Nancy Scaffidi, owner of Mama Santa's in Little Italy, dies at 89
Little Italy has lost an icon. The owner of Mama Santa's, Nancy Scaffidi, died Saturday. She was 89 years old. She came to the United States in 1952 and settled in Akron. She worked in a factory and as a licensed beautician. Cleveland history was made on July 25, 1961, when she opened her restaurant with her husband Guido. "Nancy had a passion for...
A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce
When: Nov 17, 2021 10:00 AM in Central Time (US and Canada) - Organized by: Consulate General of Italy in Chicago in collaboration with: Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago - Online Webinar Prof. Massimo Montanari presents his intellectually engaging and deliciously readable essay "A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce", a stereotype-d...
Italian Women Artists Celebrated in Groundbreaking Exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Travels to Detroit Institute of Arts
A collaboration between the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Detroit Institute of Arts (Dia), By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy, 1500–1800, is on view now to January 9, 2022, at the Wadsworth, and travels to the Dia, February 6 – May, 29 2022. An exhibition solely dedicated to Italian women artists, now at the Wadsworth Athene...
New chief, command officers sworn in at Clinton Twp. Police Department
Clinton Township officials held a ceremony Thursday to formally swear in the next police chief and two command officers for the police department. With a standing room-only crowd watching from a conference room in the Clinton-Macomb Public Library, the township welcomed new Chief Dina Caringi. Also promoted were police Capt. Anthony Coppola and Lt....
‘Grazie!’ Sons of Italy thanks military veterans
Area veterans stopped by the Sons of Italy on Monday, where they and their families enjoyed a free meal in honor of Veterans Day this Thursday. Sons of Italy President Bill Ault said 300-350 meals are usually served at the annual event. “We’re just honored to have so many veterans in the valley, and I hope the majority of them come in and enjoy a m...
The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini to Honor the 75th Anniversary of Her Canonization with a Jubilee Year, Starting with a Special Mass on Her Feast Day Nov. 13, 2021
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, more commonly known as Mother Cabrini, the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini will celebrate with a Jubilee year beginning on her feast day, Nov. 13. To kick-off the celebration, Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, will lea...
IAP 208: The Italian American Veterans Museum, A Special Veterans Day Conversation
As our nation gathers to celebrate Veterans Day this week, and all of us pause to say “grazie” to the millions of brave men and women in uniform who have served our country in war and peace, we’d like to turn our attention to remembering the Italian American legacy of our Armed Forces. There’s no better guest to guide us than Colonel Renato “Ron” B...
IAET to salute worthy trio
The Italian American Executives of Transportation will honor a trio of luminaries at its dinner dance on Nov. 20 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Frank Grimaldi will be hailed as Man of the Year at the event, and Anthony Ambrose and Anthony Pucillo will be honored as Humanitarians of the Year. (iaet-chicago.org, 708-212-1051). The following profile...
Justinians to fête Sommario
Chicago attorney Frank Sommario will be the guest of honor at the Justinian Society of Lawyers’ Award of Excellence, Judges and Scholarship Night. The event will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Gibson’s Italia, 233 N. Canal St., Chicago. Tickets are $60 for members, $70 for non-members, and $50 for law students. (justinians.org, 312-820-2063)The fo...
Media, community leaders rally around Dante luncheon
The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans marked the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri with a standout media luncheon on Sept. 14. Galleria Marchetti in Chicago was bursting at the seams with journalists, elected officials and community leaders who had come to honor CBS President and General Manager Jennifer Lyons and Chicago...
Downriver Italian American Club celebrates 50 years of sharing its culture and traditions
Although members have witnessed many changes over the years, the Downriver Italian American Club has been around for over a half-century and is still going strong. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the club held a celebration Oct. 2 at the Bentley Banquet & Conference Center, 646 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte. Approximately 130 members attended the eve...
Pompeii to host Mass in honor of Veterans Day
The Italian American War Veterans will host a special Mass in honor of Veterans Day at 11 a.m. on Nov. 13 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii in Chicago. During the Mass, friends and relatives will be invited to bring colored candles to the altar with a card containing the name of deceased veterans. These names will be read aloud, and the candles...