There's a new and very untraditional wine from Tenuta Bibbiano in Tuscany's Chianti Classico region—a technique-driven Sangiovese blend called Bibbianaccio. Full access to our database of more than 425,000 wine ratings Early access to reviews on our editors' favorite just-rated wines The 2024 Bordeaux barrel tastings conclude with Bordeaux whites and sweet dessert wines fro… The 2024 Bordeaux barrel tastings continue with Merlot-based red wines from elite Right … The 2024 Bordeaux barrel tastings continue with Merlot-based red wines from Pomerol and … The 2024 Bordeaux barrel tastings continue in Pessac-Léognan at Château Malartic-Lagravière … The 2024 Bordeaux barrel tastings continue with Cabernet- and Merlot-based Margaux reds at … Two mini-verticals from Bordeaux's Fonbadet and Château Pauillac suggest a bright future … Children were made to believe they had been sexually abused and were sold to foster parents Italian police have arrested 18 people, including a mayor, doctors and social workers, for allegedly brainwashing vulnerable children into thinking their parents had abused them so they could then be sold to foster parents. Police in the northern city of Reggio Emilia made the arrests after an investigation, started in 2018, revealed an alleged network of carers who used methods including electroshock to make the children believe they had been sexually abused. The network then allegedly gave the children to foster families in exchange for cash, while keeping gifts and letters sent to the children by their real parents hidden in a warehouse that was discovered by police. The alleged abuse was reported by Italian media and confirmed to AFP by police in Bibbiano, near Reggio Emilia, on Thursday. Read more“These accusations, if confirmed, are frightening and shocking,” said Giuseppe Conte The accused include psychotherapists working for a social work association in Moncalieri those arrested allegedly forged child-like drawings with sexual connotations and used electroshock therapy as a “little memory machine” to create fake abuse memories while the therapists are accused of dressing up as “wicked” children’s story characters The investigation, codenamed “Angels and Demons”, revealed a scheme to “pass off as a model welfare system for abused minors what was in reality an illegal business to the children’s detriment,” La Repubblica newspaper reported the aim of the arrested group was to take children away from families in difficult social situations and to give them to other parents,” said the Corriere della Sera newspaper Some of the foster parents have been accused of sexually abusing the children they paid money for Police declined to say how many children were involved Hundreds of thousands of euros were involved Mother's Day Sale—shop gifts of faith & inspiration! She was overweight and needed a little self-improvement Then her nephew needed an organ donor… Homemade pasta, creamy sauces, rich meats and delicious cheeses…the region of northern Italy where I was born and raised is known for its robust and flavorful cuisine. This is the food I have loved my whole life. It’s the food I learned to cook in my mother’s kitchen back in our village of Bibbiano and brought here to il Bistro Italiano Our menu is full of the recipes Mama taught me. But there is also something that might surprise you: lighter fare, like baked chicken with fresh herbs or beet-flavored tagliatelle tossed with scallops It is food I have come to love because I learned it could help save a life—the life of my beloved nephew Rossano Our time together felt especially precious because Rossano was born with Alport syndrome a disease that causes irreparable damage to the kidneys but Luana was worried and finally confided in me “If he doesn’t get a kidney transplant soon he will have to go on dialysis…” She didn’t have to say more I was the one relative who was a perfect match It was what I believed God meant for me to do “The operation would be too dangerous for you,” he informed me “You are too heavy.” I knew I was overweight at 5-foot-5 and 258 pounds but I never thought that would affect someone else’s health “Lose weight and then we will talk about the transplant,” the surgeon said That was a promise—to my nephew and to God I returned to Colorado determined to exercise those 70 pounds off an up-and-down trek through the magnificent red rock canyons of Colorado National Monument it was all I could do to pull air into my lungs I added weight-lifting sessions twice a week At the restaurant I was in charge of the kitchen When I stirred cream into my garlic-tomato sauce I had to taste it to make sure the flavor was just right a woman who directs the weight-loss program at our local hospital The hospital program put me on a strict diet I took a closer look at what I was cooking What could I change in my recipes to make them healthier Every time the aromas in our kitchen grew too tempting And I prayed for the resolve to do whatever it took to help him By September 2009 my weight had dropped to 187 pounds At the airport neither she nor Mama recognized me The first thing I did when I returned to Colorado was change the menu at our restaurant There were ways I could remake traditional favorites so they were better for our customers lower-fat dishes with plenty of Old World flavor Maybe saving Rossano wasn’t all I was put on this earth to do Maybe God wants me to use the food I love to help others eat healthier Try Brunella’s Rolled Baked Chicken She struggled when her hair fell out due to alopecia Try a “body scan” to get to know your body and give yourself space to relax and release pain A note of appreciation for all the prayers and support in the wake of a wife’s death Get More Inspiration