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Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto joined local and state officials in August to welcome Orlandino Greco, mayor of Castrolibero, Calabria, to Casa Italia in Stone Park. The get-together was organized by Tony Turano and the Calabresi in America Organization. Blue Island is sister cities with Castrolibero as well as Ripacandida, Basilicata, and Estancia...

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When: Apr 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Where: Italian-American Literati Festival, Casa Italia Chicago, 1621 N 39th Ave, Stone Park, IL 60165 Eric Dregni will join Casa Italia Chicago at the Italian-American Literati Festival on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. for a discussion on his book Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy's...

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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...

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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...

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Casa Italia’s popular film series will start later this year due to the high level of activity at the Casa during Italian American Heritage Month. A pair of films will screen in November, followed by another pair in January. The series is made possible through the support of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Chicago. “Palio” will be screened on N...

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A new day is dawning at Casa Italia as the village of Stone Park enters into negotiations with the Scalabrini Fathers to purchase the property bordered by Division Street and 39th, 37th and Soffel avenues. The Casa currently leases the property from the religious order. Plans for the property include a park district-style facility with banquet room...

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The International Press Club of Chicago hosted an eye-opening presentation by Italian Consul General Thomas Botzios on July 29 at the museum. The Consul General was introduced by IPCC President Wayne Toberman. Overseeing an 11-state jurisdiction, Botzios spoke proudly of the enormous positive economic impact Italy is having on America, with more th...

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A philanthropic powerhouse for more than 30 years, the Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization has bestowed nearly $900,000 in scholarships and tens of thousands of dollars more to veterans in need over the decades. In years past, most of those funds were raised at CIACO’s annual Honor and Hope gala, but last year the organization pivo...

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The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park will unveil a restored and enhanced Italians in Chicago exhibit at an open house from 6-9 p.m. on May 12. Archivists Terry Quilico and Barbara Stasell began work on the project two years ago under the direction of the exhibit’s creator, ICC Library Curator Dominic Candeloro. “The exhibit was...

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Casa Italia will honor Edward S. Lezza Jr. as Man of the Year and Joseph A. Russo as Humanitarian of the Year at its 2023 gala. The event will take place on Feb. 25 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. For details, click here. The following profiles were provided by the organization. Edward S. Lezza Jr. Edward S. Lezza Jr. is a resident of Westchester,...

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