Mount Carmel Italian fest raises largest amount of money in 24-year history
It was a night of celebration and recognition at Youngstown’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica. Dozens of volunteers and sponsors came together to be honored by the church for another successful Italian Festival. WKBN was among those recognized for our many years of sponsorship and support for the festival. At the end of the night, all of the mone...
Gymnastics coach Thomas Glielmi
Growing up watching old kung-fu martial arts movies, Thomas Glielmi started teaching himself how to do flips from trees, fences and garages. “I liked the adrenaline rush,” the 59-year-old recalls. That drive led Glielmi to join a men’s gymnastics team in high school, which set him on a course to forge an uber-successful career as a gymnastics coach...
Sculptor Joseph Burlini
A practicing artist for 50-plus years, Joseph Burlini has made a name for himself by creating inventive kinetic sculptures and soaring public works. A native of Morton Grove, Burlini has a degree in industrial design from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and spent six years designing for Sears, Roebuck and Co. before pivoting to making ar...
Joe Vicari restaurant group opens “Andiamo pasta & chops” and continues to grow after 35 years
Michigan-based Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, the 22nd largest restaurant group in the United States, will be opening their doors to Andiamo Pasta & Chops at The Mall at Partridge Creek an open-air regional shopping center in Clinton Township, MI on Thursday, September 12, 2024. The family owned and operated restaurant group has presented some of the...
City of Columbus (OH) sued by Italian advocate over renamed Columbus park
Columbus Parks and Recreation department is being sued by an Italian American after accusations that the city is demonstrating hostility toward its namesake. The lawsuit is based on a single park, Christopher Columbus Square, which was renamed Warren Square after a petition from the Italian Village Society. Now, some Italian Americans say its part...
OSDIA lodge celebrates 90th anniversary
The Amerigo Vespucci Lodge 1722 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America celebrated its 90th anniversary on May 11 at the Quality Inn in Bradley, Illinois. More than 170 guests, including families from across the country, converged on the venue for the occasion. The lodge is based in Kankakee. The event included a fabulous meal, entertai...
The University of Detroit Mercy and the Consulate of Italy in Detroit host the Dedalo Minosse International Road Show
The Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) School of Architecture and Community Development (SACD) are happy to cohost the multinational exhibition and panel discussion as part of the 2024 Detroit Month of Design. The exhibition and its panel discussion will highlight the Dedalo Minosse International Prize for Commi...
Unveiling of restored Dante Alighieri monument on Belle Isle, Detroit (MI)
Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, with the contribution of its membership and the Società Dante Alighieri headquartered in Rome, are proud to announce the unveiling of the newly restored Dante Alighieri monument on Belle Isle. The unveiling ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 1:00 PM...
Marching with Father Groppi: Looking back on Milwaukee’s Civil Rights demonstrations
He was a most unlikely Civil Rights leader. Father James Groppi was an immigrant’s son, the eleventh of 12 children who grew up behind the family’s grocery store in the Italian section of Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Early in his priesthood, Groppi made a trip to Selma, Alabama, that stirred his conscience. The young cleric came back determin...
Southern Italian dinner raises money to restore fountain in Italian Cultural Garden
The 84-year-old Renaissance fountain in the Italian Cultural Garden is being restored. To raise the $34,000 needed for the work, garden supporters are hosting the second Pranzo Italiano, a benefit dinner at Valerio’s Restaurant in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood. The garden, which is between Martin Luther King, Jr., and East Boulevards, is o...
Women on a mission in NW Indiana
As a leading member of the Italian American Women’s Club of Lake County in Northwest Indiana, Gina Geiss represents its values both personally and professionally. Through the club, Geiss actively works to preserve the Italian-American heritage and culture, and serves her community by volunteering at nonprofit organizations. As an in-home beauty gro...
Italy and Vinitaly are focusing on the USA, together with “Wine Enthusiast”, “Wine Spectator”, “Vinous”, and others
The US reconfirms its position as Italy’s number one wine partner, 792.8 million euros in value (+5.5% compared to the same period in 2023). Italian wineries continue to invest heavily in promoting their wines in the States, and will be the stars of many events scheduled on the US market. Everyone is waiting for the grand debut of “Vinitaly USA”, o...