Delivered to Your Inbox I’ve loved Guideposts since I was a college girl in the 90s Back to DuPage County Sheriff whether for re-election or election for the first time Is there a particular issue that motivates you what?I am running for Sheriff because the safety of DuPage County citizens is critically important Our community deserves an ethical Sheriff who has the trifecta of extensive experience I am humbled to be the only candidate Ãâ#128;™wholeheartedly endorsedÃâ#128;œ by retiring Sheriff John Zaruba as the most fully qualified candidate I am a police officer first a political outsider who brings objective impartiality I know firsthand what it takes to work in the jail and on the street investigate both criminal and internal matters and manage a multi-million dollar Office budget The Illinois State Crime Commission awarded me as the 2017 Protector of Children recipient because of my work in protecting families with the EpiPen program I actively promote services such as Guardian and SPARR that benefit our growing senior and special needs populations I will protect services for seniors and families and I will collaborate with the DuPage County Board to create a responsible and balanced budget I am a police officer who wants to serve and protect The Sheriff's Office is tasked to protect our citizens in our courthouse I have experience serving in every aspect of the Office seniors and special needs community have felt safe in DuPage County under Sheriff Zaruba's watch your quality of life.If you are an incumbent Tell us of any important initiatives you've led what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?Although I am neither an incumbent nor a challenger I can share experience relevant to the Sheriff's position that I have achieved as Undersheriff An effective Sheriff keeps a pulse on the immediate needs of the community while also having a vision for innovative protections and services needed in the long term As a top administrator in the DuPage County Sheriff's Office I have driven initiatives that serve as a beacon for law enforcement agencies across Illinois The Sheriff's Office was a leader in Illinois with the DuPage Narcan initiative that I helped implement We partnered with the County Board and Health Department to fund supplies of Narcan for our deputies to administer reversing drug overdoses linked to heroin and other opioids I am proud that Narcan has saved over 100 lives in DuPage County The Sheriff's Office was also the first in Illinois to implement the EpiPen initiative Partnering with the DuPage County Health Department and the Annie LeGere Foundation I led the DuPage Sheriff's Office through an implementation providing Sheriff's Deputies with EpiPens to carry and administer when a citizen is suffering from a life threatening allergic reaction I bring a proven track record of success in partnering with other law enforcement agencies and private industry to implement forward-thinking programs for our citizens.What do you see as the biggest gap in solving the opioid crisis in your county What can the sheriff's office do to help close the gap?The largest gap in solving the County's opioid crisis is the incorrect assumption that we can arrest and prosecute our way out of this destructive epidemic Research shows that threats of arrest or prosecution have almost no effect on a drug-addicted offender we can impact the cycle of addiction through qualified treatment programs Initiating drug abuse treatment in jail is key to both individual recovery and to public safety It also reduces the risk of returning to drug-related criminal behavior and drug abuse I support JUST of DuPage that provides drug counseling to inmates to eliminate addiction I plan to implement a diversion program to increase drug abuse treatment A drug-addicted offender will be evaluated according to specific criteria to determine if he or she can receive treatment instead of being incarcerated The program will be implemented by partnering with both the State's Attorney and County Health Department Effectively handling the opioid crisis also requires direct law enforcement and community education I know from experience that gangs and drugs are the root of violent crimes Working with the Anti-gang tactical team (A-TAC) I partnered with police chiefs across the county to mobilize a strong team of gang specialists to infiltrate gangs arrest offenders and get drugs off our streets I also proactively educate our community by speaking to parents and children at events about the dangers of heroin and opioids I oversee the 'First Step' program to help parents address drug abuse with their children.How is the opioid crisis affecting other crimes in your county What other crime trends are you noticing related to opioids and what can be done to prevent these crimes?The opioid crisis is affecting almost every other area of crime in DuPage County Opioids are the root cause of the increase in drug-related criminal behavior and felony possession of a controlled substance Addicted offenders will do anything to secure their drugs In thinking about prevention of these crimes I believe proactive education about drugs is critical I share the latest trends on opioid usage at community events across our County The Sheriff's Office has a Community Resource Unit that teaches grade school children about the dangers of opioids and a Deputy in a high school who monitors students and proactively raises opioid concerns with the school's administration training program that educates our deputies on how to interact with citizens who have mental illness The success of this team has grown into an additional treatment-related partnership with deputies and counseling clinicians these pairs follow up with addicted citizens to break the cycle of addiction I take the responsibility of using taxpayer dollars very seriously in handling the impact of opioids in our County This Office will enforce the law to get drugs off our streets I will also implement a jail diversion program to treat qualified drug-addicted offenders Tax dollars are paying for these offenders whether they are incarcerated being treated for drug addiction Our best option for breaking this cycle is treatment to reduce recidivism.Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the sheriff's office Are there capital expense or other budgetary items that the office must address how do you propose to address them?The allocation of resources is complex given the size and responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office is the human resource of our people.These professionals directly contribute to the Office being heralded within the national law enforcement community as the Gold Star of Excellence The Sheriff's Office strives to be as efficient as possible The three bureaus in the Office share the same pool of Deputies who are represented by two different labor unions We allocate personnel as efficiently as possible while honoring labor contracts The Office cooperates with municipal partners to run task forces The Office allocates one deputy to nine task forces on the local This type of collaboration saves taxpayer dollars both for the Sheriff's Office and for agencies across the county I anticipate an increase in capital expenses around technology automatic license plate readers or handheld fingerprint scanners can better equip deputies on patrol Technology can also improve the safety of deputies and inmates in the County jail as well as the welfare of the judges and citizens in our courthouse I caution anyone who claims technology as a Ãâ#128;™cheap The Office and County Board are careful about how tax dollars are spent the Sheriff's Office must utilize technology thoughtfully to protect sensitive and private citizen information.What other issues are important to you as a candidate for this office?I think that other issues facing the county are the need to protect our growing special needs and senior populations I know first hand the safety issues for those with special needs and their families This is a growing population and I strongly believe that programs such as SPARR can have a positive and lasting effect on those families are an effective tool when parents need deputies to find a loved one I have worked with Marionjoy Rehab to bring the Traffic Stop Drills program to the Sheriff's Office These exercises educate drivers with special needs on appropriate behavior and expectations during a traffic stop I volunteer for Special Olympics and the Knights of Columbus to support our community We are also responsible for serving and protecting our senior citizens I oversee the Guardian Program and routinely participate with the Milton Township S.A.L.T Council to address the needs of our seniors in assisted living Scam artists often target our senior population hoping they are vulnerable giving seniors the tools they need to stay safe in the community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.DuPage County Treasurer Gwen Henry She prioritizes service to our taxpayers and fully appreciates the work from her staff.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Growing up I learned that there is no replacement for love The love from family fuels confidence and support for anyone to achieve their potential.If life gave you one do-over what would you spend it on?I would have pursued law school after graduating with my B.A degree but a formal education is so valuable.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?American History - It helped me realize that society can advance only when we learn from both the positive and negative experiences of our history.If you could give your children only one piece of advice what would it be?I tell my three children to follow their dreams They were created with unique gifts and talents (single rooms +$1788) Limited to just 15 rooms Deposit of $1788 per person is required to reserve along with completed registration form Villa will offer cooking class with Chef Massimiliano Izzo and lunch any day for an extra charge Opportunity to purchase exclusive “food & wine tours” & shopping tours hosted by Paul with roundtrip transportation  Optional Exclusive Experiences and services available will include: For info and to book all or email Sofia at Accent on Travel  ​ sofia@accentontravel.us     302-703-0115 Until recently, the best pizzas in Tuscany were to be found in the tiny hamlet of Bibbiano. Those in the know would drive for miles to enjoy the TnT pizzeria’s crispy thin-based margheritas and diavolas or more adventurous offerings such as the German-themed wurstel and mustard powder concoction. Then the pandemic hit and the barone, as the beer-loving owner was nicknamed, shut up shop and Bibbiano lost the one thing that put it on the map. But Bibbiano could soon become famous for more than just pizza if rumours that Elon Musk has bought the crumbling Castello di Bibbiano prove to be true. The richest man in the world has fallen in love with this corner of southern Tuscany since holidaying nearby last summer 2018 at 1:05 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}WHEATON IL —Patrol Commander James Mendrick defeated Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano by a wide margin Tuesday and will go on to face off against Democrat Greg Whalen according to unofficial results from DuPage County a Woodridge resident and 22-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department giving him a sizable advantage over