NEWS FROM : Art & Heritage  

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...

Multi-platinum recording artist Tony Orlando will be jetting into town on Dec. 13 to share a Christmas dinner with a select group of fans at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. The lead singer of Tony Orlando and Dawn and the host of one of the most iconic TV variety shows of all time, Orlando will be hosting an intimate evening filled with behind-t...

The Italian Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Aeronautica Militare has assembled a sweeping exhibit that will be available for a private viewing on Nov. 21 in the Chandelier Room at Casa Italia in Stone Park. The exhibit comprises 36 4-foot by 8-foot panels, organized into a timeli...

Chicago’s Italian American community, represented by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), came together this week to address opportunities and challenges that are elevating and impacting our shared heritage. JCCIA President Ron Onesti convened the meeting and invited COPOMIAO President Basil Russo to speak on the transformative s...

Moving into a brand-new house, the start of a new job or yet your first newborn child brings so much joy and excitement into your life, making for truly a new beginning.  Here is the story of the inaugural start, a new beginning for a vibrant club of young adults of Italian descent. La Prossima, is a young adult group that represents the next gener...