NEWS FROM : Art & Heritage  

While he was growing up in Chicago Heights during World War II, Dominic Candeloro wasn’t at all proud of his Italian ancestry. His father was a low-paid construction worker who only learned a few words of English. That and the fact that Italy was fighting against the Allies made him ashamed of his roots. The feeling persisted after the war, when th...

Carme Forte Jr. will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black-tie installation dinner on Jan. 27 at Medinah Country Club. Forte has been a member since 2015. “My father has been a member of the club for 20 years or more, and I always loved attending events with our family,” he explains. “I wanted to become more involved...

The Italian American Club, 2217 52nd St., features a Brunch with Befana on Sunday, Jan. 7. The event, from 9 a.m. to noon, is hosted by the Italian American Ladies Auxiliary. The buffet meal includes a sausage and cheese frittata, potatoes, ham, fruit, French toast, croissants, juice, milk and coffee. The cost is $18 for adults and $10 for children...

It may come as a surprise to Italian Americans living in the northern half of the Chicago area, but the far southwest suburbs boast substantial communities of paesani as well. “Mokena’s population is the highest and Homer Glen has a large one as well,” reports longtime local elected official Steve Balich. “Joliet and Crest Hill have good-sized popu...

Edward Malatesta was born on Nov. 8, 1924, the youngest of five children and the only son of Alessandro and Gulia (Ragnetti) Malatesta. His parents immigrated to the United States from Senigallia, Italy, as a young married couple, first to Philadelphia and then to the Taylor Street Little Italy in Chicago. The family settled on the Northwest Side a...

Santa came to town two weeks ahead of schedule Sunday as he made his first appearance at the Italian American Veterans Post No. 1 in Lorain during its all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Organized by Ladies Auxiliary President Bambi Dillon, the breakfast has become a staple for the post alongside its spaghetti dinners. However, Dillon decided to add...

The Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, in collaboration with Northwestern University cordially invites emerging and established literary authors working in the Chicago area and Midwest to showcase their talent at an event taking place on April 5 at 6pm at the Italian Cultural Institute. This celebration of contemporary artists will be dedicated...

A pediatric dentist with more than 25 years of experience, Victoria A. Ursitti, D.M.D., who practices in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was installed as the 2024 vice president of the Chicago Dental Society (CDS) on November 12. Dr. Ursitti has previously held numerous leadership positions with CDS, including Treasurer of CDS as well as Director and...

Music can be tied to memories — both wonderful and tragic. One Upper Peninsula composer is memorialyzing a tragedy that changed the face of the Copper Country more than 100 years ago. On Christmas Eve in 1913 in Calumet, a Christmas party was held on the second floor of the Italian Hall for the children of the families belonging to the Western Fede...

What an incredible achievement! Our very own Cavaliere Gianni (John) Zaretti has been granted the Spirit of Hope Award of the State of Michigan by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, an award that is granted to those individuals serving as a beacon of hope for many and who lift up others and inspire people to make a difference. With John’s tireless commitme...

An event that helps support one of the biggest festivals in the Ohio Valley and local students in the community will happen this weekend. It is that time of year for the annual Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival Gala. For the 4th year, Undo’s West in St. Clairsville will host a gala to raise money for the famous Upper Ohio Valley It...

Chicago Buildings Commissioner Matthew W. Beaudet’s beautiful op-ed on Native American culture via Chicago history is spot-on. Bravo. I do have one caveat, though: Henri de Tonti, while associated with French exploration, was actually Italian (Enrico), a native of Gaeta, located between Rome and Naples. As Italy wasn’t a fully reunified nation unti...