Bibbiano but Mendrick had garnered the support of deputy's unions and DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin Mendrick thanked voters and gave a nod to his opponent for having the courage to run in this primary race Both candidates had similar views on gun control and the opioid crisis as important issues facing the Sheriff's Department Bibbiano had stated that he discouraged deputies from contributing money or time to his campaign because they have "better things to be concerned about than my campaign," he told the League of Women Voters Here's a quick look at both of the candidates Patrol Commander James Mendrick Education: Studied Criminal Justice at Lewis University completed School of Police Staff & Command at Northwestern University Experience: Hired as Patrol Deputy with Sheriff's Office in 1996 promoted to Administrative Bureau Chief in 2006 requested to return to Patrol Commander "for family reasons" in 2011 Community Involvement: Area chair for Downers Grove Township Republican Organization (DGTRO) 2015-present Committeeman for precinct 126 (2010-present) Gun Control: Recommends closer relationship between schools and law enforcement more advanced security technology to protect schools and alert officers more quickly supports early intervention for students who may be at risk Mendrick addressed the prevalence of 3-D printed guns and said "I would start there with completely unregulated gun use."Mental Health Training: "As the father of an autistic son this is a really important topic to me," Mendrick told the League of Women Voters forum He said he supports ongoing community training and assistance with development and affordable housing to "make sure [people with mental health issues] aren't just being sunk into the jail system."Sheriff's budget: Stated that the sheriff is the "ultimate authority to develop and manage budget by using recommendations responsibly" at League of Women Voters forumRecreational Marijuana: Supports looking deeper into funding sources; He said "no matter what your stance is on marijuana you don't want people driving high." He added "I would hate to see the taxpayers foot the bill for training and overtime"for officers needed to respond to these DUIs Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with emphasis in local government from Northern Illinois University Community Involvement: Member of National Association for Down Syndrome and Gigi’s Playhouse York Township Republican Organization Precinct Committeeman volunteer at Accessible Hearts Ministry at the Faith Evangelical Methodist Church of Elmhurst Gun Control: Recommends more intensive police training for active shooter incidents; "I do not own an assault weapon Constitution and I strongly believe in the 2nd amendment," Bibbiano said at the League of Women Voters Forum Mental Health Training: Supports expanding current program that follows up on critical incidents and partnering with the DuPage County Health Department and State's Attorney's Office for potential jail diversion for "minor Sheriff's budget: Stresses the importance of police budget in lowering taxes; Believes sheriff should personally present budget "I am the only candidate who has actually managed the entire budget process and presented it to the board," he told the League of Women Voters Recreational Marijuana: If marijuana is legalized for recreational use in Illinois Bibbiano said he is concerned about "what else does that bring into a community and how is that affecting a community," adding that it's urgent to address the opioid crisis and "how those people came to be addicted to drugs in the first place." >>>Image credit: James Mendrick for Sheriff Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. snowbirds have been a big part of the Sarasota story with some lucky retirees enjoying the best of both worlds—sunny winters in Sarasota and cool summers in regions north we've seen a new kind of snowbird—the bicontinental species which divides its time between Sarasota and beautiful regions around the world Consider Alberto Guardagnini of Tuscany and Sarasota the owner of Saluté Ristorante on Lemon Avenue Owner Alberto greets each patron personally during season: "Ciao," "Buona Sera." When things quiet down he returns to his homeland and to his recently restored country estate who bask in the beauty and the local wines and food and quite a few of them are Saluté patrons from Southwest Florida It operates as a full-production winery of award-winning super Tuscan wines high-quality olive oil is pressed from the olive trees growing on the country estate He tells us he has just shipped 30 cases of the "liquid gold" to Saluté and I first visited this 18th-century country estate a year ago while driving around the rolling hills of Tuscany on a sunny autumn day and stopping over at local vineyards We were so impressed with the beauty and peaceful atmosphere of Bibbiano we knew that we had to return for a longer stay The restored villas are first-class and can accommodate 26 people—an extraordinary venue for a reunion of family or friends And the staff is fluent in English as well as Italian we take the two-hour train ride from our home in Florence where we currently reside for three months a year Alberto picks us up at Buonconvento station lined on either side with soaring cypress trees We are greeted at the gate by the charming guest-relations coordinator Then we check into our large airy room: "Il Girasole," the sunflower Lunch is served on the terrace overlooking the vine-clad hills and silvery gray olive groves The panoramic view is mesmerizing; there is no sound with our meal of homemade pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden It reminds me of my first time visiting