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Retired Chicago police officer Frank DiMaria has been elected president of the Italian American Police Association. An IAPA member since 1997, he previously served as second vice president. Founded in 1964, the IAPA organizes and advocates on behalf of Italian Americans in law enforcement, and serves as a social, professional and charitable outlet...

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“We started at farmers markets about three years ago with our arancini-stuffed risotto balls—which is our specialty,” says Daniela Vitale, who runs Sfera in Avondale with her partner, Steven Jarczyk. “My family is from Sicily, and I spent every summer there from the age of sixteen to twenty-five. Starting at farmers markets [in Logan Square, Wicker...

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Dr. Jean Barbanente has been appointed interim superintendent of DuPage High School District 88, which encompasses Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools. She is the district’s first female superintendent as well as the first to speak multiple languages. Barbanente has been with District 88 for more than 25 years and worked with past superinten...

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The Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have been champing at the bit to return to live performances, and the wait is finally over. Both musical institutions will launch their 2021-22 seasons in September. Enrique Mazzola will begin his inaugural season as music director at Lyric, having served in an interim capacity for the l...

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The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans will honor Jennifer Lyons and Antonio M. Romanucci at this year’s Dante Awards luncheon. The event will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 14 at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago. Tickets are $75. (708-450-9050, www.jccia.com) Jennifer Lyons will receive the Dante Award. She is a celebrated television news exe...

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Dina Velocci, DNP, CRNA, APRN, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and resident of Key West, Fla., recently took office as the 2021-2022 president of the 59,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), headquartered in Park Ridge, Ill. "It is my honor and a privilege to serve as president of the AANA in this watershe...

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The feasts of Maria SS. Lauretana and Maria SS. Incoronata are testaments to the ability of faith to overcome adversity. Both have been running continuously in the Chicago area for more than 120 years, and both rolled with the pandemic punches last year, hosting modified versions of their traditional celebrations. Now, they’re ready to shake free o...

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Società Santa Fara di Cinisi has been a beacon of italianità at Addison Street and Oleander Avenue in Chicago since the organization opened the doors to its social hall and chapel on the northeast corner of the intersection in 1985. The society’s light shines a little brighter now that the city has named Oleander from Addison to Waveland Avenue Hon...

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In the list of the great Italian excellences who have found their fortune in America, one of the highest level names is that of Arturo Toscanini. A century has passed since an extraordinary event, an exceptional tour that saw him as a protagonist in America together with what would later become the orchestra of La Scala in Milan.  Today there is a...

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A DuPage County Board member from Elmhurst has called for the return of three statues in honor of Christopher Columbus to Chicago parks. Last year, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the statues down. She said she did so as a safety precaution. The city has held out the possibility that the statues may come back, but is awaiting a report from its...

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