ Ferentino, Italy
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara is in Italy this week to strengthen ties with the city’s Sister City of Ferentino. Rockford participates in the Sister City program, which works to increase global cooperation, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development. Ferentino has been Rockford’s Sister City since 2006. The Mayor of Ferentino...
Automobile Gallery: Experience Italy in Northeast Wisconsin at Festa Italiana 2024
Get ready to indulge in the rich flavors, stunning sights, and thrilling history of Italy without leaving Wisconsin! The Automobile Gallery & Event Center proudly presents Festa Italiana 2024, an unparalleled celebration of Italian culture, cars, and cuisine. Join us on May 18th from 2 – 6 pm at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center located at 400...
Army Master Sergeant Darryl Chiostri
What started out as a brief stint in Vietnam for this highly decorated Army veteran blossomed into an illustrious 44-year career that encompassed a variety of roles in Military Intelligence and Civil Affairs. The younger of two sons, Darryl Chiostri was born at Cabrini Hospital to Louis and Mary (Doro) Chiostri, who were living at the time in an It...
Until September, Livio Spadavecchia is the new Italian Consul in Detroit
Dearly beloved compatriots, I assumed the duties of Consul in Detroit on April 19 and I would like to extend a warm greeting to you, honored to represent a community that has long animated the Italian presence in this constituency of the United States of America. I am taking over until September from my colleague Allegra Baistrocchi, to whom I exte...
Remembering Jo Ann Serpico
Jo Ann has been immersed in the activities of the community since birth, thanks to the unwavering involvement of her father, Joseph R. Salerno. “My father was a member of every Italian society, club and lodge in the Chicago area,” she fondly recalls. “It’s only natural that I followed his example of promoting Italian values and traditions.” One of...
City planners say it’s time to put Northwest Side’s Little Italy on the map
A long-running effort to turn a stretch of Harlem Avenue on the Far Northwest Side into a walkable showcase for Italian American businesses and culture like Little Italy’s Taylor Street is inching forward. City planners told the 2-mile stretch between Grand Avenue and Irving Park Road can become a destination neighborhood with improvements to the s...
Troiani to helm Veterans Museum
The Italian American Veterans Museum ushered in a new slate of officers with the new year, electing retired Navy Cdr. Joseph Edward Troiani, Ph.D., as president. “I’m proud to serve as president of the museum in honor of family members who served in the military before me,” Troiani says. Troiani’s grandfather Joseph Troiani served in the U.S. Army...
100-Year-Old World War II Female Veteran Park Ridge’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal
At 100-years-old longtime Park Ridge resident Marie Sartor Pawelek lives by herself in a condominium, practices playing the piano, writes and speaks Italian to relatives in Italy, and has her own Facebook account. Also, according to her only child Michael, she still has her great sense of humor. A veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, Marie...
How Christopher Columbus statue could return through million-dollar art project
A city initiative supported by a $2 million grant is seeking public opinion to decide what should happen to the Christopher Columbus statue removed from outside of City Hall in Columbus (OH) in 2020. The statue was ordered for removal by Mayor Andrew Ginther and placed in storage after community input. At the time, Ginther said the statue represent...
Chicago reconsiders ‘offensive’ plan to rename Columbus Drive for Barack Obama after outraged Italian-Americans step in
A Chicago politician is thinking twice about renaming Columbus Drive for Barack Obama after outraged Italian-Americans questioned why the former president should be honored “at the expense of one ethnic group.” The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans had blasted the proposed rebranding as “offensive” last week, with president Ron Onesti desc...