NEWS FROM : GREAT LAKES  

Thousands of Chicagoans gathered in the Loop on Monday for the city’s 72nd annual Columbus Day parade. The celebration of Italian American heritage featured floats, marching bands, singers, and dancers descending State Street. The parade’s theme this year was “Bridging gaps, celebrating our heritage, and protecting our culture.”  Watching the festi...

Protests of Pueblo's Christopher Columbus monument slowed following the 2020 abolition of Columbus Day in Colorado, but over 100 demonstrators returned to the Mesa Junction on Oct. 14 with chants of "No pride in genocide." Protestors stood outside steel barricades around Christopher Columbus Piazza — the site of the Order of Sons of Italy Southern...

The Italian American community in Chicago came together to celebrate their heritage with the 72nd annual Columbus Day Parade. The day began with a mass at The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, followed by a poignant procession in Arrigo Park, where a wreath-laying ceremony honored Italian American war veterans.   The grand parade stepped off around no...

Monday is Columbus Day, also known as Indigenous Peoples' Day. The city of Columbus officially renamed the holiday in 2020, the same year it removed a statue of Christopher Columbus from its pedestal outside City Hall. The statue had stood there for 65 years. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the statue didn't reflect the city's values. While it s...

A name that’s become synonymous with fine dining in the Valley now embellishes Youngstown’s newest restaurant. Mark and Melissa Canzonetta have announced the grand opening of Casa Di Canzonetta, downtown at 44 East Federal Street. The couple says after four months of work, the new culinary destination will embody the rich flavors and traditions of...

A celebration of Italian culture and Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World was held Sunday afternoon. October is Italian Heritage Month. The celebration was held at Mishawaka's Central Park, where a statue of Columbus has stood for more than 30 years. The event celebrated Italian culture with guest speakers and an Italian buffet. We spoke...

Sienna Zapparoli watched the Paris Olympics women’s indoor volleyball gold-medal match last August. Well, some of it. She was asleep for most of the action seven time zones away. Zapparoli moved from Italy to Champaign this year for a “change of perspective,” and during that transition, Italy and the United States played each other for the gold med...

Paul Anka has discovered a new way to honor Christopher Columbus. The legendary singer/songwriter has penned an updated version of his classic Frank Sinatra hit “My Way” with lyrics that strike back at those who want to erase the memory of the famed explorer. “For fun, food, friends, there’s never a lack // you’re going to get those statues back,”...

Slimmed down and refreshed from a year in retirement from managing, Terry Francona didn't know if he wanted to do the job again. In need of a new skipper, the Reds didn't know if they could get Francona to join the club. Both sides got their answers rather quickly once president of baseball operations Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meado...

The story of why in 1892 America began to celebrate Columbus Day, which subsequently led to the creation of more than 100 Columbus statues throughout our country, is a tragic example of the mistreatment of immigrants that needs to be told. After years of relative dormancy, the legacy of Christopher Columbus is once again making headlines in Ohio’s...

Before Monday's Columbus Day Parade, Italian Americans and Native Americans in Chicago are trying to come together to open a dialogue over the controversy that has surrounded the holiday for years. The two groups are trying to bridge the gap when it comes to Columbus Day celebrations. The debate over the history surrounding the holiday has gone on...

After 39 years as a police officer, Philip Tenerelli continues to serve his community in an abundance of ways. Now happily retired and a proud grandfather, he looks back on his career with satisfaction. Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Tenerelli knew a lot of police officers who lived in the area and, after deciding that he didn’t enjoy wor...