121st annual Italian Festival canceled
With the safety of citizens still a major concern, the annual Italian Fest has been canceled.The festival, which has taken place at Al Quaal Recreation in the past, would have been celebrating 121 years in existence. The festival includes loads of food vendors, fireworks, and live music. “It’s almost like a grieving process that people go through,”...
Chicagoland Italian American Professionals announces the new 2020 Board of Directors
Buongiorno amici!, I'm Salvatore, the executive director of CIAP and I'm very excited to share this news with you. The organization has now expanded its board of directors. We are happy to announce the newly elected board. President - Salvatore J. Sciacca. Secretary - Loredana Sciortino. Board Member Emeritus - Mike Delzoppo. Member at Large - Jole...
Federico Acerri, Who Answered Students’ Questions, Dies at 81
Before there was Google there was Federico Acerri. As an information specialist in the Michigan school system, where he worked for decades, he took on every imaginable query from staff members and students, culling dictionaries, microfilm and databases to find an answer. He was also a prolific artist, drawing under the name Mad Monk. Mr. Acerri die...
Coronavirus: famiglia di ritorno dagli Stati Uniti positiva al Covid19. Intercettata a Fiumicino è ora in autoisolamento
Un cluster familiare di cinque persone positivo al Coronavirus arrivato a Fiumicino con un volo proveniente dagl Usa. "Un intero nucleo familiare residente a Roma, rientrato in Italia dagli Usa, è risultato positivo al Covid19 e si è posto in auto isolamento contattando prontamente i competenti servizi sanitari della Asl territoriale", le parole de...
At Home With Milano's Italian Restaurant - a Cookbook
With the current global pandemic, we are all facing, it is safe to say the restaurant industry may have been hit the hardest. With restaurant dining rooms being closed to patrons, owners have been forced to get creative with sales. From offering takeout and delivery services to make-your-own pizza kits, restaurants are doing all they can to keep th...
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo to test cooking skills in virtual class with renowned chef
Ever wanted to take a cooking class instructed by a renowned chef with one of your favorite Cubs players? Now’s your chance. Anthony Rizzo will put his culinary skills to the test on May 29. In a Zoom cooking session, the Cubs first baseman will prepare Italian dishes under Chef Giuseppe Tentori‘s tutelage. Tentori, chef and owner of GT Fish & Oys...
Italian Street Festival postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
An event that annually draws 40,000 fans of Italian food to the southeast side of Downtown Indianapolis has been postponed. The Holy Rosary Italian Street Festival, which was scheduled for June 12 and 13, is postponed indefinitely due to concerns about COVID-19. Italian Street Festival organizers said in a statement that they will post updates to t...
Festa Italiana is canceled for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns
The Greater Rockford Italian American Association made the announcement Monday canceling all 2020 summer events, including Festa Italiana. This comes as the latest summer event to be canceled in the region due to COVID-19. While the state is currently in Phase 2 and ideally looking to get into Phase 3 within the month, officials with the associatio...
Former Berwyn Mayor Joseph Lanzillotti dies at 91
Former Berwyn Mayor Joseph J. Lanzillotti passed away April 30 in his home surrounded by family. He was 91. Lanzillotti was Berwyn mayor from 1981 to 1993. He also served as a justice of the peace, city prosecutor, Berwyn Township collector and committeeman for the Democratic Organization of Berwyn. Lanzillotti was an attorney in private practice i...
Vacant bocce courts give way to eerie, empty parking lots
Joe Cassese has lived and worked and prayed in this old town all of his life. It’s died before; and he is doing whatever he can to not let it, or his business or resolve die again. But, he admits bluntly, it isn’t easy. “Coming down that hill every morning and leaving every night and seeing that empty parking lot messes with your psyche,” Cassese s...
Priest from Cleveland's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish dies from coronavirus
Fr. Arcangelo Manzi, a priest at Cleveland's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Parish, has died from coronavirus, his order confirmed Tuesday afternoon. According to the Mercedian Friars, Manzi passed away "following a great struggle" with the disease. The parish shared the order's post on Facebook. "We ask your prayers, dear friends, for our dear...
Emilia Pontarelli, Tony’s Italian Deli matriarch, dead of coronavirus at 93
When customers lined up at Emilia Pontarelli’s cash register at Tony’s Italian Deli on Northwest Highway in Edison Park, they felt like they’d been adopted by an Italian nonna. She’d ask when they were going to get married. If they bought her homemade lasagna, sugo (sauce) or giardiniera, she’d say approvingly: “Mama’s cooking for you tonight.” If...