November 16, 2008

Dear Phil,

I truly do enjoy reading your e-newsletter; there is such a void for community information among us Slovenian-Americans in the USA. Although most of your news is relating to the Cleveland area, I am interested in what is happening around the USA, and what other Slovenian communities are doing.

As an officer of the Univ. of Wis.-Milwaukee Slovenian Arts Council, I and my fellow council members are continually seeking performing artists from Slovenia or the Slovenian-American community whom we could showcase or help host in the Milwaukee area. I like to read your newsletter and get ideas for future programs here in Milwaukee.

Good luck to you in your endeavors and keep up the good work,

Christina Carroll
Milwaukee, Wisconsin [mcarroll5@wi.rr.com] 

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Tom Lekan writes about his visit to Slovenia:

Four of us, three Slovenian Americans, Joe Skerl, Deacon Lou Primosic of St. Basil the Great Church, Tom Lekan and Fr. Walt Jenne, an Irish Priest who spent 15 years living at St. Lawrence Church headed to Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy for ten days in September of this year. Each of us wanted to visit the place where our parents or grandparents were born, for Fr. Jenne, the Pastor of St. Basil the Great Church in Brecksville, it was to see all that he heard about from the Slovenians at St. Lawrence Church. Our visit started at a small Bed and Breakfast just outside of Ljubljana. We flew from Zagreb, Croatia and on to Split and Dubrovnik where we drove the beautiful coast for a couple of days and then back to Zagreb for a day tour. We then went back to Slovenia stopping in Zuzenberg for dinner and to explore some of Deacon Lou and Joe Skerl's heritage. We then drove north and spent a wonderful night and day in Ljubljana. On Saturday night we joined the locals along the Ljubljanica River listening to music and tasting "Union" beer. The next morning we went to church for a Slovenian mass and then had a private guide show us the city and the castle. We then headed for the coast of Slovenia to Portoroz and Piran. Ljubljana to Portoroz is amazing as it transforms from green mountains to a dry plain and then a beautiful coast. We ate fish in Piran and visited the casino and just took in the absolute beauty of this area. The next day we headed for Trieste, Italy . We had lunch in the center of town and observed this busy coastal city that was much larger than we ever expected. We headed for Bled for a two night stay in one of the most impressive and beautiful places on earth. In Bled we had a wonderful guide named Monja who could talk about everything from politics to economics as well as the sites.

This trip made me feel so proud of my heritage as the Slovenian people are warm and friendly as well as prosperous and energetic. We were so fortunate to have wonderful local guides who could not only show us the sites but also discuss culture, government, politics, and economics. There is no doubt in my mind that Slovenia is a model of success. I also had the opportunity to have all of the food my grandmothers and mother made for me when I was a child. You may be able to find a McDonald's if you look real hard however there are local family owned restaurants everywhere. The care shown to the environment was overwhelming, the people love the land and never abuse it. Everywhere we went it was so clean and pristine. The efforts made to keep the history and culture alive again made me so proud to be a Slovenian.

 By the way for those who are Croatian, I could write the same things about this beautiful country too. This was a trip of a lifetime and I want to go back soon.

A special thanks to Betty at Kollander Travel for making the trip perfect.

Tom Lekan [tlekan@gmail.com]

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Good afternoon, Phil . . . Have been receiving your newsletter for a few weeks now and am enjoying it a lot.

I had written to you a few weeks ago telling you that I was from Cleveland originally but now live in Southern Maryland. I keep in contact with one of the DJs from www.247polkaheaven.com and he keeps me informed of all the polka events in the Ohio/PA area.

I'm a "wayward" Slovenian inasmuch as I married at 20 in 1971 and moved to Maryland more interested in the "rock" scene but over the last year or so I've had this desire to return to my roots. I'd love to communicate with folks back home that can fill me in about families, events, etc.

As far as a feature for your newsletter, I would just suggest that there be a "PenPals" section for those of us who may not be living in our hometowns and would like to reconnect with old acquaintances or folks from the "old neighborhood". If I could, I'd move back to Cleveland, but more than half my life has been lived right here in Maryland and I have family here now and I still work full time.

My family was originally from the St. Clair Avenue area although I grew up in Richmond Heights. My parents ran a bakery on St. Clair back in the 30's -- waaaaaaay before my time ! ! ! My brothers were born in that area and attended the schools there. I was a very late in life baby and therefore do not recall any of that. However, I would LOVE to be in touch with folks who might remember my parents, the bakery or my brothers, John and Joe (Joe is now deceased but was drummer to several Cleveland-style polka bands including Pecon, Vadnal, Habat, etc.)

