IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN: From Friday, May 4 until Sunday, May 6 - The American Latvian Association's (ALA) annual congress, Ann Arbor, MI. For information visit www.alausa.org.

Saturday, May 5, from 09:00 to 15:00 - Flea market, at the Yonkers Church. Please donate (right now - don't wait till the day of the flea market) lightly worn clothes, kitchen utensils, serving pieces, place settings, toys, electronics and other household appliances. Clear out your closets, attic and garage! Please contact Vija Valdmane, tel. (914) 478-4787, to say when you will be dropping by with your unneeded stuff. Please also come to the flea market for fantastic bargains! If you have any questions please contact: Laura Zamurs, tel. (516) 628-1465, for more information and to volunteer if you can help set up before and also man the tables during the flea market.

Saturday, May 5, at 14:00 - Annual commemoration of the battles in the Kurzeme salient at the close of World War II, at the DV House. Program will feature a chamber music concert of works by Latvian and other composers performed by flutist Connie Leviatin, cellist Enrico Orengo and pianists Lisa Forte and Dace Aperāns. This will be followed by lunch, desserts, coffee and refreshments in the downstairs club room. Admission: $20, young people under the age of 16 admitted free. All are invited. For more information write: Marija Maher or call (908) 277-1251. Follow this "event" "Chamber Music Recital & Kurzemes Cietiksnis" on Facebook: .

Tuesday, May 8 at 20:00 - Concert: Music of Pēteris Vasks at the Park Avenue Christian Church, 1010 Park Avenue (@ the SE corner of East 85th Street), New York, NY. The Afiara String Quartet: Yuri Cho, violin; Valerie Li, violin; David Samuel, viola: Adrian Fun, violoncello. Paul Vasile, organ. Program: Viatore (2005) - Pēteris Vasks; Canto di forza (2002) - Pēteris Vasks; String Quartet No. 4 (1999) - Pēteris Vasks. The composer will be present at this concert. $20 General Admission / $15 Student/Senior at www.Smarttix.com. For directions visit: www.ParkAvenueChristian.com. For more information about the concert and performers visit: www.ParkAvenueChristian.com/arts/event-calendar/.

Saturday, May 12, at 10:30 - The Bronx Latvian elementary school celebrates its 60th anniversary at the Yonkers Church. Program will include an invocation, performances, exhibits, activities, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and lunch. Admission $25, chilren under 16 admitte free. Everyone from the school's family is welcome: including former, current and future pupils, their parents, grandparents and all of the school's supporters. For information contact: Laura Zamurs, tel. (516) 628-1465.

Saturday, May 12 at 14:00 - Church service in Manhattan, at the Seafarers & International House, 123 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003. For directions to the Seafarers & International House visit: www.sihnyc.org. All are invited to attend this church service, organized by the Latvian. Ev. Luth. Church of New York - Inner City Region. For information about services and events held by the NY Latvian congregation in Yonkers, Long Island, New Jersey and elsewhere, please visit www.NYDraudze.org.

Sunday, May 13, at 10:30 - Mothers Day church services followed by an Event to honor senior congregation members at the Long Island Church. The program (in Latvian) will feature Krista Lediņa telling about her experiences during her "Sveika Latvija" trip. This will be followed by a lunch, and coffee. For information write Ilze Beinikis.

From Friday May 18 to Sunday May 20 - Spring Festival at Rota in the Catskills. More information to follow. For directions and info about Rota visit: www.RotaLodge.org. To reserve rooms: at Rota call (518) 589-9878; at the Nometne's Viesu or Ezermāja call (518) 589-9932. For more information write Juris Bļodnieks. Follow this "event" "Rota's Pavasarsvetki - Spring Brew Fest 2012" on Facebook: .

Tuesday May 22 at 17:30 - Dr. Artis Pabriks, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia will be featured in a discussion hosted by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, at The Union Club, 101 East 69th Street (@ Park Avenue), New York, NY. Minister Pabriks will speak on the topic: "The Impact of Austerity Measures on the Transatlantic Link: Can the Challenges Be Overcome?". The discussion will be moderated by Amb. Herman J. Cohen, among other things former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. A reception will follow. Admission $60 with advance registraion by May 21, through: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=368366 . Proper dress required - for men a jacket and tie, no jeans allowed. No cell phone use on Club premises. For information about the National Committee on American Foreign Policy visit: www.ncafp.org.

