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Hello! Updated August 9, 2010.

This calendar and information about the Latvian community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are maintained by the Council of American-Latvian Organizations of New York, Inc. (CALONY). This information may be freely printed out, quoted and distributed, provided www.nylatvian.org is cited as the source. To receive occasional e-mail reminders about new events, send an e-mail to the webmaster, Marģers ( pinnis@banet.net ). Please include your full name in the message. E-mail addresses will not be given to anyone else. Feel free to comment, tell us about new events, or point out errors via e-mail or calling: (914) 631-5725.
© Council of American-Latvian Organizations of New York, Inc., 2003-2010.

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Information about the Latvian church, the Latvian schools, the Boy Scouts & Girl Guides, the NY Latvian Choir, the NY Daugavas Vanagi chapter, the Latvian folk dance group Jumis, paintings for sale by the DV, the ALA Ethnographic & Cultural collection, supporting Baltic interests, the VOC Memorial, and the ALA Infogram may now be found by clicking (or even just putting your mouse pointer on) the button Participate in our NY Latvian community! in the main menu above.

Announcements and other news

Please help build a new Dining hall (in Latvian "Ēdam zāle")
for the Latvian Church Camp "Nometne" in the Catskills

The current Dining Hall at the Latvian Church Camp "Nometne" in the Catskills, built in 1956, has served many generations of Latvian-Americans but the time has come to build a new dining facility. The owner of the camp, The Latvian Ev. Luth. Church of New York has, after much planning and discussion, decided on a plan to build a new hall on the site of the old one. This picture is an artist's rendering of the new dining hall, or "Ēdam zāle" as it is called in Latvian. Please consider donating generously so the beautiful Latvian Church Camp "Nometne" can continue serving Latvian people, young and old, for many more generations to come. Please visit: www.nydraudze.org  and click on the fundraising logo pictured above and also visit: www.nometne.org . On these sites you will find plans, project status and other information about this project. 

In the Long Island parsonage Dace Kupče (at the table) and Evija Klauze setting up the workstation. Photo: Sigita Puriņa. 

In the Long Island parsonage Evija Klauze (behind the table) and Vilmārs Beiniķis setting up the workstation. Photo: Dace Kupče.

At the Yonkers church after a successful day. From the left: Sigita Puriņa, Evija Klauze, Baiba Pinnis Vija Valdmane, Marģers Pinnis and Dace Kupče. Photo: Anita Valdmane.

In Brooklyn before starting work Marģers trying to resolve @#?*%!!! internet connection issues. Photo: Dace Kupče.

In New York a record number of Latvian citizens made use of the Mobile Latvian Passport Workstation!   Thanks to all participants!

At the end of July the Mobile Latvian passport workstation visited the New York area for three days. During that time Latvian citizens submitted the documents and biometric data that is now required for the issuance of new passports. The workstation operated: on July 27 - at the Long Island Church where 35 applicants were processed; on July 28 - at the Yonkers Church, where 76 applicants were processed; and on July 29 - at the Brooklyn parsonage, where 64 applicants were processed. These numbers established a few records. First, New York was the only Latvian center in the USA where the mobile passport workstation operated in a new location each day for three days in a row. This initiative, which made the workstation more accessible to the maximum number of Latvian citizens in the New York area, was highly regarded by Embassy of Latvia personnel. Second, the number of applications processed in Yonkers - 76, was the largest number received by the workstation in a single day anywhere in the USA. And third, the total number of applications received from all three locations in the New York area - 175, was the highest of any Latvian center where the workstation operated in the USA! Chicago took second place with 173 applications. New York achieved these records in spite of some technical difficulties in Long Island and Brooklyn, which delayed and at times disrupted the workstation's internet connection with the data base in Riga. These difficulties meant that a number of applicants had to wait for several hours until the problems were resolved. But as far as we know no passport applicant gave up on the process and all who came to make use of the workstation were eventually able to submit the documents and biometric data to process their passport applications. The workstation personnel and the local organizers sincerely thank all applicants for their extraordinary patience and understanding. In the seven cities in the USA where the workstation operated, a total of 709 applicants were served 

Thee seven city Mobile Passport Workstation tour in the USA was made possible through the close cooperation of the American Latvian Association (ALA - www.alausa.org), The Embassy of Latvia in the USA ( www.latvia-usa.org ), the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Latvian Interior Ministry's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the Latvian Parliament's (Saeima) Foreign Affairs Committee and the local Latvian community organizations in each city.

