Army Pfc. and boot camp boxer Louis Grippo
This is a story about Pfc. Louis Grippo and his travels during World War II. But a little background first. I grew up in my father’s family building on West Taylor Street in one of the Italian enclaves of Chicago. My mom’s family lived on South May Street, two blocks away. In my early years, we went over there almost every day. When I was in gramma...
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Moses W. Harrison II
“I had the great pleasure of meeting Illinois Supreme Court Justice Moses W. Harrison II — or “Mose,” as he liked to be called — about the time he declared his candidacy for the Illinois Supreme Court in 1987. We became dear friends over the years. Named after his paternal grandfather, Justice Harrison was highly respected and the first Italian Am...
Who will be crowned this year’s queen?
One of the most thrilling and glamorous events in the Chicago-area Italian American community is the contest to determine who will reign as La Bella Regina of the Columbus Day Parade. “Few events in the community can match the pageantry of the annual Columbus Day Queen pageant,” says Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Ame...
Badagliacca honors parents as CIAO president
The Calabresi in America Organization has elected Gina Badagliacca to serve as its 2025-2026 president, and the longtime member couldn’t be more thrilled to helm the vibrant organization. “I think everything about the club is great,” she says. “The functions are exciting, the people are amazing and there are lifelong friendships that we create.” Ba...
Sarro a force for good in North Riverside
The COVID-19 pandemic is over, but a Facebook group co-created by Theresa “Terri” Sarro during that difficult time continues to thrive as a resource for residents of North Riverside. Sarro, who serves as trustee in the suburban Chicago municipality, started the group North Riverside Neighbors Helping Neighbors with her good friend and fellow reside...
Glimco honored by DuPage Justinians at installation
Each year, the DuPage Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers bestows the Justice Anthony M. Peccarelli Award upon an attorney who has displayed qualities of leadership and civility. This year honoree was Joseph P. Glimco III. The award was presented at the chapter’s installation dinner on May 14 at Sogno Ristorante in Wheaton. “I am honored to...
Mount Carmel Parish in Chicago to celebrate 132nd feast
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish will celebrate the 132nd anniversary of its devotion to the Blessed Mother on July 13. Festivities will begin with a 7:30 a.m. Mass in English and a 9 a.m. solemn Mass in Italian, followed by a procession with the statue of the Blessed Mother to a noon field Mass. A procession through the streets of the parish af...
The Reverse Demolition of the Guardians of Traffic
In mid-20th-century Cleveland, Ohio, a plan to widen one of the city’s most significant bridges nearly erased its most iconic landmarks. At stake were the Guardians of Traffic — towering Art Deco sculptures lining the Hope Memorial Bridge, which spans the Cuyahoga River and physically links Cleveland’s East and West sides. In the 1960s, Cuyahoga Co...
Festa della Repubblica 2025 in Chicago
In the charming setting of the Chicago History Museum, the Italian community in Chicago and the Midwest celebrated the 79th anniversary of the Italian Republic with Consul General of Italy in Chicago, Mario Alberto Bartoli, and the representatives of “Sistema Italia” (Italian Institute of Culture, Italian Trade Agency, Italian National Tourist Boar...
Benld Italian American Days holds 71st annual celebration
To kick off the summer season, the Benld Italian-American club held a heritage tradition that only a small town with a large heartbeat could provide. For the 71st year, the community of Benld (IL) held its famous Italian-American Days celebration. The Benld City Park was active the entire Memorial Day weekend of May 23 through May 25 with a large a...
IACC celebrates 100 years
It began several decades ago. A group of Italian immigrants came to the city of Steubenville, making it their home away from home. These particular individuals were filled with passion …. passion for preserving their cultural identity within America, within Ohio, within Steubenville. And they chose to do so through the theater. A group of these men...
Italian community in Michigan celebrates Festa della Repubblica with special event
The Italian community in Michigan celebrated this week as June 2 marked Italian National Day or Festa della Repubblica. Festa della Repubblica was a defining day in Italian history in 1946 when Italians chose to form a republic. The day celebrates Italian culture, tradition and excellence. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed June 2, 2025,...