If you would consider such a format, I'd be truly grateful.

Thanks so much.
Viki Pianecki Tucker [ pinkcaddy7@yahoo.com]

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Dear Phil,

It may have been my SGSi membership that resulted in my being on your Distribution List for the Cleveland Slovenian Newsletter but I am delighted and look forward to each issue of the Newsletter. As a former Clevelander of the Collinwood area I still have family ties in the Cleveland area after having left there some seventy plus years ago and at present I am the only Slovenian resident of the Redneck Riviera for the past 50 years.

I really enjoy the Newletter and please keep it coming.

Lep pozdrav,
Raymond F. Leskovec [leskovec@cox.net]
Major, US Army (Ret)
Pensacola, FL. 32506

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Dober dan Phil,

Per my good friend Steve Fon's suggestion, please add me to your newsletter:
mpiety1831@earthlink.net Sounds like a good idea to keep all Slovenes, especially outside of Cleveland, informed on cultural activities. Hvala lepa!

Josef Laposa, president
Indianapolis-Piran Sister City Committee
[mpiety1831@earthlink.net]

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Hello Phil,

I enjoy your Slovenian News. It was very enjoyable reading. I hope you will be able to keep it sending it

Thank you,
Tony Moze [antonjr0014@sbcglobal.net]

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How about and "Angie's List" of the Slovenian community. Any homeowner knows how difficult it is to get a good, reliable contractor for any kind of services...

Lauren Merkys [lnm331@sbcglobal.net]

November 2, 2008

Circle 2 will hold their annual Fall Concert, November 9, 2008 at the Slovenian Society Home - 20713 Recher Ave, Euclid, OH 44119. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Circle 2 Slovenian Junior Chorus. This is one of the oldest children’s choirs in the country and Circle 2 is still going strong. The children are looking forward to showing off their talents at their first event of the year, the annual Fall Concert, and we would like to see each and every one of you there.

To celebrate the anniversary, I would like to personally invite all of the former Circle 2 members to join us at the concert and also to join the current members on stage for a sing a long. It would be wonderful to see as many alumni there to support the children at this concert. It is important to encourage and cheer on these children who work so very hard to prepare for these events.

The concert is set for Sunday, November 9th at Slovenian Society Home - 20713 Recher Ave in Euclid, Ohio. The children will perform a short program starting promptly at 3pm under the direction of Shirley Ivancic Stall. Following the program, music will be provided at 4:00pm for your dancing and listening pleasure, by The Eddie Rodick Band. Sandwiches and beverages will be available for purchase. Doors will open at 2pm.

The cost of the tickets are $6.00 in advance and $7.00 at the door. Any former Circle 2 members will be entitled to one free admission. Please contact Kathleen Trebets directly at 440-622-1044 or at kat21_2@hotmail.com if you would like to purchase tickets or if you are a Circle 2 alum and interested in attending the concert.

Kathleen S. Trebets
Circle 2 Director

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Phil:
Thanks for your ClevelandSlovenian Newsletter, always very informative. A friend has asked me for some Slovenian points of interest, restaurants and the like in and around Cleveland. Any suggestions?

I appreciate your efforts in keeping the Slovenian heritage alive.

Best regards,
Marty Klammer [maklammer@gmail.com]

***

Thank you so much,

As a third generation Slovenian you have been my ticket back to our culture. The more I learn the more proud I am and the more I understand myself.

You are easily the best resource and Cleveland Slovenians are truly blessed to have people like you and Dr. Zigon. The Slovenian community is incredible but was hard to find until I was introduced to your site!

Lepsa Hvala,
Nick Mlinar [batcivic@hotmail.com]

October 27, 2008

I had the pleasure of meeting Mirjam Gremes and her husband, Chuck at the Cleveland National Air Show and Slovenska Pristava, courtesy of Dr Zvone Zigon. Here is a truly talented Slovenian, whom we should all be proud of. Her website is in progress, but as you can see from her paintings, this is a very talented artist. Her website will also give lessons in Slovenian, as well as many interesting facts.

Mirjam is from Minnesota and does most of the translation services for the consul general and embassy. Check it out. It is worth it. http://mirjamsworld.com