In New York this project was coordinated by the Council of American Latvian Organizations of New York (CALONY or in Latvian the "ŅLOP"). CALONY president Baiba Pinnis sincerely thanks the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of New York for allowing the workstation to set up and operate in three of its properties. The CALONY also thanks all in the New York area who helped make this project a great success. First of all thanks go to three ladies who operated the mobile passport workstation and accepted applications: Evija Klauze from the Consular Department of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dace Kupče from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the Latvian Ministry of the Interior; and Sigita Puriņa from the Embassy of Latvia to the USA in Washington, DC. They all worked in an exemplary fashion from early morning to late evening. Thanks also go to all who helped: disseminating information, providing transport for the personnel, lending technical equipment, preparing and serving breakfast and lunch, setting up tables chairs and the screen, surmounting technical difficulties, and helping out in other ways when and where needed. In this regard the CALONY thanks: Ivars Bērziņš, Ilze & Vilmārs Beiniķis, Māris Jurēvics, Anna & Andrejs Lazda, Andris Padegs, Jānis Reikmanis, Jānis M. Riekstiņš, Ineta Roze, Nora & pastor Laris Saliņš, Vera Siliņa, Vija Valdmane, Ilona Vilciņa from www.LatvianUSA.com, Māra Vilciņa, and Māra & Gunārs Ziediņš.

Read more about this project on the Embassy of Latvia site: www.latvia-usa.org article: Noslēdzies mobilo pasu darbstaciju projekts, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site: www.am.gov.lv article: Ārlietu ministrija atzinīgi vērtē Latvijas pilsoņu atsaucību jaunu pasu saņemšanā , and on www.LatviansOnline.com article In U.S., mobile passport effort sees more than 700 applications.

Author of the above article - Marģers Pinnis.

Remember to apply for or renew your Latvian passport, 
to vote in the Parliamentary ( Saeimas) elections in October!

The Latvian parliamentary (10. Saeimas) elections will be held on Saturday October 2, 2010. This date may now seem to be very far into the future but now is the time to make sure you have a valid and current Republic of Latvia citizen's passport which is required for voting. An expired passport or other documents will not be acceptable. The new Latvian passports now being issued contain biometric information, which requires passport applicants to appear before consular personnel. The mobile passport worksation project, which visited seven US cities in July, has now concluded. But Latvian citizens who need to apply for their first passport or renew an expired one, can still do this at the Latvian Embassy in Washington, DC or if visiting Latvia before the elections, in Riga. Information may be found at the Embassy's web site: www.latvia-usa.org .
On election day, Saturday October 2 an election precinct will operate at the Latvian Mission to the United Nations in Manhattan, 333 East 50th Street, New York, NY! So, you have no reason not to vote.

Please direct any and all questions  to the consular section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, DC: consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv tel. (202) 328-2840.
General information about the elections, relevant laws, candidate lists and other information (mostly in Latvian) may be found on the web site of the Central Election Commission: www.cvk.lv.

Why bother voting?

Some arguments (in Latvian) for why you should make an effort to participate in the Latvian parliamentary elections in October may be found at: www.EjamBalsot.lv . "Ejam balsot" means "Let's go vote" and "Tava balss ir svariga Latvijai" means "Your vote is important to Latvia".

The Parsonage in Brooklyn is up for sale

In February of 2009 The Latvian Ev. Luth. Church of New York at its annual meeting voted to authorize the church's governing board to put its Parsonage, located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, up for sale. It is now being offered by the real estate brokerage firm of Brown Harris Stevens. You can view the advertisement at: www.brownharrisstevens.com/detail.aspx?id=1115752, where you will find several beautiful photos and an enticing description of the building.

Still more photos, a description and travel directions may be found at: www.nylatvian.org/ebrookln.htm .

An invitation to help Mārcis Braunfelds and his family.........................>	READ MORE
Let's urge local PBS TV stations to broadcast The Soviet Story ..................................................................>	READ MORE
Would you like to play Chess with other Latvians?................................>	READ MORE
Latvian handicrafts now available at the United Nations Gift Centre...>	READ MORE
Survey of Latvians, Livs and citizens of Latvia currently living abroad>	READ MORE
See pictures of the Ball in honor of Latvia's 90th Anniversary in NY...>	READ MORE
Order Latvian Books from the "Saulaine Book Barn"..........................>	READ MORE
You can now order The Soviet Story on DVD.Visit  www.sovietstory.com and click on "Buy DVD".

New York and New Jersey Latvian Calendar

Attention: Names of event venues and Contact people are links!

To save space and avoid repetition the names of the most popular venues are links. These appear in maroon and bold type. As you roll your mouse pointer over each link it will become underlined. When clicked on, a new page will open with the venue's full address, travel directions, and photos. For example the following are links: Yonkers Church and DV House. If you have recently visited the page referenced by a link its color will be dark olive green instead. E-mail addresses of contact people are also provided in this way. If you click on the contact person's name, your computer's e-mail program should open a new message window, with the correct recipient's e-mail address field already filled in. If you want only to view the e-mail address without invoking your e-mail program right click on the name and choose "properties".

AUGUST 2010:

New York Latvian Church Camp "Nometne" in the Catskills summer program for July through August

For more information and registration visit www.nydraudze.org and click on "Nometne".