Sarasota in 1989 my soon-to-be husband said I was Floridized Alberto joins us for a discussion of wines produced in Italy and why they are so good The grapes must be picked at the exact time they are ready and sent to production Weather dictates when this will take place If there are too many rainy days or flooding The regulation for low sulfites is very strict Alberto says that his guests are always commenting on how much wine they consume in Italy and how they never experience a headache We are introduced to chef Massimiliano "Max" Izzo who is preparing handmade pasta for this evening's dinner He is toasting walnuts for the sauce and yes they are from the walnut trees on the property Who stays at the impeccably restored farmhouses Alberto tells us that more than 30 percent of this year's occupancy came from the Sarasota and Longboat Key area along with Canadians who live part of the year in Sarasota including a business group from Porsche that has stayed at Bibbiano for three consecutive years and takes over the entire property Alberto is excited to find out that both he and Bill share a love of the game of golf and he entices my husband to go and "hit a few balls." It does not take a lot of persuasion I admonish them not to be gone too long as I leave for a walk around the property Claudia takes me through the wine-making procedure and into the wine cellars where I notice buckets of freshly picked large green olives; these are for eating The olives for the oil are not ready for picking until mid or late November I return to the kitchen to talk to the chef about his methods He also gives group cooking classes and graciously agrees to share some of his "secret" recipes You will not gain weight on the typical Tuscan diet Nor will you find massive plates of meatballs and spaghetti your taste buds will come alive with the flavors of Tuscany: the freshest ingredients and tonight we are in for a gastronomic delight The fresh tagliolini is drying on the racks; sauce is simmering The massive Chianina beef steaks now marinating will become the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina Alberto gives us his tip for a marinade: olive oil Once the steak has been seared over hot coals and is sliced rare the juice of the meat mixes with the marinade to form an exquisite sapore (flavor) The chef gathers the five fingers of his right hand to his lips and air kisses them Chef Izzo's gourmet four-course dinner with unlimited wines from the Casali di Bibbiano's winery is served nightly on the terrace or in the restaurant so the number of guests is dwindling and we are invited to sit at the family table for dinner have stayed to work at the property and will join us We order some cases of the wine to be shipped to Florence where we can have a wine tasting with friends and we are sad to leave our new "family." We know we will return and stay even longer the next time I sign the guest book and peek at some of the other comments: "Exceeded our expectations," "Forever in my heart," "Amazing hospitality," "Spectacular time," "Trip of a lifetime," "Fantastic food," "Felt like a part of the family." We agree famous for its beauty and tranquility as well as food and wine Patrons of a popular downtown Italian restaurant are following the proprietor on his summer migration to his luxurious winery and estate in the hills of central Italy Email (USA): [email protected] destinationcasali.com Tear a couple of basil leaves and toss in (he tossed them Add pasta to sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan For more Sarasota restaurant and dining news, click here This article appears in the February 2014 issue of Sarasota Magazine. Like what you read? Click here to subscribe Chianti Classico’s Gran Selezione classification is inevitably fraught with high expectations my impressions echo those of their Riserva counterparts Among the small sampling of 2018 Gran Selezione the wines demonstrated more overt structure than the annata but with the gracious tannins and fruit of the vintage Bibbiano’s Vigna del Capannino allows a sense of place to shine through and in Il Molino di Grace’s predominantly new barrique-aged Il Margone These first releases suggest 10 to 12 years of cellaring potential there were many successes among the 2017 Gran Selezione Fèlsina’s Colonia harnesses the extremes of the vintage with confidence and admirable poise like Le Miccine practically defy it with freshness and elegance Alongside the 2018s and 2017s were a handful of 2016s from producers who choose to hold back their Gran Selezione for longer before release These examples underscored the accomplishment of the 2016 vintage with Castello di Monsanto and Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vigneto San Marcellino standing shoulder to shoulder with previously released top scorers I was disheartened by the number of heavy bottles – both at the Gran Selezione and Riserva levels Chianti Classico is a leader in sustainability and biodiversity with 40% of production now certified organic The region’s top wines should reflect these values those in unnecessarily heavy bottles are incongruous As for the bigger picture – does Gran Selezione represent the best of the region There is no doubt that some of the denomination’s top wines sit at this level while others – although adhering to the letter of the law – don’t seem to add anything to the idea of being the highest quality classification In a denomination with over 500 estates of various shapes and sizes it is challenging for a newly created topmost designation to achieve one-size-fits-all According to Tim Schefenacker at Castagnoli the classification allows larger wineries to showcase their best company wine ‘It goes without saying that