Saturday, May 12 at 14:00 - Church service in Manhattan, at the Seafarers & International House, 123 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003. For directions to the Seafarers & International House visit: www.sihnyc.org. All are invited to attend this church service, organized by the Latvian. Ev. Luth. Church of New York - Inner City Region. For information about services and events held by the NY Latvian congregation in Yonkers, Long Island, New Jersey and elsewhere, please visit www.NYDraudze.org.

Thursday, Jun. 14 - National Day of Mourning in remembrance of tens of thousands of Latvians deported on this day from their homeland to prison camps in Siberia by occupying Soviet forces in 1941. (See also March 25 and July 4.)

Wednesday July 4 - In Latvia this is the National Day of Mourning for those who perished in the Nazi Holocaust. Officially the day is called the "Remembrance day for Jewish genocide victims" (in Latvian "Ebreju tautas genocīda upuru piemiņas diena"). On this day in 1941 occupying Nazi-German forces burned down the Great Choral Synagogue in Rīga. (See also March 25 and June 14.)
In the U.S.A. this day is celebrated as Independence Day (declared in 1776).

From Wednesday July 4 to Sunday July 8 - XIII U.S. Latvian Song Festival, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information visit: www.latviansongfest2012.com. Follow the festival "XIII LATVIAN SONG & DANCE FESTIVAL MILWAUKEE" on Facebook: view the "Non-Profit Organization" page - ; and join the "group" - .

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

Registration for the church camp Nometne, in the Catskills, Summer program will open in March. For information and registration visit www.NYDraudze.org and click on "Nometne".

“ĪKŠĶĪŠU” (" Little thumbs" For children ages 2-6 ) periods:
For children speaking Latvian:
A-week: from Sunday July 8 to Saturday July 14;
B-week: from Sunday July 15 to Saturday July 21;
C-week: from Sunday July 22 to Saturday July 28;
D-week: from Sunday July 29 to Saturday August 4;
For children who speak little or no Latvian and need to learn it:
Language week: from Sunday August 5 to Saturday August 11.

Regular children's camp "NOMETNE" periods:
For children speaking Latvian:
1st period: from Sunday July 8 to Saturday July 21;
2nd period: from Sunday July 22 to Saturday August 4;
For children who speak little or no Latvian and need to learn it:
Language period: from Sunday August 5 to Saturday August 18.

Seniors period: from Sunday August 12 to Saturday August 18.

Sunday, November 18 - Latvia's Independence Day (1918).

From Thursday, Nov. 22 until Sunday, Nov. 25 - Annual Congress of the American Latvian Youth Association (ALYA) in New York, NY. After a many years absence ALJA returns to the city of it's birth for its 60th anniversary Kongress! For more information visit: www.alja.org.

Appeals, notices and news

Books available from the Brooklyn Parsonage Libarary.

The Brooklyn Parish House of the Latvian Ev. Lutheran Congregation of New York has been sold, and the contents of the LIBRARY has been moved to the Yonkers Church and the DV House. If you are interested in obtaining Latvian books, which may be in the collection, please contact Gunta Semba tel.(914) 762-7379, and / or Vilnis Vīksne tel.(718) 220-8191.

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 where you will find plans, status and other information about this project.

A new edition of Paceliet balsis! Slavējiet! the church hymnal is now available

The Latvian Ev. Luth. Church of New York has published a new edition of Paceliet balsis! Slavējiet! (the title in Latvian means "Lift up your voices!") its popular Latvian church hymnal whose first edition came out in 1972. It contains 123 spiritual songs meant for use in schools and by young people, with sections on order of church services and explanations. Published by the Latvian Ev. Luth. Church of New York and edited by pastor Juris Saivars. The book has 188 pages and is bound in hard durable dark blue covers.
Dimensions: 6.5" x 4.5" x 0.7" (16.5cm x 11.5cm x 1.5cm).
Price $10.
The book may be purchased at the books stalls at the Yonkers Church and the Long Island Church.
You may also order the book from the Congregation's office. Cost: $10 + $4 shipping and handling for each book. Make checks payable
"Latvian. Ev. Luth. Church of NY" and send to:
4 Riga Lane
Melville, NY 11747.

The Congegration offers discounts for purchasers of larger quantities. For information please write kanceleja@nydraudze.org or call tel. (631) 253-3943. Office hours may be found at www.NYDraudze.org in the section "Adreses" on the bottom of the page.