“ĪKŠĶĪŠU” (" Little thumbs" For children ages 2-6 ) periods:
For children who speak little or no Latvian and need to learn it:
Language week: from Sunday August 1 to Saturday August 7 

Regular children's camp "NOMETNE" periods:
Language period: from Sunday August 1 to Saturday August 14
Seniors period: from Sunday August 8 to Saturday August 14.

IN JONES, MICHIGAN: Saturday, Aug. 14 through Saturday, Aug. 21. - Latvian Girl Guide and Boy Scout 10th big Jamboree Camp Zvaigzņu sega, at Wood Lake Scout Reservation in Jones, MI (located near the Latvian Center Gaŗezers, in Three Rivers, Michigan.) For more information visit: www.10LN.org. 

From Sunday August 16 to Saturday August 23 - "3 x 3" Seminar camp, at the Latvian Church camp "Nometne" in the Catskills. Lead organizer and contact: Taina  Laiviņa tel.(908) 322-2205. For information visit: http://www.3x3katskilos.info. Also, follow this event on Facebook: .

Latvia' s opera superstars performing at the Metropolitan Opera during the 2010-2011 season

Sunday August 15 at 12:00 noon - Tickets go on sale for the Met Opera' s 2010-2011 season. Visit: www.metoperafamily.org/metopera and click on "Season & Tickets". The Met Opera' s 2010-2011 season will feature several Latvian performers.
Latvian tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko will perform the role of Dmitry in Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. He is scheduled to appear on the following dates: October 11, 15, 18, 23, 25, 30 and in March 9, 12, 17 of 2011.
Latvian soprano Maija Kovaļevska will perform the role of Mimi in Giacomo Puccini' s La Bohème. She is scheduled to appear in the following dates: October 16, 20, 23, 28, November 1, 5.
Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča will perform the title role in Georges Bizet's Carmen. She is scheduled to appear in the following dates: November 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 27, 30, December 4.
Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons will be conducting Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades. He is scheduled to appear on the following dates: March 11, 15, 18, 21, 26 of 2011.

From Friday August 27 (after 18:00) until Sunday August 29 - Baltic Bash, at the Lakewood, NJ Estonian House, 4 Cross Street & Veteran's Highway, Jackson, NJ. Come and experience a great time with your fellow Baltics! Activities for the weekend include a volleyball tournament, beer pong tournament, sauna, live musical performances, a Biergarten, and much, much more! Any and all Baltics are welcome! There will be plenty of food, drinks, and spaces for tenting available! For information write: Pia Polikarpus Levensteins. See this event on Facebook: .

SEPTEMBER 2010:

Friday Sep. 10 - The last day that the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, DC can accept applications to vote by mail in the Oct. 2 Latvian Parliament (Saeima) elections. This applies only to Latvian citizens who will be unable to appear in person to vote at an election precinct in New York or in any other place to vote. For information visit: www.latvia-usa.org/inpar10ve.html .

Saturday, Sep. 18 at 10:00 - Kursa's Cup Games in Volleyball, at Priedainē NJ. Volleyball games with mixed teams. If you are alone (not with a team) don't worry or hesitate to come because the teams will be formed at 9:00. Party in the evening. More information forthcoming. Next day have fun on the beach at the Jersey Shore. For more information write Jānis Ģiga, tel (908) 931-1228 or Aivars Bārs, tel. (862) 812-1067.

Saturday Sep. 25, at 14:00 - Daugavas Vanagi seasons opening event, at the DV House. Program information will be forthcoming. Raffle drawing of paintings. All are invited.

OCTOBER 2010:

From Friday Oct. 1 until Sunday Oct. 3 -American Latvian Artists' Association (ALMA) annual Gathering, in the Catskills N.Y. Latvian Church Camp Rest Home (Atpūtas Nams). Program and registration information will follow. For more information about ALMA please visit: www.americanlatvianartists.org .

Saturday, Oct. 2, - Latvian Parliamentary (10. Saeimas) Elections.

In New York an election precinct will operate at the Latvian Mission to the United Nations, 333 East 50th Street, New York, NY. All election precincts in Latvia and abroad will operate during the above cited hours (at local times). In the USA 15 precincts will operate. Voters may vote in any precinct upon showing a valid Latvian citizens passport. You do not have to register in advance. For information visit: www.latvia-usa.org/inpar10ve.html .

NOVEMBER 2010:

From Wednesday, Nov. 24 until Sunday, Nov. 24 - Annual Congress of the American Latvian Youth Association (ALYA) in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, please visit:: www.58aljakongress.com and www.alja.org . There is a reduced participation fee if you register by the end of October!

DECEMBER 2010:

IN MALIBU, CA: From Sunday Dec. 26 to Friday Dec. 31 - Latvian Youth Seminar "2 x 2" (in Latvian "DivReizDivi"). For information visit: www.2x2malibu.org .

End of the New York Latvian events calendar

New York Latvia, Latvian, Latvians, Baltic, Baltics, Balt, Balts, Estonia, Estonian, Estonians, Lithuania, Lithuanian, Lithuanians, Latvians in America, American Latvian, American Latvians, America Latvia.