The event will be held at the IACL Banquet Center, located at 39200 Five Mile Road in Livonia, with doors opening at 6 p.m.
Guests will enjoy a family-style Italian dinner, beginning with an antipasto display, followed by tagliatelle pasta with Palomino sauce, chicken limone, beef tenderloin, roasted peppers with onions, and a selection of desserts. Beer and wine are included, with a cash bar also available.
Entertainment will feature live music by the popular band Fantasia, ensuring a lively evening of dancing and celebration. The dress code is cocktail attire.
Tickets are $85 for IACL members, $90 for non-members, $45 for young adults (ages 12–17), and $25 for children (ages 5–11). All tickets must be purchased in advance, and no refunds will be issued.
For more information or to reserve tickets, contact the Italian American Club of Livonia at loredana@iacl.us or call 734-953-1106 ext. 2.
Two Italian Americans will be honored at this year’s banquet as follows:
Roberto Carta is a proud and dedicated member of the Italian American Club of Livonia, where his deep Italian roots and strong sense of community have made a lasting impact. A longtime member of the club, Carta has served on the board for the past four years as a director and will begin his term on the Executive Board as corresponding secretary in January 2026.
He is best known for revitalizing the club’s bocce league, growing it from 15 to 39 teams with over 140 players. He also is the chair of the club’s bi-annual Cigar Dinner. Most recently, Carta launched the club’s first Cornhole Tournament. In addition, he is always ready to lend a hand, assisting with numerous club functions and initiatives.
Born in the United States to Silvana and the late Antonio Carta, he is the first American-born member of his immediate family, who hail from Sardegna, Italy. His three sisters—Loredana (Jim) O’Neil, Rossana (Tony) Ruggirello, and Sondra (Pete) Soave —were all born in Sardegna. Paula came after him and was also born in the United States. He proudly carries forward his Sardinian heritage and Italian values.
Carta has spent his life in and around the construction industry and currently works in sales at Hutch Paving Inc, specializing in asphalt and concrete. He has been married to his wife Lisa for over 26 years, and together they are the proud parents of three children: Antonio, Domenic, and Olivia. He also has hosted an exchange student from South Korea, Eojin Jeong for many years.
Jo Anne Capaldi joined the IACL in 1994 along with her late husband, Philip, who passed in 2006.
Her father’s family hailed from a small town near Frosinone, Italy.
She served on the committee to finish the lower level of the club, the Columbus Day Committee, Las Vegas Night, Livonia Spree, Superbowl, Golf Outings, Halloween Party, Kentucky Derby, and Memorial Mass among other events.
She has served on the Membership Committee and produced roster books in 2002 and 2006. She has also helped with the Scholarship Committee for 17 years.
With her husband’s business they were instrumental in procuring a Class C liquor license..
She has had a keen interest in the club’s constitution and bylaws ever since joining the club. In past two years, she read all the minutes from the start of the club in 1977 and put them in binders to preserve the IACL history and has brought all of the bylaws up to date.
She and husband had one son, David Philip.
A humble volunteer, she says, “I would volunteer for anything. I do things because I want to do them, not because I’m going to get credit for them.”
She currently serves on the Board of Directors, a position she has held for the last four years.
Also to be honored at this year’s Banquet are the Italian American Club of Livonia’s Queen and her court:
•Queen Isabella Maria Orlandi
•Junior Queen Giavanna Dolgizia Munafo
•Miss Isabella Francesca Iolanda Cicantelli
•Miss Isabella Isla Rose Dowhan
•Miss Isabella Sofia Marie Jonski
•Little Miss Isabella Marina Ann Tozer
•Little Miss Isabella Eva Stella Soave
KICK OFF EVENT
To kick off the week’s events on Sunday, Oct 12, The Italian American Club of Livonia hosts a Columbus Day kick off week event with a Mass and flag-raising ceremony at 10:30 a.m. with the introduction of the IACL Queen and her court.
RSVP is recommended to ensure proper seating for Mass and lunch following the flag-raising.
For details, call (734) 953-1106 ex. 2.
The club is at 39200 Five Mile, Livonia.