Communities

JBANC - Last week we celebrated 100 years of U.S.-Baltic relations. The three Baltic countries have been marking the centennial with the U.S. with various events and projects.The U.S. embassy in Estonia has published "100 moments that shaped the partnership between the United States and Estonia" online. The U.S. embassy...

Karl Altau, JBANC Two years ago, Belarusians were everywhere. They have not disappeared. In summer 2020, there was a nationwide mass movement in support of democracy in Belarus against dictatorship. Elections took place August 9, but results were overwhelmingly deemed fraudulent, unfree, and unfair by the opposition, election observers, and...

The Estonian American National Council (EANC) Election Committee submits the final list of candidates to the XXIII Council, with their introductions. Candidates were given the option to write their introductions in Estonian, English, or both. Election ballots will be mailed in the coming weeks to everyone who is in the...

Karl Altau / JBANC Following a House Rules Committee review of a record-breaking 1213 amendments, the U.S. House of Representatives is ready to engage in floor debate on the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A House vote on the bill, H.R.7900, could happen by July 15. It...

Indrek Lepson On our way to New Zealand, we stopped at Esperito Santo Island in New Hebrides to clear customs. New Hebrides at that time was under French and English jurisdiction.How that came to be, I have no idea. Both countries had consulates there, so Barbara had to go to...

Eating at Restaurants One big difference between a home-cooked meal and a restaurant meal is that at a restaurant, you are giving up control over your food. You no longer know where the food came from, how fresh it is, how much salt or spice has been added or what...

The Estonian Cultural Garden was dedicated June 19, 1966. Each year, the Estonian community and friends gather to celebrate Estonian Victory Day (võidupüha) and St John's Day (jaanipäev). This year local Estonians celebrated võidupüha and jaanipäev on June 26th, 2022. Toomas Tubalkain served as MC. Pastor Peeter Pirn led a...

Paul Vesterstein is a genuine American success story. A native of Estonia, he came to America in 1949 with little more than hope, his innate talents and abilities, and a strong work ethic. He came from a displaced persons camp in Europe after WWII under the sponsorship of the Duluth...

Each youth exchange brings together 30 young people aged 18-30 of Estonian origin; 20 living abroad and 10 from Estonia. This year's camp dates are 11.-22.09.2022.The main aim of the youth exchange is to introduce the Estonian culture and language to international participants who are: 📍 18-30 years old;📍 with...

Dear Estonian! With this survey, our goal is to get an overview of the needs of Estonian-American families and their expectations for Estonian Schools. The results of this survey will help improve how Estonian Schools can work together with families to develop stronger connections to the Estonian language and culture....