there are some great wines made but I think the criteria and definition of Gran Selezione is quite contrary to our philosophy and style,’ he says Which means that some of the region’s greatest wines still sit outside the denomination Seething underneath all of this is ‘a smell of change,’ describes Le Cinciole’s Luca Orsini The growers’ consortium is presently working to tighten Gran Selezione regulations The proposed requirements would see an increased minimum of Sangiovese from its current 80% and the possible elimination of international grape varieties Officially called Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive or UGA it would essentially be based on existing communes at the moment this is only being tabled for Gran Selezione which represents just 6% of Chianti Classico’s production it remains to be seen if they will be enough to lure eligible IGT wines into Chianti Classico’s Gran Selezione fold it has encouraged Orsini to upgrade Le Cinciole’s Aluigi bottling from Riserva to Gran Selezione with the just released His decision precedes any official change but is rooted in the hope that ‘in the future this classification will put greater emphasis on territory and typicity,’ states Orsini Thinking about the episode of alleged irregular foster care cases in Reggio Emilia we asked psychiatrist Andrea Masini to tell us what might happen when a social worker assumes that he or she is facing a case of domestic violence or family abuse Psychiatrist and psycotherapist Andrea Masini is the director of the scientific journal Il sogno della farfalla and professor in the Dynamic Psychotherapy School Bios Psichè about «brainwashing of children» to create false memories (in order to remove these children from their parents and place them in other families) Nonetheless Mescolini dutifully added that «it is not the system of foster care under investigation but rather the people involved in the Reggio Emilia case» how should we relate to a child if we want to understand if he or she has actually been abused by one of his/her parents “Carrying out an interrogation” or questioning a child is always very difficult especially if we take for granted that something happened I can clearly see that often the problem is the presence of a mentality according to which children know nothing and need to be taught what to say we must always put ourselves in a position of authentic as clearly stated in Human Birth Theory by Massimo Fagioli possesses intelligence and the capability to comprehend what happens around him/her any kind of relationship can be negatively affected Some stress the importance of asking indirect questions If that kind of prejudice against children’s reality is present even indirect questions can prove ineffective We need to think and imagine the child as a knowledgeable human being in his/her own way and using his/her own words what are the consequences of this kind of prejudice but they cannot prevent the psychological wound that such prejudice inflicts upon them; this moreover because it is a prejudice that is neither clearly expressed or verbalized as this prejudice is very common in our culture children may have already experienced it in their relationships with their parents This idea of a tabula rasa to be filled in by adults is still very common in our culture using their own ways of expressing themselves surely have a very deep and precise knowledge about relationships about what they have been through and what life is about we can neither imagine nor see the development process children are constantly involved in learning language and how to cope with society We must be aware of their capabilities and of their potential so that we can put ourselves in a dimension of authentic listening: “I’m actually trying to understand what he or she is telling me” But very often adults relating to youth have pre-formed judgements even when they are assigned to delicate tasks as in the case of welfare officers these adults make the situation they are facing fit their pre-formed judgements without seeking to understand what a child is actually trying to say Prosecutor Mescolini said that the system of social welfare is not in question Social workers often save the lives of children who are mistreated I can see that some welfare officers make serious mistakes Is this due to the prejudice we talked about It can happen that a social worker interprets a drawing done by a child only on the basis of the conviction he or she has already formed without giving proper attention to the youngster So the report he or she files with the magistrate may be written in a manner that leads not-so-bad mothers to lose their parenting role And their kids are placed into foster care I am a psychiatrist for adults therefore I am regularly involved in the psychiatric examination and evaluation of parents other times just one of them has problems (e.g when the mother has been trying to protect her child/children If a social worker reports that he or she thinks that a child is suffering the magistrate can decide to remove the youngster from his or her home the system of foster care leaves the decision of what to do in the sole hands of social workers Are they trained to do a psychological evaluation Older social workers have qualifications comparable to those of kindergarten teachers Nowadays younger social workers have to complete University studies to obtain their job The point is that the new law needs to be fixed; everybody knows it doesn’t work If something bad happens to the minor they interviewed concluding he or she was not in danger all the responsibility falls on their shoulders even if they did not have the specific competency to evaluate the situation A real change is needed also