An invitation to help Mārcis Braunfelds and his family.

For three generations, and counting, the Braunfelds family has been an important part of the New York Latvian community. As many of you may have heard Mārcis Braunfelds is suffering from a recurrence of a brain tumor. As he was self-employed and the only provider for his family but is now unable to work, those who can afford to, are asked to help his family cover Marcis' medical and other expenses. A fund has been set up for this purpose:
Braunfelds Medical Fund
c/o Taupa Lithuanian Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 95
South Boston, MA 02127
Tel. (617) 269-1450
You may also write to Mārcis and his family to show your support and read the latest news on how he is doing, by visiting www.carepages.com To access Marcis' page you will have to set up profile which takes less than five minutes, so please don't let this deter you.

Support common Baltic interests!

Pressure from Latvian-Americans is still needed to defend the interests of Latvia and Latvian-Americans before US government bodies. The following organizations are taking the lead in this important work.
The American latvian Association (ALA) - www.alausa.org
The Joint Baltic-American National Committee (JBANC) - www.jbanc.org
and the Baltic-American Freedom League (BAFL) - www.bafl.com

The Victims of Communism memorial in Washington DC.

Please visit: www.victimsofcommunism.org

Let's urge our local PBS television stations to broadcast The Soviet Story

On October 11, 2009, PBS (public broadcasting) television stations throughout the United States will have access to The Soviet Story, the award-winning and highly acclaimed documentary film by Edvīns Šnore.

The film's distributor Daris Delins notes: "We have reached another important milestone in the distribution of the film. Via PBS distributor NETA (National Educational Telecomunications Association – www.netaonline.org ) the film will now be accessible to NETA's 172 licensees that comprise 340 public broadcasting television stations across the United States. Each of these PBS stations will now be able to screen the film. Even before NETA approached us we had received very positive feedback from PBS member stations who had viewed the film. Given PBS stations are very selective about what they screen, NETA's acceptance of the film is an important acknowledgement of the film and its potential audience reach. Many Americans will be now be able to learn about this important period of history and how it still resonates today."

The first PBS station in the U.S. scheduled to air the film will be WDSC 15 Daytona Beach, Florida, on October 15 at 9:00 pm. WHYY 12 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and WLRN 17 in Miami, Florida, will screen the film on November 20, and KVIE 2 in Sacramento, Callifornia on January 23, 2010. Other PBS member stations that have also already expressed their interest to screen the film include: KAET 8, Phoenix, Arizona;  KPBS 15, San Diego, California;  WEDU 13, Tampa, Florida; WTIU 30  Bloomington, Indiana;  IPTV, Iowa Public TV, Iowa; MPT (Maryland Public TV), Maryland; NHPTV (New Hampshire Public TV), New Hampshire, and WNED, Buffalo, New York. Following the NETA release, more stations are expected to follow, particularly as viewers get news that the film is accessible by their local station.

Overseas, in the coming months the film will be screened on national TV in Greece (ERT), Italy (Fox), Poland (TVP) and Spain (History Channel). In Sweden the national network SVT will screen the film on December 5. The film has already aired on national TV in Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Ukraine.

At the end of 2009 a 2nd edition DVD of the film will be released. This new DVD will include additional subtitled languages including: Belarussian, Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian, Portguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovenian, Turkish, and Vietnamese. This will bring the total number of foreign language translations for the film to 28.

To learn more about the film, to see the trailer, or to purchase the DVD, please visit www.sovietstory.com. For screening enquiries and distribution opportunities, please email: films@perrystreetadvisors.com or call +1-917-402-2853.

New York area Latvian-Americans and their friends are urged to write letters or call Channel 13 WNET and Channel 21 WLIW to urge these stations to show The Soviet Story. If you are member supporters of these stations or even if you just a regular viewer please make mention of that fact. The appropriate officers to contact at Channel 13 are Mr. Neal Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. John Sefakis, Programming Scheduling & Acquisitions. The address for both is WNET Channel 13, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001-2605, tel. (212) 560-1313. More convenient but perhaps less effective is using the "Contact" web page http://www.wnet.org/about/contact/ . The appropriate officers to contact at Channel 21 are Mr. John Servidio, Acting General Manager, and Mr. David Rubinsohn, Director of Programming. The address for both is WLIW Channel 21, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, tel. (212) 560-8021. More convenient but perhaps less effective is using the "Contact" web page: www.wliw.org .