to protect social workers themselves: it is in their own interest Because while it is true that they have great authority they are the only ones that are held responsible La versione in italiano è disponibile qui DuPage County sheriff's officials have again revised their explanation for ending the jail's nearly 32-year relationship with JUST of DuPage addiction treatment and religious services to inmates After first saying it was based on a judge's ruling on a case then admitting they issued a "poorly worded" statement that may have misrepresented Judge George Bakalis' position sheriff's officials now say they issued the original statement about the ruling after receiving thirdhand information from the DuPage County state's attorney's office "The sheriff's office received information about that ruling from the state's attorney's office before the (courtroom hearing) transcripts came out," Undersheriff Frank Bibianno said late Tuesday "We haven't been in possession of them for that long That initial line (of the original statement) bears some clarification Bibianno was unable to identify the source of the incorrect information never talked to anyone from the state's attorney's office about this but someone from the state's attorney's office talked to someone at the sheriff's office about that hearing," he said "And that's how the erroneous information made its way into that statement before we saw the transcripts or knew what was said." spokesman for DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin on Wednesday denied claims that his office was the source of the erroneous information our only contact with the sheriff's office was to notify them that the judge ruled against the defendant's motion to reconsider the sentence and against giving him the requested credit," Darrah said "That was our only contact with the sheriff's office in regards to this case." 7 court hearing involving an inmate who was sentenced to 18 years for a drug-induced homicide and was seeking a reduced sentence based on some voluntary JUST classes he had participated in during his nearly three years in jail 22 statement from a sheriff's spokesman that said the office was canceling its relationship with JUST which stands for Justice Understanding Service Teaching JUST officials have been told their last day in the jail will be Sept "It came to the office's attention that a DuPage County Judge has recently ruled that the current substance abuse recovery program does not meet the Illinois Department of Corrections standards as set forth by Illinois State statute," the statement read Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Meindl argued the JUST programs don't meet state statutes Meindl is married to Sheriff John Zaruba's son who is a Republican candidate for DuPage County Board District 4 in November's election "And with regards to this sentencing credit issue it's the People's position that the DuPage County Jail does not provide a 60-day full-time program as delineated in the statute 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3," Meindl said in her closing arguments The seriousness of the inmate's charged offense prohibited him from entering the jail's "recovery pod," where certified counselors work with inmates struggling with addiction In his decision not to extend credit to the inmate Bakalis specifically said he was not ruling on whether recovery pod credit would or could be extended because the inmate was never in the pod sheriff's officials said they will not reinstate JUST and are committed to partnering with the DuPage County Health Department on a three-tiered multidenominational approach to address substance abuse and mental health And they hope to do it as seamlessly as possible after Sept Italy: The Angels and Demons investigation on family custody in Emilia (northern Italy) The evidence against social workers is extremely serious which has led to an obsessive search for abuse and mistreatment with shocking discoveries such as the existence of a network of officials These episodes reveal that the government custody service holds enormous power and that there is an obsessive ideological framework at work – as for example in entrusting children to the care of lesbian couples The left in Emilia and the Democratic Party (PD) that governs the Emilia-Romagna region seems to not to have noticed even though for years it has praised the family custody system Judge Luca Ramponi issued an order concerning the preliminary investigations in the province of Reggio Emilia that released two of the key persons being examined by the “Angels and Demons” investigation His action reveals the disturbing modus operandi of what has been renamed the Bibbiano System The northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna was governed for seventy years by the Communist party and then by its succcessor the Democratic party [PD] leading to the arrest of the mayor of the village of Bibbiano in the province of Reggio Emilia as well as several social workers of the Municipal Union of Val’d’Enza and also some psychologists who have now been released but are prohibited from working with children until the investigation is completed The system of family custody run by the office of the Municipal Union has ended thanks to the scrutiny of the Italian judiciary The governing Left has always promoted this system as a model of efficiency and being truly capable of intervening for the good of children who are victims of violence there are now very serious accusations: the assistant prosecutor Valentina Salvi alleges that there are numerous cases of children being taken from their families and placed in foster homes without any required justifying reason such as verified sexual abuse or mistreatment at home In some cases such children have even been placed in the care of lesbian women and their companions there was an effort to force children out of their family homes by inventing stories of abuse that never happened at all using methods of psychological coercion that are ambiguous and gravely wrong such as modifying children’s drawings to paint a picture of the father as a predator at all costs Two of the main people arrested have been released but with a one-year prohibition against practicing their profession: Federica Anghinolfi former director of social services for Val’d’Enza and assistant social worked Francesco Monopoli. This was deemed to be a sufficient measure by the judge because their crimes were connected to their professional activity and hence there would be no risk of them recommitting them The investigation is now drawing to its close with the formulation of new charges of indictment disturbing details are emerging about what the media and politics have renamed the Bibbiano System. First and foremost it has been revealed that Federica Anghinolfi the primary suspect along with the Hansel & Gretel Center has a “political and ideological world of reference.” In the order given last June the investigating judge referred to the world of “LGBT rights.” It will also be recalled that there was a case of children being entrusted to the care of lesbian couples and also in one case to a woman who was Anghinolfi’s companion A world that is “perhaps sympathetic to the positions of those being investigated even if it is not a party to the extreme “conspiracies” that are now coming to light.” What is the being referred to here The judge is talking about what the prosecutor who worked on the case discovered while continuing the work on the investigation that exploded last June Both Anghinolfi and Monopoli “were convinced of the existence of a network of pedophiles connected to the “Devils” network in Bassa Modenese [the lower part of the province of Modena by which the children of Reggio were protected through falsifications according to the interrogations carried out by the prosecutor Lucia Salvi the two became “convinced about the existence of the pedophile network” and for this reason “conditioned the work of the experts and technical consultants of the office of the court who were told not to talk to anyone because the network was made up of court officials According to the two assistant social workers there exists in Val d’Enza a secret network dedicated to “cannibalism and Satanic religious rituals,” as reported to investigators by a well-informed person who cited the stories told by a child who had been taken away from Monopoli for her own good Other stories describe a moment of “total loss of self-control and equilibrium” by Anghinolfi Anghinolfi was convinced that little Tommaso Onofri whose tiny body was found on the banks of the Enza River in 2006 (a very painful news story that was closely followed throughout Italy) had been the victim of a pedophile network (this circumstance never emerged during the course of the trial of Onofri’s killer and that this pedophile network was in turn linked to the bosses of ‘Ndrangheta [the Calabrian mafia] whose heads were cut off in Reggio during the Aemilia trial according to the story of a municipal police officer Anghinolfi illicitly ordered an agent to arrest a man who had an argument with social services when he asked for information about an affair concerning a stolen child The officer alleges that she said to them: “You are my municipal police and I order you to arrest him.” This order was refused with disdain by the municipal police telling us to arrest that man because he had harmed her role as assistant social worker,” acting like “an almighty god” of the Bibbiano System who acted “to prove abuse at all costs” even when there was not a single trace of it nor any suspicion or the least evidence it seems that in many cases there was a clear intention and obsession to demonstrate against all the evidence that sexual abuse was taking place This obsession seemed to reach the point of a pathology at least in the case of Tommaso Onofri and the pedophile network “She essentially pushed everything in this direction and we all knew it: [...] in all of the relations it seemed deliberately set up and always between the lines that everything should be a matter of sexual abuse or mistreatment,” several of the people who were interrogated declared Such exasperation validates the idea that a complex ideological system was put in place in Bibbiano Even as we await criminal charges being made by the judiciary all of the political implications of the situation remain intact as is highlighted by the story of the municipal police since the Bibbiano System was raised up as a model with enthusiasm throughout the province of Emilia by politicians of the Left as an example of efficiency by the administrators of the Democratic party And because of this enthusiasm they now seek to justify themselves by saying “we could not have known.” Yet the power of Anghinolfi and Monopoli to determine the lives of dozens of children was granted to them from above And what was above them was the political leadership that today is putting its head in the sand Group B: Casalgrande (43)-Riese (50); Castellarano (59)-Smile (25); Fiorano (26)-Campagnola (63); Montombraro (36)-Baiso/Secchia (54) on the Modena synthetic pitch of San Prospero; Sammartinese (34)-C.Ragnone (54). First category Group B: Marzolara (44)-Barcaccia (14) in Calestano; Palanzano (38)-Atletico Bibbiano Canossa (40); Quattro Castella (38)-Langhiranese (58). importer or exporter) is checked at least once a year or more often on the basis of risk assessment.